 The City of Moline is located in the heart of the Midwest, nestled between the banks of the Mississippi and Rock River in Rock Island County, Illinois. Home to 43,768 people, Moline is one of four cities making up the Quad Cities, a metropolitan area of over 350,000 people residing in Moline and Rock Island, Illinois and Bettendorf and Davenport, Iowa.
Moline is located approximately 165 miles west of Chicago and midway between Minneapolis to the north and St. Louis to the South. 37.4 million people reside within a 300-mile radius of Moline, which comprises almost 13% of the nation’s population. Moline and its neighbors help form the largest urban concentration between St. Louis and Minneapolis along the Mississippi River. Major interstates I-80, I-88 and I-74 provide ready access in all directions, making the region a preferred location for logistics and distribution facilities.
The Quad City International Airport, the third largest airport in Illinois is proudly located in Moline and serves the regional Quad City area. Currently, five airlines offer non-stop flights to eight cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Orlando, with numerous connections available. To track a flight, log onto www.qcairport.com, and click on flight tracker or click the “arrivals and departures” button for a list of on-time flight status.
Amtrak rail offers convenient service to downtown Chicago via the Princeton, Illinois, Amtrak station. The Princeton station is just south of interstate I-80, with free parking available.
Attractions & Visitor Information
Centrally located, Moline offers easy access to a year-round calendar rich in cultural and entertainment opportunities. for attraction and visitor information.
Parks & Recreation
 Moline has an abundance of neighborhood parks, including Riverside Park, home of the new Riverside Family Aquatic Center, and Greenvalley Sports Complex, featuring acres of baseball diamonds, soccer fields and cricket field.
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 150 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, remains a popular area for shoppers with its computer stores, gift and specialty shops, antiques, upscale clothing and 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 special education center, an alternative high school for at-risk students in a non-traditional educational environment, an alternative educational center for troubled adolescents and one high school. The nearly 7,800 students in the Moline school district excel, with test scores typically higher than the state average.
The city is home to Black Hawk College, a community college offering numerous degree and certificate programs as well as continuing education classes, and Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, the only public university in the Quad Cities. Both bachelor and graduate degree and post-baccalaureate certificate programs are offered at the Quad Cities campus. Western Illinois plans to expand their presence in the Quad Cities by creating a riverfront campus that would provide service and opportunity to 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.
Housing
From affordable starter homes and apartment complexes, downtown loft apartments and town homes to stately mansions overlooking the Mississippi River, there is no shortage of housing lifestyles to choose from in Moline. The area is one of the most affordable housing markets in the nation, with an average home price of $110,873 in 2005.
Bass Street Landing, a new residential, commercial, and retail development along the river in downtown Moline is currently in progress. Phase III of the project includes a unique townhouse and condominium development to be located west of 17th Street facing the Mississippi River. Construction is expected to begin shortly. Further down River Drive and the Ben Butterworth Parkway, Butterworth Condominiums and Aeries Condominiums provide some of the best riverfront living.
The city’s newest hilltop development, One Moline Place, overlooks the Mississippi River on the site of the old Moline Hospital. This new development includes single-family homes, condominiums and townhouses, some of which are ready for occupancy. Moline Woods, another new development on the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, is currently under construction.
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, Genesis Health System.
Population & Misc. City Statistics
The City's population is 43,768, with the median age at 37.9. The median household income is $39,363. 67.3% of Moline homes are owner-occupied. 27,390 residents are registered voters.
The City is located in an area of approximately 19 square miles. The City maintains 213 miles of streets, 3,266 streetlights and 102 traffic lights. There are 206 miles of water mains and 190 miles of sanitary sewers. There are 18 parks located within 728 acres of land. The City employs approximately 400 full-time and seasonal employees.
Form of Government
Moline has a Council-City Administrator form of local government. The City Council comprises the policy leadership that directs the city government to meet the needs and wants of the citizens of Moline. The City Council is responsible for setting all municipal policies and legislative action such as adopting ordinances and resolutions, determining the tax rate, and approving the annual budget and contracts. The City Administrator is appointed to carry out municipal policies with the assistance of the entire city staff, and to ensure that the entire community is being served.
The Administrator oversees the daily operations of all municipal activities, provides strong management support for all department directors, and continually keeps the Mayor and City Council informed of critical information. As Chief Administrative Officer of the City, the Administrator is responsible for producing an annual balanced budget for consideration and approval by the Council.
The City provides a full compliment of services and has approximately 400 full time and seasonal employees.
|
