Moline is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois.

The name Moline comes from the French Moulin meaning Mill Town.

Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Rock Island and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The corporate headquarters of Deere & Company and the Quad City International Airport are located in Moline, as well as the Quad Cities campus of Western Illinois University. Moline is a retail hub for the Illinois Quad Cities, as Southpark Mall and numerous big box stores are located in the city. In the mid 1990s, a project known as John Deere Commons led to the revitalization of Moline's central business district.

Due to its historical connections to inventor and industrialist John Deere--who relocated to Moline in 1848 to mass produce his steel plow there--and the company he founded, Moline is known as the "Farm Implement Capital of the World." Because of its location on the Mississippi River and the economies of scale for large-scale farm implement production that quickly developed around Deere & Company, Moline was a major center for the industry from the late nineteenth century through the 1980s.

Parks & Recreation - Moline has an abundance of neighborhood parks, including Riverside Park, home of the Riverside Family Aquatic Center, and Greenvalley Sports Complex, featuring acres of baseball diamonds, soccer fields and cricket field.  Historic Prospect Park offers pond fishing, a new tournament grade disc golf course, Trinity fitness trails and a newly restored turn-of-the-century pavilion.

Bicyclists and pedestrians may enjoy the beauty of the Mississippi River along the Ben Butterworth Parkway, a 4-mile scenic paved trail, which connects to the 62-mile Great River Trail. Picnickers may take in a glorious sunset or delight in watching those engaged in recreational activities like water skiing, boating, fishing, rowing or parasailing.

Shopping - As the regional retail hub in the Illinois Quad Cities, shopping opportunities in Moline are vast including SouthPark Mall, with over 125 stores and five anchors. SouthPark is at the center of the John Deere Road commercial corridor that includes several national and regional retailers. Downtown Moline, also know as Moline Centre Main Street, remains a popular area for shoppers with its computer store, gift and specialty shops, antiques, and a variety of casual to fine dining restaurants and night spots. The City also has several neighborhood commercial districts such as Uptown and Olde Towne that offer unique ethnic objects d’art and cuisine.

Education - From kindergarten to college, Moline residents have access to top-notch public and private education. Moline School District No. 40 has one early childhood center, 13 elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, a special education center, and an alternative high school. The District continually produces students that excel both in and outside of the classroom. With an enrollment of more than 7,400 students, educational programs are tailored to stimulate and accommodate all levels of a child’s ability. Opportunities and services include high school advanced placement, vocal and instrumental music, visual/performing arts, college preparatory curriculum, extensive athletic programs, vocational and computer classes, gifted and bilingual education and peer tutoring. Student participation in the various extra curricular activities has produced All-State Musicians, state championships in academic and athletic competitions and representation in scholastic competitions at the national level. As the Moline School District moves to the future, decisions will be based on the objectives identified in the Strategic Plan: Student Achievement, Facilities/Technology, Parent/Community Involvement, Communications, Continuous Improvement and Sustainability. In addition, there are numerous private schools that offer instruction for pre-K through 12th grade.

The city is home to Black Hawk College, a community college offering numerous degree and certificate programs as well as continuing education classes. Wester Illinois University-
Quad Cities, the only public university in the Quad Cities offers both bachelor and graduate degree and post-baccalaureate certificate programs at the Quad Cities campus. Western Illinois plans to expand their presence in the Quad Cities by creating a riverfront campus that would expand service and opportunity for the entire region. Other post-secondary schooling in the area includes St. Ambrose University, Augustana College, Palmer College of Chiropractic and the Quad Cities Graduate Center. The University of Iowa is within 50 miles of the Quad Cities.

Residents’ Health and Welfare - The City of Moline embraces a community policing philosophy that values a cooperative relationship with its residents.  The Moline Fire Department provides advanced life support through its paramedic staffed ambulance service.  Partnerships with nearby communities have allowed Moline to implement an advance response system offering residents immediate access to emergency personnel.

Moline and the Quad Cities region are served by world-class health facilities – Trinity Regional Health System, and Genesis Health System.

Housing Cost

From affordable starter homes and apartment complexes to stately mansions overlooking the Mississippi River, there is no shortage of housing lifestyles to choose from in Moline. With its downtown loft apartments, new condominium and townhouse developments, and new riverfront residential opportunities, the city offers housing choices for every stage of life.

Moline boasts pleasant neighborhoods, many of which are located near wooded ravines that provide a rustic setting for its solid homes.

Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $98,200

Demographics

Estimated population in July 2006: 42,916. Moline covers 15.6 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 600 feet above sea level.

Weather

Moline, IL climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and very cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 20's.

The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 86.10 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 12.30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 22 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 17 degrees Fahrenheit.

The annual average precipitation at Moline is 38.04 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is June with an average rainfall of 4.63 Inches.

Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com