Davenport travel guide

Davenport is a city in the American state of Iowa that borders the Mississippi River. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 98,359. According to a 2006 estimate, the city had grown slightly to 99,514. Davenport is part of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Bettendorf and the Illinois cities of Moline, East Moline, and Rock Island. Davenport is the home of Saint Ambrose University and Palmer College of Chiropractic, which is the birthplace of chiropractic medicine and wellness technique. Davenport is the county seat of Scott County.
Davenport often makes national headlines when the Mississippi River floods. It is the largest city bordering the Mississippi that has no permanent floodwall or levee. Davenport prefers the open access to the river for parks and vistas over having access cut off by dikes and levees. Davenport has adopted ordinances that any new construction in the floodplain must be elevated above the 100 year flood level or protected with walls. As a result, feasibility studies done by the United States Army Corps of Engineers have determined that building a floodwall along Davenport's riverfront is not feasible and "would be a huge waste of money". An example of a building that is elevated or floodproofed in Davenport is the Figge Art Museum. During the Great Flood of 1993, the water crested at 22.63 feet on July 9. This is nearly 8 feet above the 14.9 foot flood stage.
Several well-known annual music festivals take place in Davenport. Notable festivals are the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, The Mississippi Valley Fair, and the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, dedicated to Davenport native Bix Beiderbecke. An internationally known seven-mile foot race called the Bix 7 is run during the festival. (...) more....