How Davenport Iowa Got It's Name

George Davenport

After the Black Hawk War ended, George Davenport turned most of his attention to land speculation. Davenport was part of a party that laid out the town of Stephenson (formerly Farnhamsburg) in 1834.

The following year, nine men gathered around the fireplace of Colonel William Davenport to lie out a new city on the Iowa side of the river. They included Colonel William Davenport, Commander of Fort Armstrong; Major William Gordon, a United States surveyor; Antoine Le Claire, Indian interpreter; Colonel George Davenport, Major Thomas Smith, Alexander McGregor, Levi S. Colton, Philip Hambaugh, and Captain James May.

The men purchased a quarter section of land, comprising thirty-six blocks from Antoine Le Claire, for $2,000. Each man put up $250, except Colonel William Davenport.

Major William Gordon surveyed the site early in. 1836. He broke the section into blocks and then individual lots. They named the streets after famous military and political heroes—Haines, Harrison, Scott, Ripley, and Brown. The streets parallel to the river were named after Indian tribes—Fox, Sac, Potawatomi, Chippewa, Winnebago, etc.

Antoine Le Claire supposedly named the city after his friend, Colonel George Davenport. However, nearly two centuries later, there is still some debate on who the city was named for.

Was it Colonel George Davenport or Colonel William Davenport?

The case for William Davenport rests on the fact that the town was laid out in his home. He was best friends with Major William Gordon, the United States Surveyor, so Gordon laid out the town site and named the town after him. George L. Davenport insisted it was named after his father, Colonel George Davenport. He said his father wanted to name the town after Antoine Le Claire, but he refused the honor, so it was called Davenport.

George Davenport helped to form LeClaire and Port Byron in 1836. The following year, he traveled to Washington with Black Hawk, Keokuk, Wapello, Pashepaho, and a delegation of fifty Native Americans. He was present in 1842 when the Sac and Fox sold the remainder of their Iowa lands to Governor John Chambers. After that, Davenport pulled out of the Indian trade and focused his time and energy on developing his properties.