Rock Island County
History

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Rock Island County has a very colorful history. From Col. Davenport to Black Hawk to Gen. Rodman to John Deere, interesting characters have helped build this area. The following links provide some information on many aspects of the history of Rock Island County.

• Pre-County history and formation - Information from before 1800 to about 1836. There are quite a few names of early settlers, Rock River Rangers and county officers when the county was organized.
  
  
• Early Settlers of Rock Island County - List of early settlers from the Rock Island County History, 1879. Generously transcribed by Diana Hanson, Accredited Genealogist.
  
  
• Saukenuk Lives on in Rock Island - A brief description of the largest Indian village in North America in the early 1800s. Black Hawk was born there. This link is brought to you by Quad-Cities ONLINE.
  
  
• Test Your Black Hawk Knowledge - See how much you know about the man for whom local institutions, roads, businesses and festivals are named. This link is brought to you by Quad-Cities ONLINE.
  
  
• History of the Rock Island Police Department - Beginning in the 1840s, the Rock Island Police has served the community for about 150 years. This link is brought to you by Quad Cities USA.
  
  
• History of Rock Island Arsenal Confederate Prison Barracks - Excerpt from Rock Island Confederal Prison Deaths - Compiled by Clifford W. Stephens (Command Historian of Rock Island Arsenal) and Printed by Blackhawk Genealogical Society of Rock Island, Illinois. Generously transcribed by Diana Hanson.
  
  
• History of the Rock Island Public Library - Established in 1872, the Rock Island Public Library is the oldest public library in the state of Illinois. This link is brought to you by Quad Cities USA.
  
  
• Augustana Special Collections - A fantastic page devoted to the their collection of photographs, diaries, biographies and interviews with early settlers. This link is brought to you by Augustana College.
  
  
• Moline History - A good summary of the history of the city of Moline, Rock Island County, Illinois. This link is brought to you by the City of Moline.
  
  
• John Deere: Our History - A page devoted to the history of Deere and Company. It includes the story of John Deere and information about the John Deere Historical Site (not in Rock Island County). This link is brought to you by Deere and Company.
  
  
• History of THE Rock Island Bank (link broken) - Beginning with the Rock Island National Bank in 1871. This link is brought to you by THE Rock Island Bank.
  
  
• History of the Rock Island Centennial Bridge - Built between Rock Island. IL and Davenport, IA and constructed from 1938 - 1940. This link is brought to you by Quad Cities USA.
  
  
• Indian Tribes in Illinois History at Lee Sultzman's site




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