Illinois

Rock Island

144,672
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Rock Island

Rock Island, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 2,610. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 144,672.

Its recorded population peaked at 166,734 in 1970, and has since declined by roughly 13 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of the Rock Island Rapids (1814), Battle of Campbell's Island, Fort Armstrong Treaty — End of Black Hawk War, and 28 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020144,672
2010147,546
2000149,374
1990148,723
1980165,968
1970166,734
1960150,991
1950133,558
1940113,323
193098,191
192092,297
191070,404
190055,249
189041,917
188038,302
187029,783
186021,005
18506,937
18402,610
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Rock Island

Military engagements that took place in Rock Island, Illinois.

Battle of the Rock Island Rapids (1814)
1814
Battle of Campbell's Island
1814
Fort Armstrong Treaty — End of Black Hawk War
1832

Historic places in Rock Island

National Register of Historic Places listings in Rock Island, Illinois.

Rock Island Arsenal
Rock Island
Black's Store
Hampton
Broadway Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Rock Island
Downtown Rock Island Historic District
Rock Island
Connor House
Rock Island
Moline Downtown Commercial Historic District
Moline
Wagner, Robert, House
Rock Island
Garfield Elementary School
Moline
LeClaire Hotel
Moline
Potter House
Rock Island
Peoples National Bank Building-Fries Building
Rock Island
Deere, John, House
Moline
Lock and Dam No. 15 Historic District
Rock Island
Rock Island National Cemetery
Moline
Fort Armstrong Theatre
Rock Island
Chippiannock Cemetery
Rock Island
Best Building
Rock Island
Stauduhar House
Rock Island
Black Hawk Museum and Lodge
Rock Island
Sala Apartment Building
Rock Island
Denkmann-Hauberg House
Rock Island
Old Main, Augustana College
Rock Island
Weyerhaeuser House
Rock Island
Rock Island Lines Passenger Station
Rock Island
Browse all Illinoishistoric sites ›

Other counties in Illinois

Explore census history and historic records for more Illinois counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Rock Island County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Rock Island County, Illinois. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Illinoishistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Illinois›

Frequently asked about Rock Island

When does Rock Island first appear in the US census?
Rock Island, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 2,610.
What is the population of Rock Island?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Rock Island had a recorded population of 144,672.
When did Rock Island's population peak?
Rock Island's recorded population peaked at 166,734 in 1970.
Were any battles fought in Rock Island?
3 documented military engagements took place in Rock Island, including Battle of the Rock Island Rapids (1814), Battle of Campbell's Island, Fort Armstrong Treaty — End of Black Hawk War.
How many historic places are in Rock Island?
28 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Rock Island, Illinois.
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