The City of Rock Island is a full-service community located on the Mississippi River, approximately 175 miles west of Chicago. Rock Island is a major city in what is known as the Quad Cities, a region with a population approaching 400,000 that encompasses Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline, Illinois, and Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa. According to the 2010 census, Rock Island’s population is 39,018.
Organization of the City
The City is organized under a council-manager form of government, with legislative authority vested in a City Council made up of a mayor and seven aldermen. Aldermen are elected from wards to staggered four-year terms. The City is a home rule unit under the 1970 Illinois Constitution and, as such, has broad powers to support development activity in the community. Administrative functions are unified through the direction of the city manager who is appointed by the mayor and council and charged with overseeing the day-to-day operations of the City and its more than 350 full-time employees.
City Services
City staff provide a variety of services through nine departments that include Police, Fire, Community and Economic Development, Finance, Parks and Recreation, Human Resources, Library, Public Works and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center.
Community
Rock Island has great neighborhoods where residents feel at home. There’s a wide variety of housing available in Rock Island including historic homes, new downtown condos, new construction in the heart of the city, and wooded retreats. The Rock Island-Milan School District, along with private schools, are innovative and prepare students for life. Rock Island offers plenty of options to play. The District (downtown Rock Island) has art galleries and theatres, nightclubs and coffee shops, and restaurants of all flavors. Golf courses, parks, a casino, botanical center, marina, historic tours, bike paths, and festivals will keep you entertained.
