Rock Island is located in the southwest "corner" of the Quad Cities area in western Illinois on the Mississippi River, 165 miles west of Chicago and midway between Minneapolis and St. Louis. The city provides easy access to other major Midwestern towns.

Rock Island is surrounded by two great rivers, the Mississippi and the Rock Rivers. These rivers support many leisure activities in the area and have beautiful scenic views.

The City of Rock Island offers many recreational facilities for individuals, family members, Rock Island Residents, and visitors to the city. Swimming, boating, golf, reading, and many community events are offered daily and make Rock Island a great source for entertainment and family fun.

Downtown Rock Island is the hub for arts and entertainment in the Quad Cities. The District has a comfortable, pedestrian-friendly plaza surrounded by historic architecture and a casual ambiance. Downtown, you can enjoy a Broadway musical, mystery, comedy, or children's play at Circa 21 Dinner Theatre, now in its 23rd year of professional production. Visit the Quad City ArtsCenter, home to the area's visual arts. Stroll through the Quad City Botanical Center, one of the largest in the Midwest. Take part in the gaming excitement of Jumer's Casino Rock Island. Enjoy live music at downtown establishments. Shop for gifts, clothing, music, books, furniture, and much more. Sit back with a good book and sip fresh-roasted java at one of the cozy coffeehouses. Dance the night away in jazz, rock and dance clubs. Attend a live comedy performance at one of two comedy clubs in The District. Dine at one of the dozen or so restaurants offering a world of tempting cuisine. Whatever your tastes, simple or eclectic, you're bound to find an afternoon or evening of fun in downtown Rock Island. Make it a weekend and stay over at the charming Victorian Inn, Top-o-the-Morning bed and breakfast or at the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton in downtown.

Rock Island’s Park and Recreation Department operates 26 sites having over 878 acres of green space. This provides a wide variety of activities and programs for people of all age groups, including league activities, fitness and aerobic programs, aquatic programs, senior activities, and recreational classes.

Rock Island is served by eight hospitals in the Quad Cities area, nine immediate care facilities, and hundreds of physicians and dentists with local practices.

Rock Island is truly a community that welcomes all people, regardless of race, sex, or religion. All major denominations are represented in Rock Island's 54 houses of worship, including the area's Jewish center and Greek Orthodox Church. The city's faith community provides not only for the spiritual needs of residents but also offers numerous outreach and social programs for people of all faiths, as well as family-oriented holiday season activities and performances.

Rock Island is home to Augustana College, the Quad City Graduate Center, and is within 40 miles of the following 4-year institutions of higher education: Knox College, Ashford University and Saint Ambrose University.

Rock Island is fortunate to have not only excellent public schools but also three premium private schools, a world-class four year college, and the Quad City Graduate Center.

Nearly 7,000 students attend the District's 16 elementary, middle and senior high schools. The voters of the community recently passed a referendum by a margin of 4-1 to allow the District to continue to upgrade its facilities.

The schools are staffed by a ratio of 20.5 students per teacher. Thus, classes are kept small enough for interaction between the child and teacher. On average, teachers in Rock Island have more experience than their counterparts statewide.

Rock Island is fortunate to also have three excellent private schools serving students in grades K-12. Alleman Catholic High School, Jordan Catholic Schools, and Immanuel Lutheran Elementary offer quality educational opportunities combined with religious study.

Housing Cost

Rock Island neighborhoods have created a warm, welcoming place for people to call home. Rock Island offers urban, suburban and rural housing alternatives in a variety of price ranges to fit any family's budget. Whether it's downtown lofts or spacious wooded acres, Rock Island has housing to attract anyone. Some of Rock Island's biggest assets are its neighborhoods.

Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $94,203 Mean prices in 2007: All housing units: $109,110; Detached houses: $109,407; Townhouses or other attached units: $122,226; In 2-unit structures: $171,253; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $159,832; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $110,256; Mobile homes: $15,559.

Demographics

Population in July 2008: 38,139. Rock Island covers 15.9 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 580 feet above sea level. Zip codes: 61201, 61204, 61206, 61299 - Area code: 309

Weather

Rock Island, 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 85.10 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 13.30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature variations between night and day tend to be fairly limited during summer with a difference that can reach 18 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 17 degrees Fahrenheit.

The annual average precipitation at Rock Island is 35.10 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is June with an average rainfall of 4.75 Inches.

Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com