Bettendorf dates to 1903, and 4 of its places are on the National Register
More historic than 20% of U.S. towns · #127 of 140 in Iowa. What drives it
Most of Bettendorf was built recently: 3% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1979. Below: maps from 1891 on and the census since 1910.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1856.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Bettendorf’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Bettendorf is more historic than 20% of U.S. towns, #127 of 140 in Iowa. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
C−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Bettendorf’s overall grade.
Iowa towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Iowa town has 9.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Bettendorf’s 1.5 sits near the middle of its state (36% of Iowa towns have fewer) while its 6 historic buildings outnumber those of 72% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D to C. The pre-1940 share (±0.9 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1903.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Bettendorf’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Bettendorf lies in the original Wisconsin Territory, which the United States bought from the Sac and Fox Indians after defeating them in the Black Hawk War. The territory was ceded in the Black Hawk Purchase of 1832. The first European-American settlers established a village they called Lilienthal, after an early tavern and dance hall. The village of Gilbert developed alongside Lilienthal in 1858, honoring Elias Gilbert, who platted the original site. At that time, the residents were predominantly German immigrants and worked as farmers, skilled laborers, and small business owners. The two villages eventually combined to become the town of Gilbert.
Passages that mention Bettendorf, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa1910 · page 862Read the page →
Read the text
ality, he also • possesses distinct executive ability with a power to guide and control others, so that he has been a most competent official in the responsible position which he has filled for the past eight years. Moreover he has been one of the active promoters of the town of Bettendorf. He was one of its incorporators, served on its first board of councilmen and was elected mayor later, filling that position for one year, when he resigned. He has since continuously served as councilman with the exception of one year. He was also instrumental in having a fourth-class postoffice estabhshed at this place. For six weeks
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa1910 · page 842Read the page →
Read the text
ing up to assistant general car inspector of the northwest system in which position he had charge of the inspection of all new passenger and freight cars built at car manufacturing companies. However, he was very ambitious, and in 1906 he secured a position of chief inspector of the Bettendorf Steel Car Company, and located in Davenport. Early in 1908 he became assistant shop superintendent of the Bettendorf Axle Company and in 1909 was promoted to superintendent.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
Bettendorf, 1856 to 2003
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
In 1903, according to Wikidata. Bettendorf’s post office opened in 1856, and the census of 1910 counted 909 people here.
How does Bettendorf rank for history?
Bettendorf is more historic than 20% of U.S. towns, #127 of 140 in Iowa. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Bettendorf?
4 listings: 4 buildings, among them the Joseph F. Bettendorf House (listed 1983, the first). 6 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Bettendorf?
3% of Bettendorf’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 22% for an Iowa town; the median home was built in 1979.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (4), the National Register of Historic Places (4), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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