Quad Cities Quiz

From 2011 0630 Quad Cities

Fifty points if you can name the four cities on the upper Mississippi known as the Quad Cities without reading beyond the end of this sentence. Time's up. Davenport, Iowa, and Moline, Illinois, are the easy ones. Maybe so, too, is Rock Island, Illinois. It's the fourth one that's usually the stumper. How many people can come up with Bettendorf, Iowa? I would have also given credit for East Moline, Illinois, which Wikipedia lists as the "fifth" of the "quad" cities. Wikipedia also reveals that the area was known as the "Tri-Cities" until East Moline grew in the 1930s and became the first "fourth" city in the Quad Cities. Confusing, isn't it?

It all makes for some confusing street names, too. Going east-west, they are called avenues. Going north-south, they are called streets. And when you cross the border between Moline and Rock Island, the number system changes. So, 12th Avenue becomes 30th Avenue and one block east of 54th Street is 2nd Street. Luckily for the wayward tourist, the Mississippi River, already broad and impressive this far north, dominates all, so it's not too difficult to navigate your way around. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the discovery of the Village of East Davenport, Iowa, nestled between Davenport and Bettendorf. It just might have the most scenic block in all four five six towns.

For more photos, look here.