Quad Cities Info

[Triplewillow]

The people are decent. Most folks are ready to smile at you. They don't do the wave on the road thing like the south but they are not unfriendly either.
TootsieWootsie made a good comment too about the wildlife. You don't have to go far to see deer, raccoon, possum and the like. And there's squirrels in just about every yard!
Lots of trees here, as the cities are situated between and around two rivers. The Mississippi and on the Il side, the Rock. The Rock used to be one of the last known wild rivers in the states.

[VisitQuadCities]

You must not frequent the same places I do or attend the events that I attend, because I do not have a clue as to what you are talking about. Also, the Illinois Quad Cities is one of the most liberal and Democrat oriented cities in the Quad Cities. And, yes, Michael Moore movies did play at the local theaters - although, I don't know that watching a Michael Moore Movie is an earned badge for being on the liberal side or what Michael Moore has to do with really anything.

Now, getting to the Art of things
-Figge Art Museum
-Quad City Arts Organization
-Quad City Arts Gallery
-Visiting Artist Series by Quad City Arts
-Midwest Writing Center
-Bucktown Center for the Arts
-MidCoast Arts Organization
-Two annual Art Strolls featuring local galleries, artists at work, art for
sale, and working artist studios - Spring and Fall
-Riverssance Festival of Fine Art - September
-Beaux Arts Festival in Spring and Fall - Spring and Fall
-Left Bank Art League and Left Bank Art Fair - Summer
-Adler Theatre - Broadway productions, musical peformances, dance
troupes
-Capital Theatre - music performances
-Ballet Quad Cities
-Opera Quad City
-Quad City Symphony - oldest symphony in Iowa
-Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse - Professional Musical Production
-Playcrafters Barn Theatre - local theatre group
-Music Guild - local theatre group
-i wireless center concert arena
-Various Art galleries with local and national art for sale
-Various Art classes at Bucktown Center for the Arts and Figge Art
Museum
-Lots and lots of small, orginal local theatre groups and art oriented festivals and events
-St. Ambrose University Galvin Fine Arts Center
-Augustana College Centennial Hall
-Western Illinois University Quad Cities
-Black Hawk and Scott Community Colleges

Quad Cities voted by Forbes Magazine as 4th for cost-of-living, Davenport and Rock Island named Most Liveable Cities in 2008 by the US Conference of Mayors. We are also home to two major hospitals Genesis and Trinity with 9 hosptials. They have been ranked top in specific medical field technologies. We are home to the Deere and Company World Headquarters, among other major employers. Median sales price for an existing single-family home is $87,100. New construction is around $100,000 average.

2008-2009 Statistics
Total Population 400,000:

Empolyment by Industry:
Manufacturing 15.7 %
Wholesale & Retail Trade 13.8 %
Health Care and Professional Services 13.8%
Education 12.6%
Professional Service 12.6%
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate 6.8%
Public Administration & Government 6.6%
Construction 5.7%
Transportation, Communication, Utilities 5.7%
Agriculture 3.5%
Personal Services 2.9%
Entertainment & Recreation 2.2%
Active Military Duty 2.1%

Sorry, lived in Chicago for awhile and came back - found a high paying job, bought a beautiful home, lots to do and great friends. Plus, if I want to visit Chicago it is only a 2 1/2 hour drive. My income goes farther here than in Chicago and I have more disposable income. I enjoy and take part in many of the visual and performing arts-related events that are available in the Quad Cities. It is a beautiful area - although the winters get a bit tiresome.

Live in the Quad Cities and love it! Check out this website Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau

[Isurus]

I grew up in the QC, specifically Milan from 1983 to 1997, Moline 97-98, Silvis 98-99, Davenport, 99-99.

The entire place is a little behind the times fashion wise, there's a mild bit of racism, though there is a lot of diversity. There are gang problems in Rock Island and some of Davenport.

Moline and Davenport are the better "city" type areas to live in. Rock Island has some of the better bars downtown. Moline has some night life and bars too. Davenport is a bit more artsy and it's downtown is decent. Bettendorf is the quiet suburby area, with little to do, but quite safe.

Best schools are in Moline and Bettendorf for K-12. Great higher education won't be found anywhere really, so it's best for kids to go to school at UIUC or Chicago. The 3 hour drive makes it worth it.

Stay away from Silvis and East Moline, they are garbage.

Nicer country like or laid back areas are Geneseo, Orion, and Port Byron, though if you live here expect to do a lot of driving to the main QC areas to see movies or do the best shopping.

QC can be a nice place to grow up, if you don't mind the behind the times feel.

Also incomes are a little lower, but fine for raising a family. Expect to see older cars from 10-20 years back pretty often, as there won't be lots of people with newer cars.

Compared to Champaign/Urbana, the QC does have life to it, but it's just not as well off financially for the middle class.

[TootsieWootsie]

That's hard to answer here as there really is not distinct personality for each one. I can say that Rock Island has The District where the bars/clubs are downtown. Basically lots of college and 30 year olds, I think.
But, to me, they are pretty much all alike really.