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Coordinates: 41°28′N 90°34′W / 41.47°N 90.57°W / 41.47; -90.57
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{{Short description|County in Illinois, United States}}
'''Rock Island County''' is a [[county]] located in the [[U.S. State]] of [[Illinois]]. As of [[2000]], the population is 149,374.
{{Redirect-distinguish|Rock Island County|Rock Island Township (disambiguation){{!}}Rock Island Township}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county = Rock Island County
| state = Illinois
| seal =
| logo = Rock Island County, Illinois logo.jpg
| founded = 1831
| largest city wl = Moline
| seat wl = Rock Island
| area_total_sq_mi = 451
| area_land_sq_mi = 428
| area_water_sq_mi = 24
| area percentage = 5.2
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_total = 144672
| pop_est_as_of = 2023
| population_est = 141236 {{decrease}}
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| web = https://rockislandcountyil.gov/
| ex image = Rock Island County Justice Center.jpg
| ex image cap = Rock Island County Justice Center
| district = 17th
| time zone = Central
| named for = [[Rock Island Arsenal|Rock (Arsenal) Island]] }}


'''Rock Island County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Illinois]], bounded on the west by the [[Mississippi River]]. According to the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]], it had a population of 144,672.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rock Island County, Illinois |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Rock_Island_County,_Illinois?g=050XX00US17161 |access-date=June 10, 2023 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Rock Island, Illinois|Rock Island]]; its largest city is neighboring [[Moline, Illinois|Moline]].<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Rock Island County is one of the four counties that make up the [[Davenport, Iowa|Davenport]]-[[Moline, Illinois|Moline]]-Rock Island, [[Iowa|IA]]-IL [[Quad Cities|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=United States Office of Management and Budget |author-link=United States Office of Management and Budget |title=Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/fy2006/b06-01.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060514003222/http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/fy2006/b06-01.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=May 14, 2006 |access-date=July 21, 2006 |pages=5, 36}}</ref>
== Geography ==
The county has a total area of 1,168 [[square kilometer|km<sup>2</sup>]] (451 [[square mile|mi<sup>2</sup>]]). 1,105 km<sup>2</sup> (427 mi<sup>2</sup>) of it is land and 63 km<sup>2</sup> (24 mi<sup>2</sup>) of it is water. The total area is 5.41% water.


== Demographics ==
==History==
[[File:Rock Island County Illinois 1831.png|thumb|Rock Island County at the time of its creation in 1831]]
As of [[2000]], there are 149,374 people, 60,712 households, and 39,159 families residing in the county. The population density is 135/km<sup>2</sup> (350/mi<sup>2</sup>). There are 64,489 housing units at an average density of 58 persons/km<sup>2</sup> (151 persons/mi<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the county is 85.52% White, 7.54% [[African American]], 0.27% [[Native American]], 1.02% [[Asia|Asian]], 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.76% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. 8.56% of the population are [[Hispanic]] or [[Latino]] of any race.
Rock Island County was formed in 1831 out of [[Jo Daviess County, Illinois|Jo Daviess County]]. It was named for Rock Island, an island in the [[Mississippi River]] now known as [[Arsenal Island]].<ref>[http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/rockislandhistory/intro.htm Rock Island, the island, History: Introduction<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114083221/http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/rockislandhistory/intro.htm |date=January 14, 2009 }}, US Army Corps of Engineers</ref> The [[Rock River (Mississippi River tributary)|Rock River]] (which the [[Sauk people|Sauk]] and [[Meskwaki]] peoples called '''Sinnissippi''', meaning "rocky waters")<ref>{{Cite web |title=Castle Rock State Park |url=http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/r1/castle.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401200926/http://dnr.state.il.us/Lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R1/CASTLE.HTM |archive-date=April 1, 2007 |access-date=August 3, 2014 |publisher=[[Illinois|Illinois DNR]]}}</ref> flows from [[Whiteside County]] and points further east and north and joins the Mississippi River at Rock Island. The [[Sinnissippi Mounds]], dating from the Hopewell period and on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] are upriver at [[Sterling, Illinois|Sterling]] in Whiteside County.


==Geography==
There are 60,712 households out of which 28.90% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.10% are married couples living together, 11.60% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 35.50% are non-families. 30.20% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.50% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.38 and the average family size is 2.97.
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|451|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|428|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|24|sqmi}} (5.2%) is water.<ref name="census-density" />


===Climate and weather===
In the county the population is spread out with 23.80% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.40 males.
{{climate chart
|[[Rock Island, Illinois]]
|13|30|1.28
|19|36|1.41
|29|48|2.59
|41|61|3.64
|52|72|4.44
|63|81|4.75
|68|85|2.99
|66|83|4.31
|57|76|2.90
|45|65|2.39
|32|48|2.47
|20|35|1.93
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name="weather">{{Cite web |title=Monthly Averages for Rock Island, Illinois |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL1011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112102554/http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL1011 |archive-date=November 12, 2009 |access-date=January 27, 2011 |publisher=The Weather Channel |df=mdy-all}}</ref>}}
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Rock Island have ranged from a low of {{convert|13|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|85|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-22|°F}} was recorded in February 1996 and a record high of {{convert|103|°F}} was recorded in July 2006. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|1.28|in}} in January to {{convert|4.75|in}} in June.<ref name="weather" />


===Major highways===
The median income for a household in the county is $38,608, and the median income for a family is $47,956. Males have a median income of $35,998 versus $24,234 for females. The per capita income for the county is $20,164. 10.70% of the population and 8.10% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 15.70% are under the age of 18 and 6.80% are 65 or older.
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Image:I-74.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 74]]
* [[Image:I-80.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 80]]
* [[Image:I-88.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 88 (west)|Interstate 88]]
* [[Image:I-280.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 280 (Illinois–Iowa)|Interstate 280]]
* [[Image:US 6.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 6]]
* [[Image:US 67.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 67]]
* [[Image:US 150.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 150]]
* [[Image:Illinois 2.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 2]] (formerly)
* [[Image:Illinois 5.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 5]]
* [[Image:Illinois 84.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 84]]
* [[Image:Illinois 92.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 92]]
* [[Image:Illinois 94.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 94]]
* [[Image:Illinois 110.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 110]]
* [[Image:Illinois 192.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 192]]
{{div col end}}


===Transit===
== Cities and Towns ==
* [[Quad Cities MetroLINK]]
*[[Andalusia, Illinois|Andalusia]]
* [[List of intercity bus stops in Illinois]]
*[[Carbon Cliff, Illinois|Carbon Cliff]]

*[[Cordova, Illinois|Cordova]]
===Adjacent counties===
*[[Coyne Center, Illinois|Coyne Center]]
* [[Clinton County, Iowa|Clinton County]], [[Iowa]] (north)
*[[East Moline, Illinois|East Moline]]
*[[Hampton, Illinois|Hampton]]
* [[Whiteside County, Illinois|Whiteside County]] (northeast)
*[[Hillsdale, Illinois|Hillsdale]]
* [[Henry County, Illinois|Henry County]] (southeast)
*[[Milan, Illinois|Milan]]
* [[Mercer County, Illinois|Mercer County]] (south)
* [[Louisa County, Iowa|Louisa County]], [[Iowa]] (southwest)
*[[Moline, Illinois|Moline]]
* [[Muscatine County, Iowa|Muscatine County]], [[Iowa]] (west)
*[[Oak Grove, Illinois|Oak Grove]]
* [[Scott County, Iowa|Scott County]], [[Iowa]] (northwest)
*[[Port Byron, Illinois|Port Byron]]

*[[Rapids City, Illinois|Rapids City]]
===National protected area===
*[[Rock Island, Illinois|Rock Island]]
* [[Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge]] (part)
*[[Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois|Rock Island Arsenal]]

*[[Silvis, Illinois|Silvis]]
==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 2610
|1850= 6937
|1860= 21005
|1870= 29783
|1880= 38302
|1890= 41917
|1900= 55249
|1910= 70404
|1920= 92297
|1930= 98191
|1940= 113323
|1950= 133558
|1960= 150991
|1970= 166734
|1980= 165968
|1990= 148723
|2000= 149374
|2010= 147546
|2020= 144672
|estyear=2023
|estimate=141236
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html |access-date=April 2, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=August 11, 2012 |access-date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424084443/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt |archive-date=April 24, 2014 |access-date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218203824/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=December 18, 2014 |access-date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17161.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607104540/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17161.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 147,546&nbsp;people, 61,303&nbsp;households, and 38,384&nbsp;families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{Cite web |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17161 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213023700/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17161 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|345.0|PD/sqmi}}. There were 65,756 housing units at an average density of {{convert|153.8|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{Cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17161 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212202956/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17161 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 81.6% white, 9.0% black or African American, 1.6% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 4.4% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 11.6% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 25.9% were [[Germans|German]], 14.2% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 8.7% were [[English people|English]], 6.8% were [[Swedes|Swedish]], and 5.2% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{Cite web |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17161 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022459/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17161 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

Of the 61,303&nbsp;households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.4% were non-families, and 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 40.0 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />

The median income for a household in the county was $46,226 and the median income for a family was $58,962. Males had a median income of $42,548 versus $31,917 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,071. About 8.7% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{Cite web |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17161 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213012653/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17161 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

==Economy==
At one time [[Mississippi Valley Airlines]] had its headquarters in [[Quad City Airport]] in the county.<ref>"World Airline Directory." ''[[Flight International]]''. March 30, 1985. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%200958.html?search=%22Muse%20Air%22 98] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223003321/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%200958.html?search=%22Muse%20Air%22 |date=February 23, 2013 }}. "Head Office: PO Box 949, Quad City Airport, Moline, Illinois 61265, USA."</ref>
[[John Deere]] is headquartered in Moline.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Deere & Company World Headquarters |url=https://www.deere.com/en/our-company/john-deere-careers/interview-resources/moline-world-headquarters/ |access-date=March 21, 2019}}</ref>

==Communities==

===Cities===
* [[East Moline, Illinois|East Moline]]
* [[Moline, Illinois|Moline]]
* [[Rock Island, Illinois|Rock Island]]
* [[Silvis, Illinois|Silvis]]

===Villages===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Andalusia, Illinois|Andalusia]]
* [[Carbon Cliff, Illinois|Carbon Cliff]]
* [[Coal Valley, Illinois|Coal Valley]] (part)
* [[Cordova, Illinois|Cordova]]
* [[Hampton, Illinois|Hampton]]
* [[Hillsdale, Illinois|Hillsdale]]
* [[Milan, Illinois|Milan]]
* [[Oak Grove, Illinois|Oak Grove]]
* [[Port Byron, Illinois|Port Byron]]
* [[Rapids City, Illinois|Rapids City]]
* [[Reynolds, Illinois|Reynolds]] (part)
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
* [[Coyne Center, Illinois|Coyne Center]]
* [[Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois|Rock Island Arsenal]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Barstow, Illinois|Barstow]]
* [[Buffalo Prairie, Illinois|Buffalo Prairie]]
* [[Campbell's Island (Illinois)|Campbell's Island]]
* [[Edgington, Illinois|Edgington]]
* [[Illinois City, Illinois|Illinois City]]
* [[Joslin, Illinois|Joslin]]
* [[Taylor Ridge, Illinois|Taylor Ridge]]

===Townships===
Rock Island County is divided into eighteen [[Civil township|townships]]:

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Andalusia Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Andalusia]]
* [[Blackhawk Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Blackhawk]]
* [[Bowling Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Bowling]]
* [[Buffalo Prairie Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Buffalo Prairie]]
* [[Canoe Creek Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Canoe Creek]]
* [[Coal Valley Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Coal Valley]]
* [[Coe Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Coe]]
* [[Cordova Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Cordova]]
* [[Drury Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Drury]]
* [[Edgington Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Edgington]]
* [[Hampton Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Hampton]]
* [[Moline Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Moline]]
* [[Port Byron Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Port Byron]]
* [[Rock Island Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Rock Island]]
* [[Rural Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Rural]]
* [[South Moline Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|South Moline]]
* [[South Rock Island Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|South Rock Island]]
* [[Zuma Township, Rock Island County, Illinois|Zuma]]

===Forts===

* [[Fort Armstrong (Illinois)|Fort Armstrong]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Before 1932, Rock Island County was a Republican stronghold in presidential elections, backing the party's candidate in every election from 1892 to 1928. From 1932 on, it has consistently backed Democratic Party presidential candidates, except for the national Republican landslides of 1952, 1956, 1972, and 1980. In 2016, [[Donald Trump]] managed to keep [[Hillary Clinton]] to a single-digit margin of victory, the first Republican to do so since [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1984; in 2020, [[Joe Biden]] increased the Democratic margin from 8.3% to 12.1%. Due to the dominance of the Democratic Party in county politics, Rock Island County remains one of the most Democratic counties outside of the Chicago area in Illinois. Since 2010 the Republican Party began making inroads in county politics, gaining a few seats on the Democratic-dominated county board; however, since 2018, the Republican Party influence on the board has begun to decrease as the county resumed heavy Democratic voting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rock Island County Clerk - Elections - Previous Election Results |url=https://www.rockislandcounty.org/PreviousElections/}}</ref>
{{PresHead|place=Rock Island County, Illinois|source=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |archive-date=March 23, 2018 |access-date=May 6, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|28,061|34,126|1,492|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|28,603|36,691|1,653|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|26,998|32,298|4,698|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|24,934|39,157|1,126|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|25,364|42,210|1,034|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|29,663|39,880|429|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|25,194|37,957|1,944|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|20,626|34,822|5,507|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|23,212|37,412|11,415|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|27,412|40,174|315|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|35,121|40,208|343|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|34,788|30,045|6,942|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|34,007|35,994|1,260|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|37,548|32,529|253|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|30,404|34,506|5,230|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|23,714|41,759|0|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|32,534|33,812|108|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|31,342|29,145|118|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|32,933|27,879|100|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|22,192|24,542|477|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|23,980|30,102|180|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|25,629|35,240|232|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|19,487|32,741|799|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|21,205|24,676|668|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|27,246|14,334|196|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|20,563|3,631|11,453|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|21,908|5,208|3,603|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|16,169|10,914|3,327|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1912|Republican|6,506|3,997|4,786|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|8,196|4,739|1,846|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|8,152|2,156|2,895|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|8,299|4,786|471|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|7,323|4,692|176|Illinois}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|5,052|4,034|559|Illinois}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Rock Island County, Illinois]]
* [[Quad Cities International Airport]]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* [https://archive.org/details/portraitbiograph00biogr ''Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock Island County, Illinois: Containing Full-Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County, Together with Portraits and Biographies of All the Governors of Illinois, and of the Presidents of the United States; Also Containing a History of the County, from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time.''] Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co., 1885.

==External links==
* [https://rockislandcountyil.gov/ Official county website]
* [http://www.richs.cc/ Rock Island County Historical Society]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Rock Island County, Illinois
|North = [[Clinton County, Iowa]]
|Northeast = [[Whiteside County, Illinois|Whiteside County]]
|East =
|Southeast = [[Henry County, Illinois|Henry County]]
|South = [[Mercer County, Illinois|Mercer County]]
|Southwest = [[Louisa County, Iowa]]
|West = [[Muscatine County, Iowa]]
|Northwest = [[Scott County, Iowa]]
}}

{{Rock Island County, Illinois}}
{{Quad Cities}}
{{Illinois}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|41.47|-90.57|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-IL_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Rock Island County, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:Illinois counties]]
[[Category:1831 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1831]]
[[Category:Quad Cities]]
[[Category:Illinois counties on the Mississippi River]]

Latest revision as of 02:30, 7 December 2024

"Rock Island County" redirects here. Not to be confused with Rock Island Township.

Rock Island County
County
Rock Island County Justice Center
Rock Island County Justice Center
Official logo of Rock Island County
Logo
Map of Illinois highlighting Rock Island County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°28′N 90°34′W / 41.47°N 90.57°W / 41.47; -90.57
Country United States
State Illinois
Founded1831
Named forRock (Arsenal) Island
SeatRock Island
Largest cityMoline
Area
 • Total
451 sq mi (1,170 km2)
 • Land428 sq mi (1,110 km2)
 • Water24 sq mi (60 km2)  5.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
144,672
 • Estimate 
(2023)
141,236 Decrease
 • Density320/sq mi (120/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district17th
Websiterockislandcountyil.gov

Rock Island County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois, bounded on the west by the Mississippi River. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 144,672.[1] Its county seat is Rock Island; its largest city is neighboring Moline.[2] Rock Island County is one of the four counties that make up the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.[3]

History

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Rock Island County at the time of its creation in 1831

Rock Island County was formed in 1831 out of Jo Daviess County. It was named for Rock Island, an island in the Mississippi River now known as Arsenal Island.[4] The Rock River (which the Sauk and Meskwaki peoples called Sinnissippi, meaning "rocky waters")[5] flows from Whiteside County and points further east and north and joins the Mississippi River at Rock Island. The Sinnissippi Mounds, dating from the Hopewell period and on the National Register of Historic Places are upriver at Sterling in Whiteside County.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 451 square miles (1,170 km2), of which 428 square miles (1,110 km2) is land and 24 square miles (62 km2) (5.2%) is water.[6]

Climate and weather

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Rock Island, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
1.3
 
 
30
13
 
 
1.4
 
 
36
19
 
 
2.6
 
 
48
29
 
 
3.6
 
 
61
41
 
 
4.4
 
 
72
52
 
 
4.8
 
 
81
63
 
 
3
 
 
85
68
 
 
4.3
 
 
83
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2.9
 
 
76
57
 
 
2.4
 
 
65
45
 
 
2.5
 
 
48
32
 
 
1.9
 
 
35
20
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[7]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
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33
 
 
−1
−11
 
 
36
 
 
2
−7
 
 
66
 
 
9
−2
 
 
92
 
 
16
5
 
 
113
 
 
22
11
 
 
121
 
 
27
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76
 
 
29
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109
 
 
28
19
 
 
74
 
 
24
14
 
 
61
 
 
18
7
 
 
63
 
 
9
0
 
 
49
 
 
2
−7
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Rock Island have ranged from a low of 13 °F (−11 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −22 °F (−30 °C) was recorded in February 1996 and a record high of 103 °F (39 °C) was recorded in July 2006. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.28 inches (33 mm) in January to 4.75 inches (121 mm) in June.[7]

Major highways

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Transit

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Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18402,610—
18506,937165.8%
186021,005202.8%
187029,78341.8%
188038,30228.6%
189041,9179.4%
190055,24931.8%
191070,40427.4%
192092,29731.1%
193098,1916.4%
1940113,32315.4%
1950133,55817.9%
1960150,99113.1%
1970166,73410.4%
1980165,968−0.5%
1990148,723−10.4%
2000149,3740.4%
2010147,546−1.2%
2020144,672−1.9%
2023 (est.)141,236[8]−2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010[13]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 147,546 people, 61,303 households, and 38,384 families residing in the county.[14] The population density was 345.0 inhabitants per square mile (133.2/km2). There were 65,756 housing units at an average density of 153.8 per square mile (59.4/km2).[6] The racial makeup of the county was 81.6% white, 9.0% black or African American, 1.6% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 4.4% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 11.6% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 25.9% were German, 14.2% were Irish, 8.7% were English, 6.8% were Swedish, and 5.2% were American.[15]

Of the 61,303 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.4% were non-families, and 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 40.0 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $46,226 and the median income for a family was $58,962. Males had a median income of $42,548 versus $31,917 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,071. About 8.7% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Economy

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At one time Mississippi Valley Airlines had its headquarters in Quad City Airport in the county.[17] John Deere is headquartered in Moline.[18]

Communities

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Cities

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Villages

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Rock Island County is divided into eighteen townships:

Forts

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Politics

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Before 1932, Rock Island County was a Republican stronghold in presidential elections, backing the party's candidate in every election from 1892 to 1928. From 1932 on, it has consistently backed Democratic Party presidential candidates, except for the national Republican landslides of 1952, 1956, 1972, and 1980. In 2016, Donald Trump managed to keep Hillary Clinton to a single-digit margin of victory, the first Republican to do so since Ronald Reagan in 1984; in 2020, Joe Biden increased the Democratic margin from 8.3% to 12.1%. Due to the dominance of the Democratic Party in county politics, Rock Island County remains one of the most Democratic counties outside of the Chicago area in Illinois. Since 2010 the Republican Party began making inroads in county politics, gaining a few seats on the Democratic-dominated county board; however, since 2018, the Republican Party influence on the board has begun to decrease as the county resumed heavy Democratic voting.[19]

United States presidential election results for Rock Island County, Illinois[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 28,061 44.07% 34,126 53.59% 1,492 2.34%
2020 28,603 42.72% 36,691 54.81% 1,653 2.47%
2016 26,998 42.19% 32,298 50.47% 4,698 7.34%
2012 24,934 38.23% 39,157 60.04% 1,126 1.73%
2008 25,364 36.97% 42,210 61.52% 1,034 1.51%
2004 29,663 42.39% 39,880 56.99% 429 0.61%
2000 25,194 38.70% 37,957 58.31% 1,944 2.99%
1996 20,626 33.84% 34,822 57.13% 5,507 9.03%
1992 23,212 32.22% 37,412 51.93% 11,415 15.85%
1988 27,412 40.37% 40,174 59.17% 315 0.46%
1984 35,121 46.41% 40,208 53.13% 343 0.45%
1980 34,788 48.47% 30,045 41.86% 6,942 9.67%
1976 34,007 47.72% 35,994 50.51% 1,260 1.77%
1972 37,548 53.39% 32,529 46.25% 253 0.36%
1968 30,404 43.35% 34,506 49.20% 5,230 7.46%
1964 23,714 36.22% 41,759 63.78% 0 0.00%
1960 32,534 48.96% 33,812 50.88% 108 0.16%
1956 31,342 51.72% 29,145 48.09% 118 0.19%
1952 32,933 54.07% 27,879 45.77% 100 0.16%
1948 22,192 47.01% 24,542 51.98% 477 1.01%
1944 23,980 44.19% 30,102 55.48% 180 0.33%
1940 25,629 41.95% 35,240 57.67% 232 0.38%
1936 19,487 36.75% 32,741 61.74% 799 1.51%
1932 21,205 45.55% 24,676 53.01% 668 1.44%
1928 27,246 65.22% 14,334 34.31% 196 0.47%
1924 20,563 57.69% 3,631 10.19% 11,453 32.13%
1920 21,908 71.32% 5,208 16.95% 3,603 11.73%
1916 16,169 53.17% 10,914 35.89% 3,327 10.94%
1912 6,506 42.55% 3,997 26.14% 4,786 31.30%
1908 8,196 55.45% 4,739 32.06% 1,846 12.49%
1904 8,152 61.74% 2,156 16.33% 2,895 21.93%
1900 8,299 61.22% 4,786 35.31% 471 3.47%
1896 7,323 60.07% 4,692 38.49% 176 1.44%
1892 5,052 52.38% 4,034 41.82% 559 5.80%

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ "Rock Island County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ United States Office of Management and Budget. "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
  4. ^ Rock Island, the island, History: Introduction Archived January 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, US Army Corps of Engineers
  5. ^ "Castle Rock State Park". Illinois DNR. Archived from the original on April 1, 2007. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Rock Island, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on November 12, 2009. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  13. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  14. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  15. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  16. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  17. ^ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. March 30, 1985. 98 Archived February 23, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. "Head Office: PO Box 949, Quad City Airport, Moline, Illinois 61265, USA."
  18. ^ "Deere & Company World Headquarters". Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  19. ^ "Rock Island County Clerk - Elections - Previous Election Results".
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2018.

Further reading

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[edit]

41°28′N 90°34′W / 41.47°N 90.57°W / 41.47; -90.57

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