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This is interesting -- thanks for posting! But a few points: 1) You completely miss the actual downtown area! When you were driving by the Centennial Bridge, I was waiting for you to turn into the District, but you never do. There's a semi-thriving landscape here of bars, music joints, breweries, and cafes, along with some cool architecture (Circa 21, Fort Armstromg) and you managed to completely miss the entire thing. When you say you are "in the heart of downtown", you are still several blocks (and a right turn) away. The heart of Rock Island is missing from this video! 2) There's a lot of amazing architectural residential gems you blow by without comment in your drive through the "blighted" west side -- and there are some residents doing amazing work fixing them up. I can point to exact moments in the video and data about the houses, if anyone is interested. 3) The name "Broadway Historic District" comes from the original name of 23rd street, Broadway. Rock Island has indeed seen better days, and you do a good job showing and presenting statistics on its decline (a tour of the district with the old IH grounds would have shown that as well!). But you missed a lot of what's good about the place -- and not just the secret gems, but pretty big, obvious parts of the city. Hope you will make a second tour to catch these parts of the city next time!
I grew up in Rock Island and you drove by my childhood home (11th St and 33rd Ave). It’s sad to see the city in the state that it’s in. At least I have the fond memories of what it was like when I lived there.
I used to live in Moline when I was a kid and my grandparents lived in Rock Island.. I wen't to Horace Mann and Garfield elementary before we moved away... So many wonderful memories of the Quad Cities and hanging out with my grandparents. I'm 45 now but those memories still feel like it was yesterday when I lived there.. It's a beautiful place!
I live in Rock Island and love it. In fact, i moved to iowa from Illinois but decided to move back to Illinois. Yes we have our issues but i don't really think you captured the whole picture.
I agree. I'm trying to move back and I'm 32. This guy hella botched this. Plus that spot on 9th street wasn't a strip mall that didn't get business it was a ICONIC bowling alley that burned down. They did bulldoze some structures in the area for a Walmart that later dropped the contract. But.. it's walmart.. don't expect much.
@Oldskol Acura Nah, I moved here from the West Coast. Definitely agree with Dr Dwg. Rock Island is cool. Love the scenery and architecture, though the people are hit or miss.
Is it a decent place to live if you're in your late 20s or early 30s and like to go out sometimes? Is there enough things to do or does it feel fairly rural? Or would you say it is more like a family oriented area to settle down? Also, is the crime bad. Like arm robberies and that type of thing?
The vacant lot was vacant because Walmart put a option on it and then decided they did not want it........there were still some businesses in the buildings before it was torn down..........
The quality of life in Rock Island is not measured by the run down areas. What it possesses are friendly , caring people with a great sense of community and family. Many of the residents have lived there for quite a few generations. It's a none complicated place to raise a family with the values that seem lacking in more affluent communities. Hat's off to the Rocks.
Now as you drive 5th Ave from 21st down to 26th there you will see so many places boarded up with plywood with the address spray painted in red paint. Means They getting torn down.
As someone from Galesburg and goes to Augie rn, it’s interesting how the IL side is shrinking while the IA side is growing. I don’t think people are leaving the QC altogether, just going to Iowa
The Quad Cities Metro Area as a whole is estimated to of lost an extremely small percentage of people in the last 10 years. That’s with Scott County, Iowa gaining 7,000 people. So yeah you’re right. The Illinois side is shrinking while the Iowa side is growing, but the Illinois side is slightly out shrinking the growth of the Iowa side.
People are moving to Iowa for a couple of reason such as Schools, lower property tax, and newer construction. People still work in Illinois. You will see traffic gets backed up going to Illinois in the morning and backed up going back to Iowa during 3-5pm
Watched the Davenport and the Rock Island videos. Moved from the Quad Cities area in 1981...but the Quad Cities will always be home. THANKS for sharing, they may be a quick trip down memory lane, but I appreciate your effort in putting them together
I moved out of Rock Island in 2004. It was depressed and hemorrhaging people and jobs back then. I was sad to leave but the opportunities seemed to be elsewhere. The only problem is...I moved to Portland Oregon. I miss Rock Island.
It is likely doing better now, since Trump was in office even small cities have jobs hiring. I look at indeed and see plenty of jobs in the quad cities and other places that used to lack them.
I've lived in Rock Island for the last 32 years. You capture well that its glory has faded. But you missed a few things that might well have been included. You mention that you've reached the heart of downtown when you've barely reached it's perimeter and then avoid the downtown area, more recently christened "The District," almost entirely. There's Douglas Field, which competes with a field in Dayton, OH for the claim of hosting the first ever NFL game, not that it's much to look at these days, but it's of historical interest to sports fans. Also, there's Blackhawk State Park. By the way, the old Native American sign by the huge vacant lot represents Chief Black Hawk, a native of some historical fame. The old shopping center there thrived before it became one that couldn't attract retail business. The State Park is now mainly a wooded area for picnics and hiking. But it contains a small museum featuring items of the Native life in the area and has an interesting history, most particularly as an amusement park about a century ago. While the crime rates in recent years have improved, there has a been a lot of gun violence this year. My impression is that it's worse than ever, but I'd like to see some statistics to compare it with earlier bad years. Anyway, I've just discovered your videos and am enjoying your tours. Keep 'em coming.
Well this guy didn't even visit the waterfront which is real nice on both sides or even mention the Arsenal (which you can visit if you go to the guard station and get a pass) or the rich history involving John Lonney or the beautiful old buildings. I did see him pass by the house where the mayor from the Looney Era lived. I did a little video a couple years back where I visited some of the Looney locations including talking with the guy who owns the mayors old house when I saw him working on it. I apologize ahead of time that in that video a couple times I called it "Rock City." The last time I was there was a warm December 23rd stopped on my way driving from MN to STL. I had a nice conversation with a guy on the river walk about the numerous bald eagle looking to fish by the lock and dam. He suggested I did not take my dog on that grate bridge that could cut his paws. I thanked him for the warning because I stupidly didn't think about that. I do remember the "empty" part of town was called "Old Chicago." Lot of vacant lots but lots of nice old buildings including the old mayors house. The thing I DO like about this guy's videos is he does pick good music for the driving footage and the footage is good quality. He also visits a lot places around the midwest I might visit sometime. So I did sub for those reasons.
Can’t expect much from a vlogger whose not a die heart resident, just gives a whoop about the video to get subscribers and make a buck!🤨 I love that part of the country and my family is from Rock island, (grandparents and mother). My great grandparents The McDonalds came from Ireland and right away become farmers, same as my mother’s father, who originally came from south of France and also were farmers in the old country. I have only visited this place 2 summers in a row as a teenager and I enjoyed my visits fondly of course I was 16 & 17! If I wasn’t in my late 50s I would retire there because California is getting to crazy!
@@kelleymariejones6388 research must be tough, especially if not from the area. You are being tough on Chris Harden. Watched many of his video’s. I think he is not doing anyone a disservice.
It has everything going for it! The railroad, the river system, how beautiful :( I a. Going to be rooting for it. Smal towns are great places to raise kids. Darn, come on Rock Island!
I was raised right here in Rock Island illinois, when my parents separated I moved with my mom to Florida, I was almost 12. I've been in the Tampa Bay Area ever since 1989. But my hometown is Rock Island Illinois
@@gustavogomez7331 yes. We have a very diverse population. However, the larger Latino population seems to be in Moline. Right next door to Rock Island. Rock Island is a good mix of all races. Our area is known as "Midwest Friendly". Some of the nicest communities you'll find. We don't get as much crime as the big cities and our neighbors are our law enforcement. Taxes suck though. You should visit.
Another in depth view which I highly recommend should be contrasted with the Davenport and Bettendorf Iowa videos. To my knowledge I don't think the flood risk between the two is different. Both have amazing historic areas both in downtown and residential areas. So as Chris has pointed out the look of ruin in Rock Island is logically due to high taxes. It is not just the tax rate itself but how it is used. I personally think taxes do a lot of good when used for the public good like school excellence, recreational opportunities and public safety. I seriously question how much of the high taxes were used that way. When I was a kid Rock Island was an iconic city. These incredible videos are not just giving a great tour but are also telling a very important story!
The statue is Chief Black Hawk, it’s the location he made his last stand/attack and that shopping center was bought and leveled by Walmart before they decided not to build in Rock Island. Also most of the businesses in your video are gone in just the 3 years
@@ChrisHarden I sure didnt know that! They are talking about moving the statue now that there's nobody coming down there, but that is the area he and his tribe were pushed into Iowa (continuing to do business on Credit Island
@@calvinwright6084 actually the Chief Blackhawk statue was blown over by a severe storm a couple years ago 😢. I believe it is now in the care of the local Native American population of the Quad Cities
I used to live on 22nd Avenue right off of 11th Street.. I went to Francis Willard Elementary School in Rock Island. I have lived in Tampa florida, since 1989, I moved here when I was 11, turning 12 a month later.
17:36 Milan used to be the only area that had a movie theater that wasn't a drive in. I had to hitch rides or beg my mom to see classics like Total Recall, and Star Trek VI.
I live in Rock island illinois. Yes that is sad because walmart let us down Lived here all my life as as child I lived in davenport iowa.lived in Ridgeview as a child.
Good tour. But you missed 18th Ave which is where the majority of businesses are along with heavier traffic. North and northeast rock island are much nicer. Grocery stores and different strips with businesses. also a lot more elementary schools and jr highs.
The only reason why I move back to Illinois because I am from Chicago originally. I was living in Iowa for years, I just moved back to Illinois last month. Me personally I do not like Iowa Davenport is ok but, I rather be on the Illinois side.
It actually isn't fair to assume the population decline is related to the crime rates. In fact, you were so close to making a more accurate assumption. Rock Island was treated like party central of the quad cities when their downtown was all bars open til 3a.m. What do you get at 3a.m. with a bunch of drunk people? Fights. The people of Rock Island are actually super chill. It was everyone from Iowa and surrounding cities coming to Rock Island, stirring up trouble, and spiking crime stats. As for depopulation, it is more accurate to blame state policies that are designed for Chicago. There are good arguments for and against decentralization and the way Illinois state policies cater to the Chicago Metro is an example where the central authority disenfranchises rural, river, and even other urban centers of Illinois that don't reflect Chicagoland, a global economic crossroads encased by a monolithic suburbia.
Its now number 4. Bettendorf has now surpassed rock island and will eventually over take moline. They are building big brand new multi million dollar homes up in the wilderness point addition out off criswell ave.
As you pointed out property taxes are terrible in Illinois. I saw a graph awhile back and only 3 counties in the state saw an increase in population the rest saw a decrease. People are moving out of the state quickly. And to add insult to injury Illinois is arguably the most corrupt state in the US.
The Building You Refer to at 10:45 is Called Lincoln School...It's School Dist. Offices, and a Center for School Custodial and Meal Programs...It Was NOT Part of the Public Schools Orig. It Was St. Joseph's School...NEXT to Lincoln School...the Public School Dist Bought it Later...
I lived 40 years of my life in Rock Island and the last 15 years there I lived in the house on 11st at 14:23 on right in video but $3000 property tax for a not so great area was it for me, my brother lives on top the hill in a basic 2 bedroom house and his property tax is over $5000. We moved to Davenport 3 years ago now I have a large 1 acre yard 6 car garage and 4 bed and 3 bath house and only pay $3500 for taxes. Rock Island lost over 40 million in the Walmart deal and the land behind big island they wasted over 3 million on that failed and now passed on to tax payers, of course Rock Island lied and told citizens different but I got friends who work for government officials in Rock Island and told me get out now while I can still sell a house so we did.
Missed the whole downtown as you also did with Decatur and Moline and Davenport. Instead of driving down blighted residential streets, I think people want more driving around downtown and downtown side streets. Seems you are on a prejudiced campaign to disparage Illinois. While people have been moving out due to high property taxes, the price of real estate is very very low. For many Contrarian home seekers, that cancels out the high tax issue! Hell, Rock Island, Moline, and Davenport are on the Mighty Mississippi with awesome views and history! You just missed the whole Mississippi?
Half of the city is on the hill and in the area west of Milan south of the Rock River. He only drove up 20th Street hill, went down 17th Street to the high school and headed back down 25th Avenue to 11th Street. There are still many nice residential neighborhoods up on the hill and he did nothing to show them. Additionally, the reason Illinois has such high property taxes is their income tax rate was kept artificially low. Iowa has a much higher income tax rate. Even with Illinois's recent increase which was necessary because the State Pension Funds were mismanaged for so many years, the income tax rate is still only a flat 4.95%. Georgia where I still have a home and live about half the year and have lived there for almost 40 years has a marginal tax rate of 5.75 percent, and sales taxes about 1% higher than Illinois, but the tax becomes flat at $20,000.00 so the effective rate is over 5%. The problems for Rock Island and Moline is they lost their factory jobs. Farmall once employed up to 8,000. When it closed in the middle 80s, along with many Deere facilities in Moline and then JI Case in Rock Island, the city lost its tax base, and the population shrunk. I grew up in Rock Island, graduated from Rocky in 1969 and then lived as an adult in the Iowa QCs from 1976-1980. It's still home.
What a shame Illinois taxes stunted this town's growth. They really need to get the taxes down or there won't be anyone left to tax! My parents left just 2 yrs ago. My Dad's side of the family will be next. Its a real shame. I love Illinois :( this all towns still hold onto their charm, unlike many places I have loved whose growth turns them into anywhere USA. Who wants to vacation in a place that lok,s like everywhere else, BORING!
I lived on 14 1/2st until I was 14 went to Hawthorne Elementary school then went to Washington Jr High left in 2002 town is garbage if you lived on the bottom of the hill even worse if you staid in the Arsenal Courts.
I live on the Illinois side of the quad cities and your accurate about people moving because of the taxes. In a couple years I’m going to be moving over to Iowa.
I see lots of great old architecture sprinkled here and there! Because it's a river city there is more old architecture than many other small Illinois cities. To stop the out-flow of residents, Rock Island could institute a real estate transfer tax that only applies if you are not buying another property in Rock Island within a year. This would make moving to Iowa a worse deal and raise revenue. Also, municipalities should NEVER trust big deals with big corporations. The only way forward is a vast array of small businesses. Big corporations leave and leave your city an abandoned shell.
At least Illinois having the 2nd highest property taxes equates to being the state with the best soil in the US, maybe the world. Davenport is definitely the better side of the QC. Augie keeps RI afloat.
@@DemocracyJA how? Does the $600,000 augie paid keep a $97,000,000 budget afloat? They employ less that a 12th of the Arsenal let alone all the other major employers. Did you forget about modern woodmen, MidAmerican, Unity Point, must I go on??
Must be an Augie student. They don't keep our economy afloat. Our hardworking middle class citizens invest in their own community. This is a generational town. Augie students come & go. They also get a huge chunk of IL/Federal Government tax funds even though they are a private institution. Their money doesn't go into community, it goes into their Endowment Fund.
You shouldve went back up 18th ave when you were on 11th street at some point. I agree the city is going downhill especially now with all the gun violence. But you really only drove in the slums or the hood
@@ChrisHarden Looking forward to seeing your Freeport video. I lived in Freeport for 20 years and loved it there. Was hoping to go back this year since I just retired but the taxes are keeping me away.
The only way to bring it back is to vote them all out. We loved living in Rock Island for 60 years they drove us out. It all started to go down hill in the 1980"s.
Rock Island Ill. Nothing but little Chicago Democrats Love Taxes more Taxes and ohhh yea More taxes can't wait to move the heck out of Illinois and Rock Island missed all of down in the Rock the other side of 11th st
.... really disliking the annoying drum-beat, on this video. I watch RUclips, on a large 4K flat-screen with 5.1 surround-sound, and the subwoofer really accentuates this problem. Otherwise, I like the subject-matter and your approach.
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Sunset marina, blackhawk park with its trails, and so much more.
For a city in such trouble this video makes it look fairly nice. Clean and maintained lawns, etc.
This is interesting -- thanks for posting! But a few points:
1) You completely miss the actual downtown area! When you were driving by the Centennial Bridge, I was waiting for you to turn into the District, but you never do. There's a semi-thriving landscape here of bars, music joints, breweries, and cafes, along with some cool architecture (Circa 21, Fort Armstromg) and you managed to completely miss the entire thing. When you say you are "in the heart of downtown", you are still several blocks (and a right turn) away. The heart of Rock Island is missing from this video!
2) There's a lot of amazing architectural residential gems you blow by without comment in your drive through the "blighted" west side -- and there are some residents doing amazing work fixing them up. I can point to exact moments in the video and data about the houses, if anyone is interested.
3) The name "Broadway Historic District" comes from the original name of 23rd street, Broadway.
Rock Island has indeed seen better days, and you do a good job showing and presenting statistics on its decline (a tour of the district with the old IH grounds would have shown that as well!). But you missed a lot of what's good about the place -- and not just the secret gems, but pretty big, obvious parts of the city. Hope you will make a second tour to catch these parts of the city next time!
The district is a ghost town now!
The closing of the international harvester farmall plant in 85 really hurt the area!
I grew up in Rock Island and you drove by my childhood home (11th St and 33rd Ave). It’s sad to see the city in the state that it’s in. At least I have the fond memories of what it was like when I lived there.
I used to live in Moline when I was a kid and my grandparents lived in Rock Island.. I wen't to Horace Mann and Garfield elementary before we moved away... So many wonderful memories of the Quad Cities and hanging out with my grandparents. I'm 45 now but those memories still feel like it was yesterday when I lived there.. It's a beautiful place!
I went to Horace Mann!!! We are like family!!! Great school they dont make them like that anymore!
@@bethanyderekw3723 Small World! What years did you go there?
Garfield elementary school is now a nursing home. They closed when I was in high school
@@tonyengland420yeah I seen that. I visit there often through google earth😀
I live in Rock Island and love it. In fact, i moved to iowa from Illinois but decided to move back to Illinois. Yes we have our issues but i don't really think you captured the whole picture.
I agree. I'm trying to move back and I'm 32. This guy hella botched this. Plus that spot on 9th street wasn't a strip mall that didn't get business it was a ICONIC bowling alley that burned down. They did bulldoze some structures in the area for a Walmart that later dropped the contract. But.. it's walmart.. don't expect much.
This. Rock island is awesome, remember youtube clicks are generated by sensationalism. This guy is a dweeb
@Oldskol Acura Nah, I moved here from the West Coast. Definitely agree with Dr Dwg. Rock Island is cool. Love the scenery and architecture, though the people are hit or miss.
I also live in rock island
Is it a decent place to live if you're in your late 20s or early 30s and like to go out sometimes? Is there enough things to do or does it feel fairly rural?
Or would you say it is more like a family oriented area to settle down?
Also, is the crime bad. Like arm robberies and that type of thing?
The vacant lot was vacant because Walmart put a option on it and then decided they did not want it........there were still some businesses in the buildings before it was torn down..........
I was gonna say. It attracted a lot of business until the mayor torn them down for Walmart but Walmart backed out.
The quality of life in Rock Island is not measured by the run down areas. What it possesses are friendly , caring people with a great sense of community and family. Many of the residents have lived there for quite a few generations. It's a none complicated place to raise a family with the values that seem lacking in more affluent communities. Hat's off to the Rocks.
😊
Thank you for showing my area
Now as you drive 5th Ave from 21st down to 26th there you will see so many places boarded up with plywood with the address spray painted in red paint. Means They getting torn down.
As someone from Galesburg and goes to Augie rn, it’s interesting how the IL side is shrinking while the IA side is growing. I don’t think people are leaving the QC altogether, just going to Iowa
The Quad Cities Metro Area as a whole is estimated to of lost an extremely small percentage of people in the last 10 years.
That’s with Scott County, Iowa gaining 7,000 people. So yeah you’re right. The Illinois side is shrinking while the Iowa side is growing, but the Illinois side is slightly out shrinking the growth of the Iowa side.
People are moving to Iowa for a couple of reason such as Schools, lower property tax, and newer construction. People still work in Illinois. You will see traffic gets backed up going to Illinois in the morning and backed up going back to Iowa during 3-5pm
Watched the Davenport and the Rock Island videos. Moved from the Quad Cities area in 1981...but the Quad Cities will always be home. THANKS for sharing, they may be a quick trip down memory lane, but I appreciate your effort in putting them together
Arent the QC just great?! I miss it
Haven't been home in years watching this i can almost feel taste and smell my hometown shit
I moved out of Rock Island in 2004. It was depressed and hemorrhaging people and jobs back then. I was sad to leave but the opportunities seemed to be elsewhere. The only problem is...I moved to Portland Oregon. I miss Rock Island.
It is likely doing better now, since Trump was in office even small cities have jobs hiring. I look at indeed and see plenty of jobs in the quad cities and other places that used to lack them.
I've lived in Rock Island for the last 32 years. You capture well that its glory has faded. But you missed a few things that might well have been included. You mention that you've reached the heart of downtown when you've barely reached it's perimeter and then avoid the downtown area, more recently christened "The District," almost entirely. There's Douglas Field, which competes with a field in Dayton, OH for the claim of hosting the first ever NFL game, not that it's much to look at these days, but it's of historical interest to sports fans. Also, there's Blackhawk State Park. By the way, the old Native American sign by the huge vacant lot represents Chief Black Hawk, a native of some historical fame. The old shopping center there thrived before it became one that couldn't attract retail business. The State Park is now mainly a wooded area for picnics and hiking. But it contains a small museum featuring items of the Native life in the area and has an interesting history, most particularly as an amusement park about a century ago. While the crime rates in recent years have improved, there has a been a lot of gun violence this year. My impression is that it's worse than ever, but I'd like to see some statistics to compare it with earlier bad years. Anyway, I've just discovered your videos and am enjoying your tours. Keep 'em coming.
Well this guy didn't even visit the waterfront which is real nice on both sides or even mention the Arsenal (which you can visit if you go to the guard station and get a pass) or the rich history involving John Lonney or the beautiful old buildings. I did see him pass by the house where the mayor from the Looney Era lived. I did a little video a couple years back where I visited some of the Looney locations including talking with the guy who owns the mayors old house when I saw him working on it. I apologize ahead of time that in that video a couple times I called it "Rock City."
The last time I was there was a warm December 23rd stopped on my way driving from MN to STL. I had a nice conversation with a guy on the river walk about the numerous bald eagle looking to fish by the lock and dam. He suggested I did not take my dog on that grate bridge that could cut his paws. I thanked him for the warning because I stupidly didn't think about that.
I do remember the "empty" part of town was called "Old Chicago." Lot of vacant lots but lots of nice old buildings including the old mayors house.
The thing I DO like about this guy's videos is he does pick good music for the driving footage and the footage is good quality. He also visits a lot places around the midwest I might visit sometime. So I did sub for those reasons.
Can’t expect much from a vlogger whose not a die heart resident, just gives a whoop about the video to get subscribers and make a buck!🤨 I love that part of the country and my family is from Rock island, (grandparents and mother). My great grandparents The McDonalds came from Ireland and right away become farmers, same as my mother’s father, who originally came from south of France and also were farmers in the old country. I have only visited this place 2 summers in a row as a teenager and I enjoyed my visits fondly of course I was 16 & 17! If I wasn’t in my late 50s I would retire there because California is getting to crazy!
@@kelleymariejones6388 research must be tough, especially if not from the area. You are being tough on Chris Harden. Watched many of his video’s. I think he is not doing anyone a disservice.
It has everything going for it! The railroad, the river system, how beautiful :( I a. Going to be rooting for it. Smal towns are great places to raise kids. Darn, come on Rock Island!
I agree davenport has TERRIBLE crime compared to R.I.
I was raised right here in Rock Island illinois, when my parents separated I moved with my mom to Florida, I was almost 12. I've been in the Tampa Bay Area ever since 1989. But my hometown is Rock Island Illinois
@@bethanyderekw3723lots of auto theft in Davenport
Man you missed the whole top of the hill!! You just showed the crappy part
Is this a good city for Latinos? Are the people in this area easy going? And what about jobs? What type of jobs can you find in this area?
@oldskolacura9798 hi, thanks for sharing.
@@gustavogomez7331I have family in silvis, from what I here there is a good population of Latinos there.
@@gustavogomez7331 yes. We have a very diverse population. However, the larger Latino population seems to be in Moline. Right next door to Rock Island. Rock Island is a good mix of all races. Our area is known as "Midwest Friendly". Some of the nicest communities you'll find. We don't get as much crime as the big cities and our neighbors are our law enforcement. Taxes suck though. You should visit.
This country was supposed to be majority White! When I was a girl, it was majority White!
I feel u could have did a better job with the tour. There's so much you missed
All of quad cities road at one time were brick, during winter people would drive with chaons on their cars. The wasnt radical/all weather tires.
Grew up in Rock Island and left in 79,the only things worth going back for is a few old friends and Harris Pizza.
ALFANOS 😊
I used to live in Milan, I was raised there up till I left February 88', migrated to Charlotte NC,
Thanks for the tours of Rock Island and Moline area. 😁
Another in depth view which I highly recommend should be contrasted with the Davenport and Bettendorf Iowa videos. To my knowledge I don't think the flood risk between the two is different. Both have amazing historic areas both in downtown and residential areas. So as Chris has pointed out the look of ruin in Rock Island is logically due to high taxes. It is not just the tax rate itself but how it is used. I personally think taxes do a lot of good when used for the public good like school excellence, recreational opportunities and public safety. I seriously question how much of the high taxes were used that way. When I was a kid Rock Island was an iconic city. These incredible videos are not just giving a great tour but are also telling a very important story!
The brick building listed as the Lincoln School was originally Central Jr. High.
Now it is the Admin office for Rock Island/Milan School District.
I tell my friends that I just got back from a vacation visiting the islands. Rock Island, Blue Island, Stoney Island, Crete...
DUDE I LIVE IN ROCK ISLAND!
The statue is Chief Black Hawk, it’s the location he made his last stand/attack and that shopping center was bought and leveled by Walmart before they decided not to build in Rock Island. Also most of the businesses in your video are gone in just the 3 years
Wow no kidding… I’ll have to come back. I know I missed a few things on this town like how the first NFL game was played here… kind of a big deal lol
@@ChrisHarden I sure didnt know that! They are talking about moving the statue now that there's nobody coming down there, but that is the area he and his tribe were pushed into Iowa (continuing to do business on Credit Island
Walmart didn't level it. Walmart didn't by the properly. A tornado came through this spring and tipped it over, not sure if they put it back up or not
@@calvinwright6084 actually the Chief Blackhawk statue was blown over by a severe storm a couple years ago 😢. I believe it is now in the care of the local Native American population of the Quad Cities
"Broadway Hist. District" 23rd St. in R.I. was Called Broadway, Before They Numbered the Streets and Ave.s...THAT's Why....
I live here :) this my hometown
I used to live on 22nd Avenue right off of 11th Street.. I went to Francis Willard Elementary School in Rock Island. I have lived in Tampa florida, since 1989, I moved here when I was 11, turning 12 a month later.
Rock Island used to be the place to live. Looks abandoned. Left in 95.
17:36 Milan used to be the only area that had a movie theater that wasn't a drive in. I had to hitch rides or beg my mom to see classics like Total Recall, and Star Trek VI.
I have fond memories of the drive in next to the theater also.
There's great areas of Rock Island, but there's some areas you just don't go.
I live in Rock island illinois. Yes that is sad because walmart let us down
Lived here all my life as as child I lived in davenport iowa.lived in Ridgeview as a child.
lol theres a good chance im in this video as you drove past the machine shop i was working at
edit my home town was at the end nice!
10:42 that yellow house and the green house both burned down and got demolished
Chief Black hawk is not there anymore he's at one of the black hawk banks I think now
No, the city put him in storage.
One of the main reasons Scott County has grown so much is that it’s not as landlocked as Rock Island county
I feel like the Illinois side is more packed together, while the iowa side is more spread out with more space for businesses tbh
This is fun.
After watching this video I request you to make one for Wichita, KS if its possible.
Let me keep watching more of your videos
I plan on going everywhere, so one day I’ll get to Wichita and the rest of Kansas.
This is addicting.
I use to live in the QUAD born and raised….hated it never will go back. Still have fam there…oh well…Love the relaxing music though
why did you hate it?
I've never been- I'm just curious after watching the videos.
thanks
Girl I just seen you today lol
@@Slim2xzIslandIsland HUH? You must have seen my spirit. I wouldn't step foot in the Quad...Hope you get better soon.
@@rickg2516 I'm a city girl. Plus a lot of bad memories..
@@cherisemcknight7994 it was a joke lol. I didn't mean any harm. Just a random guy from Illinois
By the looks of the road signs along the way, people are really “digging the city!” 😁
Can we get on the topic how fast this car is going?!🤣🤣
Why are you not showing the upper part of rock island?
The brick building was the administration building and now a new one has been built
Good tour. But you missed 18th Ave which is where the majority of businesses are along with heavier traffic. North and northeast rock island are much nicer. Grocery stores and different strips with businesses. also a lot more elementary schools and jr highs.
The only reason why I move back to Illinois because I am from Chicago originally. I was living in Iowa for years, I just moved back to Illinois last month. Me personally I do not like Iowa Davenport is ok but, I rather be on the Illinois side.
It actually isn't fair to assume the population decline is related to the crime rates. In fact, you were so close to making a more accurate assumption. Rock Island was treated like party central of the quad cities when their downtown was all bars open til 3a.m. What do you get at 3a.m. with a bunch of drunk people? Fights. The people of Rock Island are actually super chill. It was everyone from Iowa and surrounding cities coming to Rock Island, stirring up trouble, and spiking crime stats. As for depopulation, it is more accurate to blame state policies that are designed for Chicago. There are good arguments for and against decentralization and the way Illinois state policies cater to the Chicago Metro is an example where the central authority disenfranchises rural, river, and even other urban centers of Illinois that don't reflect Chicagoland, a global economic crossroads encased by a monolithic suburbia.
Its now number 4. Bettendorf has now surpassed rock island and will eventually over take moline. They are building big brand new multi million dollar homes up in the wilderness point addition out off criswell ave.
I grew up in the Quad Cities
When communities exist along large rivers humidity accelerates; therefore afternoon showers exist.
The rivers in the QC do not create any rain clouds. Normally the weather patterns move in from the West, Southwest, or Northwest.
As you pointed out property taxes are terrible in Illinois. I saw a graph awhile back and only 3 counties in the state saw an increase in population the rest saw a decrease. People are moving out of the state quickly. And to add insult to injury Illinois is arguably the most corrupt state in the US.
Due more to Chicago and Springfield.
Now you're going through my hometown I'm originally from the Quad Cities Moline East Moline Rock Island I moved to Arkansas now
I am originally from Arkansas, so how do you like it?
The Building You Refer to at 10:45 is Called Lincoln School...It's School Dist. Offices, and a Center for School Custodial and Meal Programs...It Was NOT Part of the Public Schools Orig. It Was St. Joseph's School...NEXT to Lincoln School...the Public School Dist Bought it Later...
Who else discovered this town because of the ghost and molly McGee?
I lived 40 years of my life in Rock Island and the last 15 years there I lived in the house on 11st at 14:23 on right in video but $3000 property tax for a not so great area was it for me, my brother lives on top the hill in a basic 2 bedroom house and his property tax is over $5000. We moved to Davenport 3 years ago now I have a large 1 acre yard 6 car garage and 4 bed and 3 bath house and only pay $3500 for taxes. Rock Island lost over 40 million in the Walmart deal and the land behind big island they wasted over 3 million on that failed and now passed on to tax payers, of course Rock Island lied and told citizens different but I got friends who work for government officials in Rock Island and told me get out now while I can still sell a house so we did.
*Happy noises as both my grandma & my aunt's homes are in the video*
Also tmw you decide to go to Milan instead of showing the state park 😩
I was just in Bettendorf!
My home town.
rock. Rock yes also, school in rock island. Country song about rock iland train. Lots of blacks there
Unfortunately I did 2 years in East moline(IDOC)
He drove in the wrong way through the school drive lol
The weather being way wrong is normal here it changes on a dime often
I see a lot of potential for opportunity if it weren't bogged down by the taxes. Man that sucks!
What kind of jobs are there in this region?
You went right past the Milan Maid Rite! How could you?!
Crap food
Missed the whole downtown as you also did with Decatur and Moline and Davenport. Instead of driving down blighted residential streets, I think people want more driving around downtown and downtown side streets. Seems you are on a prejudiced campaign to disparage Illinois. While people have been moving out due to high property taxes, the price of real estate is very very low. For many Contrarian home seekers, that cancels out the high tax issue! Hell, Rock Island, Moline, and Davenport are on the Mighty Mississippi with awesome views and history! You just missed the whole Mississippi?
Half of the city is on the hill and in the area west of Milan south of the Rock River. He only drove up 20th Street hill, went down 17th Street to the high school and headed back down 25th Avenue to 11th Street. There are still many nice residential neighborhoods up on the hill and he did nothing to show them. Additionally, the reason Illinois has such high property taxes is their income tax rate was kept artificially low. Iowa has a much higher income tax rate. Even with Illinois's recent increase which was necessary because the State Pension Funds were mismanaged for so many years, the income tax rate is still only a flat 4.95%. Georgia where I still have a home and live about half the year and have lived there for almost 40 years has a marginal tax rate of 5.75 percent, and sales taxes about 1% higher than Illinois, but the tax becomes flat at $20,000.00 so the effective rate is over 5%. The problems for Rock Island and Moline is they lost their factory jobs. Farmall once employed up to 8,000. When it closed in the middle 80s, along with many Deere facilities in Moline and then JI Case in Rock Island, the city lost its tax base, and the population shrunk. I grew up in Rock Island, graduated from Rocky in 1969 and then lived as an adult in the Iowa QCs from 1976-1980. It's still home.
What a shame Illinois taxes stunted this town's growth. They really need to get the taxes down or there won't be anyone left to tax! My parents left just 2 yrs ago. My Dad's side of the family will be next. Its a real shame. I love Illinois :( this all towns still hold onto their charm, unlike many places I have loved whose growth turns them into anywhere USA. Who wants to vacation in a place that lok,s like everywhere else, BORING!
I lived on 14 1/2st until I was 14 went to Hawthorne Elementary school then went to Washington Jr High left in 2002 town is garbage if you lived on the bottom of the hill even worse if you staid in the Arsenal Courts.
9:02 that's my house on the left the blue one next to the brick building
Don’t call me Shirley. That’s what Leslie Neilson said in “Airplane.” 😁
I live on the Illinois side of the quad cities and your accurate about people moving because of the taxes. In a couple years I’m going to be moving over to Iowa.
Dont. The crime is terrible and Rock island at least has a police force.
I see lots of great old architecture sprinkled here and there! Because it's a river city there is more old architecture than many other small Illinois cities. To stop the out-flow of residents, Rock Island could institute a real estate transfer tax that only applies if you are not buying another property in Rock Island within a year. This would make moving to Iowa a worse deal and raise revenue. Also, municipalities should NEVER trust big deals with big corporations. The only way forward is a vast array of small businesses. Big corporations leave and leave your city an abandoned shell.
So force people to stay in shitty Illinois? LOL. How about instead Illinois fixes it's corrupt state government instead?
@@AdamSmith-gs2dv I wish. A man can dream.
They tried a huge tax deal for Walmart. They even paid for demolition of the site. They pulled out last minute.
I seen my dad car🤣👋🏽
Not hard to figure out
Maybe they call the district “Broadway “ just to confuse people?
Haha maybe. I’ll stick with that.
At least Illinois having the 2nd highest property taxes equates to being the state with the best soil in the US, maybe the world. Davenport is definitely the better side of the QC. Augie keeps RI afloat.
Augie doesn’t keep RI afloat in anyway?
@@kalebleone2702 Augie keeps the district afloat
@@DemocracyJA how? Does the $600,000 augie paid keep a $97,000,000 budget afloat? They employ less that a 12th of the Arsenal let alone all the other major employers. Did you forget about modern woodmen, MidAmerican, Unity Point, must I go on??
Must be an Augie student. They don't keep our economy afloat. Our hardworking middle class citizens invest in their own community. This is a generational town. Augie students come & go. They also get a huge chunk of IL/Federal Government tax funds even though they are a private institution. Their money doesn't go into community, it goes into their Endowment Fund.
I’m from the town & I’ll always rep but it’s not shit lol
Nothing wrong with having pride from your hometown.
Why N we all
I guess the whole 10% of the rain fell on you when you were in Rock Island. 😂
You shouldve went back up 18th ave when you were on 11th street at some point. I agree the city is going downhill especially now with all the gun violence. But you really only drove in the slums or the hood
The gun violence is all over davenport. Up the hill down the hill.. near the college... near north high school. Rock island is way better!
@@bethanyderekw3723 Rock Island isnt better. Not much at least. I live on 17th in Rock Island
Just not many good jobs on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities.
You visited Freeport and Belvidere Illinois
Went to Freeport but not Belvidere
@@ChrisHarden Looking forward to seeing your Freeport video. I lived in Freeport for 20 years and loved it there. Was hoping to go back this year since I just retired but the taxes are keeping me away.
Turn down or change the hideous music!!!🤨
til 40 is retirement age lmao
They xhould make it a Rock Candy Capitol of America so it has a gimmick and a place to employ some of it's community. Very sad :(
The only way to bring it back is to vote them all out. We loved living in Rock Island for 60 years they drove us out. It all started to go down hill in the 1980"s.
Rock island Illinois not place to live. I you drive around rock island high school.
Yep
fucking sucks over here. the quad cities is a sink hole with enough food to survive.
There is only one stat you need to know about Rock Island and that alone would tell you why the crime rate is so high there.
Yes exactly, The majority white population HAS run this city into the ground, finally someone who says it!
It's a dump
Rock Island Ill. Nothing but little Chicago Democrats Love Taxes more Taxes and ohhh yea More taxes can't wait to move the heck out of Illinois and Rock Island missed all of down in the Rock the other side of 11th st
Their mayor is a republican... 🤷♀️
@Hawkeye Mods arsenal courts has actually cleaned up its act. The criminals moved to davenport.
.... really disliking the annoying drum-beat, on this video. I watch RUclips, on a large 4K flat-screen with 5.1 surround-sound, and the subwoofer really accentuates this problem. Otherwise, I like the subject-matter and your approach.