Moline, IL

Situated on the Iowa-Illinois border, Moline is a thriving city that is part of the Quad Cities, the heartland of the Midwest made up of Rock Island and the two Iowa cities of Bettendorf and Davenport. Moline's 43,000 residents are nestled between the banks of the Mississippi and Rock rivers. The city of Moline is about 165 miles from Chicago, another 165 miles northwest of the state's capital in Springfield, and about halfway between Saint Louis and Minneapolis.

Moline has warm summers and cold winters, with temperatures typically in the 70s during summer months and the 20s during winter months. The warmest month is July, with an average high around 86 degrees Fahrenheit; January is usually the coldest month, with average lows hovering around 12 degrees. In terms of precipitation, Moline experiences about 38 inches of precipitation each year, and June is the rainiest month (an average of more than 4 inches of rainfall).

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Manufacturing, education, health care, trade, and transportation are important industries in Moline.

The world headquarters of Deere and Company is located in Moline on John Deere Place, about three miles east of Interstate 74 and Illinois Route 5. Kept on more than 1,400 acres of land that is home to numerous species of wildlife, the world headquarters has remained in Moline for more than 40 years. Other major employers in Moline include Case Corp., manufacturer of agricultural equipment and supplies; Trinity Medical Center; and Kone, an escalator and elevator company.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

The median home price range in Moline is much lower than the prices in areas that are closer to major cities. One-third of the city's homes are older than 50 years; they were constructed before 1939. The most expensive homes are in the heart of the city, while the least expensive homes are along the Mississippi River to the northwest of the city.

The Downtown Historic District includes 114 buildings spread across 33 acres. Fifth Avenue was established as the primary axis of the 'new downtown' in the 1910s and the majority of structures there were built between 1900 and 1930. Architectural styles include Beaux Arts, Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, Gothic Revival, Tudor Revival, Italian Renaissance, Prairie School, Moderne, Art Deco, Chateauesque, and Commercial. Fortunately for Moline's residents, downtown has been able to preserve its historic character.

SHOPPING

Moline is the regional retail hub of the Quad Cities and provides numerous shopping opportunities. SouthPark Mall has more than 125 stores, including 5 anchor stores. Just west of Interstate 74 at John Deere Road and 16th Street, the mall is situated in the commercial corridor of Moline. Located downtown, Moline Centre is a popular area for shoppers and diners alike with numerous night spots. Uptown and Old Towne are two other areas that feature ethnic cuisine and shopping.

FAMILY FUN

• John Deere Pavilion: As one of the top five attractions in Illinois, the pavilion is in downtown Moline. It provides the world's most comprehensive agricultural exhibit with numerous tractors on display. The John Deere history has been prominent in Moline ever since Deere himself built the first plow-manufacturing plant off the banks of the Mississippi River in 1848.
• Ben Butterworth Parkway: This scenic paved trail connects to the Great River Trail, which runs along the Mississippi River.

LOCAL MEDIA

The ABC-affiliate WQAD is licensed to Moline, although its transmitter is in nearby Orion, Illinois. WQAD subscribers can check out the station's Storm Tracker 8000, which is a 24-hour weather channel. Created in 2001, the station updates the weather every 15 minutes.

EDUCATION

Originally called Moline Community College, Black Hawk College has two main campuses: one is in Moline, and the other is in nearby Kewanee. This junior college educates nearly 20,000 credit and noncredit students and offers more than 50 degrees.

EVENTS

• Left Bank Art League's Annual Fine Art Fair: This art fair features around 100 artists and is considered one of the largest fine art fairs in Western Illinois. It is the only two-day juried art fair on the Illinois side of the Quad-Cities.
• Garden Art Fair: This event features nature-inspired art by regional artists, as well as hands-on education booths for children.
• Fourth of July Parade: More than 15,000 people attend this annual parade in East Moline.
• July 4th Firecracker Run: An annual 5k and 10k race held on Independence Day.
• Rock Island County Fair: This annual event offers games, a pageant, a demolition derby, and a Hot Rod and tractor pull.
• Viva Quad Cities: Since 1993, this festival has celebrated Hispanic culture and education in the Quad Cities.
• Quad City Classic Rowing Regatta (September)
• Tree Lighting on the John Deere Commons (November)
• Quad City Symphony Orchestra and Quad City Arts Festival of Trees Holiday Pops (November)

SPORTS TEAMS

The Quad City Steamwheelers are a professional arena minor-league football team that plays its home games in Moline. The Steamwheelers were undefeated in its inaugural season in 2002, winning the league's ArenaCup Championships. Since then, the team has won another championship and five divisional titles. As a newly established member of the American Hockey League (AHL), the Quad City Flames first took to the ice in 2007. Formerly part of the Omaha franchise, the Flames are the farm team of the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). Both the Steamwheelers and the Flames play their home games at the 12,000-seat i wireless Center. The arena also hosts college basketball tournament games, World Wrestling Federation contests, concerts, and other forms of live entertainment.