Quad Cities is a collection of five cities located in Illinois and Iowa. The five cities that make up this region are Bettendorf and Davenport in Iowa, as well as Moline, East Moline and Rock Island located in northwest Illinois. The region has a population of 383,681 residents, per the most recent estimates. The region is spread across 170 square miles. There is a population density of 1,600 residents per square mile.

Indigenous people originally inhabited the area before the arrival of the Europeans. It wasn’t until the 19th century when six million acres of land were ceded to the United States by the Sauk tribe. In the mid-19th century, the region saw significant development due to its access to the Mississippi River. Energy and river access led entrepreneurs including John Deere to set up businesses in the area.

It was in the 1970s when industry was restructured in the area. Factories closed their doors and many companies and manufacturers cut back their operations. In the 1990s, the region has set its sights on redevelopment. Projects include the investment in Moline’s downtown area and downtown Davenport’s River Renaissance.

The area’s population exceeds 383,000, as previously mentioned. Breaking it down by race shows that over 90% of residents are white, 3.7% are black, 1% are Asian, 0.6% are American Indian or Alaskan Native, and 2% are multiracial. Over 7% of the population is of Hispanic or Latino origin. The majority of people in the region practice Christianity. There is also a small Jewish community residing in the area.

The region’s revitalization efforts may be paying off, as the area expects to see continued growth in population in the years ahead.