Davenport, Iowa

City: Davenport

County: Scott

State: Iowa

Lat/Long: 41.5236, -90.5776

The city of Davenport is located in eastern Iowa on the Mississippi River across from Rock Island, Illinois. The city was laid out in the spring of 1836 and was reportedly named in honor of fur trader and Indian agent, George Davenport. When Scott County was created in 1837 in what was at the time the Wisconsin Territory, a provision was made by the Wisconsin Territory Legislative Assembly that the residents of the county would vote in February 1838 to select either Davenport or Rockingham as the county seat. Davenport won a majority of votes but allegations of voting irregularities were raised. Following an additional contested vote Rockingham ultimately withdrew from contention and allowed Davenport to become county seat on the agreement that Davenport would pay for the construction of a jail and courthouse. Davenport was incorporated as a town in 1839.

Merriam-Webster’s Geographical Dictionary, 3rd ed. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1997), 306; Harry E. Downer, History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa (Chicago: S. J. Clarke, 1910), 1:97-99, 124-27; “An Act to Establish the Boundary Lines of the Counties of Dubuque, Clayton, Jackson, Benton, Lynn, Jones, Clinton, Johnson, Scott, Delaware, Buchanan, Cedar, Fayette and Keokuk; and to Provide for the Location of the Seats of Justice in Said Counties, and for Other Purposes,” 21 December 1837, Laws of the Territory of Wisconsin (1836-1838), 136-37; “An Act to Establish the Seat of Justice of Scott County,” 23 June 1838, Laws of the Territory of Wisconsin (1836-1838), 556-57; “An Act to Incorporate the town of Davenport,” 25 January 1839, Laws of the Territory of Iowa (1839), 265-68.