Colonel George Davenport became one of the earliest settlers, and his namesake, Davenport, became a city in 1838, eight years before Iowa was designated a state.

German and Irish immigrants began moving to the area. The region began growing rapidly with the construction of the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River in 1856 in Davenport.

Scott County, Iowa, consists of the larger two cities of Davenport and Bettendorf, as well as several smaller towns. It is part of a larger Quad Cities, which also consists of Moline, East Moline and Rock Island, Illinois.

Spread across several counties and two states, the Quad Cities Region had grown swiftly with the lumber, meat-packing and furniture-making industries. Now, it is known for many things including its agricultural industry along with more than 21,000 businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to many thriving small businesses. We also are home to a major military installation called the Rock Island Arsenal.

Some fast facts about the Iowa Quad Cities:

• The Iowa Quad Cities was first settled in the 1800s, in what is now known as Pleasant Valley.
• Scott County is named after General Winfield Scott. He was the presiding officer at the signing of the peace treaty, which ended the Black Hawk War.
• The population doubled in the early 1900s. During this expansion, city services and community boards were formed.

For additional information, go to http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/history/.