Davenport, IA HyperLocal City Guide featuring Neighborhoods, Zip Codes and Yellow Pages.

Rich in ethic traditions, Davenport, Iowa, holds a special spot right on the banks of the dramatic Mississippi River. The influx of immigrants into the region during the 1800's provided the area with a rich ethnic German tradition. The Quad Cities, including Davenport, Bettendorf in Iowa and Moline and Rock Island, Illinois, and surrounding communities, share a large population as well as in business growth and development .

Many of the early German settlers to Davenport were escaping persecution during the 1848 revolutions, and about 100 years later, nearly a quarter of Davenport's population was German. Today, remnants of the German-American heritage is in the Hamburg Historic District and the West Third Street Historic District of Davenport, which are both on the National Register of Historic Places.

One of the earlier entrepreneurs of the area was John Deere who in 1848, opened a factory in Moline, Illinois, to produce the first steel plow. Today, Deere and Company operates as a major employer, and as a international corporation specializing in the production of agricultural implements.

In 1860, two notable German immigrants , Frederick Weyerhaeuser and F.C.A. Denkmann, bought a floundering lumber mill. The mill was expanded to include the mills in Rock Island and Moline.

Davenport is also home to Iowa's biggest tourist attraction, the annual German-American Jazz event. Bix is one of the great jazz musicians of the 1920s who was born there. Bix composed music and was an accomplished pianist, and his orchestral instrument was the cornet. The jazz event draws about 15,000 people to his festival each summer.

Accommodations
There are many selections to choose from in Davenport and surrounding communities. The Best Western Steeple Gate Inn offers a relaxing environment and is recognized as a sought after hotel in the Quad Cities.

The eleven-story Downtown Historic Landmark Hotel ,dating from 1915, is adjacent to River Convention Center; The Radisson Quad City Plaza Hotel, and the Modern Atrium Hotel, are conveniently located. The Modern Atrium Hotel is downtown and is connected by skywalk to River Center-the Convention Center, and is adjacent to riverboat casino.

The Beiderbecke Bed and Breakfast is a sought after Victorian B&B in Davenport. Heartland Inn Davenport Modern is popular for guest room amenities. The La Quinta Inn is minutes from downtown.

Restaurants
Ruby Tuesday serves American food with an ambiance comfortably casual. Happy Joes Pizza & Ice Creddar's Casual Cafe are popular restaurants. For deserts, Lagomarcino's Inc., is a turn-of-the-century ice cream parlor and confectionery.

Shopping
The Village of East Davenport was once the site of a Civil War military camp. It is now a unique six-block area with shops, galleries, pubs, and restaurants. This 120-acre historic district has been a center of commerce for more than 150 years.

Northpark is Iowa's largest mall offering over 300 stores.

Major Attractions
Fejervary Park Children's Zoo & Aquatic Center features more than 200 animals, both barnyard and wild. The Family Aquatic Center is in a beautiful 75 acre park setting that offers fun play time for kids with water slide, and sand play areas as well.

The Great Mississippi Valley Fair, a six day county fair, brings in thousands of visitors each year. The Fair features major grandstand concerts and a wide variety of appealing attractions.

Well attended also is the John Deere Pavilion & John Deere Store where the account of John Deere lives on at the world's comprehensive agricultural exhibit. Show cased at the Pavilion are vintage and modern-day John Deere equipment pieces along with interactive agricultural displays.

A beautiful and historic park, the Vander Veer Botanical Center and Park exhibits changing flower displays. An outdoor All-American Rose Selection garden, as well as an exotic vegetable garden are eye-capturing displays.

Written by: Karen J. Lee