Silvis

Silvis is a city in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. It is part of a larger metropolitan area known as the Quad Cities. The Quad Cities Metropolitan Area is situated across four counties in Illinois and Iowa. It is located four miles from the intersection of Interstate 80 and Interstate 88.[2]

As of 2014, the population of Silvis is 7,604[4] with 2,984 households, and 1,939 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,993.8 people per square mile (768.9/km2). There were 3,135 housing units at an average density of 859.9 per square mile (331.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.09% White, 3.45% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 6.51% from other races, and 2.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino ethnicities made up 14.36% of the population.

There were 2,984 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18, 47.2% were married couples, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41, and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city, the population was 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% aged 18 to 24, 26.9% aged 25 to 44, 22.3% aged 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,047, and the median income for a family was $41,390. Males had a median income of $32,451, versus $22,050 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,764. About 8.4% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

The City of Silvis (initially named Pleasant Valley) was incorporated in 1906. The city took its name from Richard Shippen Silvis, one of the original settlers whose family operated the Silvis Mining Company.[2] Some older sources give the alternate spelling of "Sylvis."

TPC Deere Run’s golf course is built on the site of a former Arabian horse farm. Course architect and former PGA Tour professional D.A. Weibring masterfully used the natural, rolling landscape to create a championship golf course that stretches along the picturesque wooded ravines of the area's famous Rock River.

TPC Deere Run has been honored by Golf Digest, ranking No. 42 among the United States’ 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses. Golfweek Magazine has also ranked TPC Deere Run among the top five courses in the state of Illinois.

Since 2000, TPC Deere Run has been the home of the PGA Tour's annual John Deere Classic, previously known as the Quad Cities Open. The John Deere Classic is held in July the week before the British Open and draws some of the Tour's top talent.[2]

It has been documented that as of the present day there have been over 100 young men and women from former "Second Street" who have given service to the United States Military Forces. There is no other street that has had as many men and women render service to the Armed Forces of the United States of America. "Second Street's" name was changed to "Hero Street" in honor of these men and their families.[5]

The muddy block and a half long street was home to Mexican immigrants who worked for the Rock Island Railroad. From this small street, 84 men served in World War II, Korea, and in Vietnam. In total, eight men from Hero Street gave their lives during World War II—Joseph Gomez, Peter Macias, Johnny Muños, Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, Joseph "Joe" Sandoval, William "Willie" Sandoval, and Claro Solis. Of the 22 families on Second Street, the two Sandoval families had a total of thirteen men who served in the armed forces. Three died in service during World War II. The Sandovals were two families of Mexican immigrants, with the same surname and lived on Second Street.[6]

Eduvigis and Angelina Sandoval immigrated to the U.S. from Romita, Mexico. Their son, Frank, was a combat engineer assigned to help build the Ledo Road in Burma. He was killed when his unit was sent unexpectedly to the front to fight for control of a key airbase. His older brother, Joe, was assigned to the 41st Armored Infantry Division in Europe. He was killed in April 1945, just days before the war ended.[6]

Joseph and Carmen Sandoval also immigrated to the United States from Mexico. When the war broke out, their son Willie asked for permission to enlist in the army, and both parents consented to their son's request. Willie Sandoval was trained as a paratrooper and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. He fought in Italy and Germany, and was killed on October 6, 1944, during a combat mission related to Operation Market-Garden, the largest airborne operation of all time.

Because of the contributions of these young Americans the street was renamed Hero Street USA in May 1967, by former Mayor of Silvis, William Tatmen. On 30 October 1971 a city park was built and dedicated as Hero Street Park in honor of the eight deceased Hispanic (Latin American) servicemen from Hero Street USA. The park contains a pictorial monument, a Grotto, a playground and a Pavilion. The monument contains pictures and biographies of the eight-deceased veteran from Hero Street, the grotto displays the names of all war dead from Silvis.[7]

In 2015, Fourth Wall Films released a historical documentary feature film by Emmy nominated filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle, titled "Letters Home to Hero Street".[8][9]

The city of Silvis is located in Western Illinois, just 4 miles from the intersection of Interstate 80 & Interstate 88. Contiguous with East Moline and Moline: the larger populations that help comprise the Quad City area. Silvis is 165 miles west of Chicago, Illinois, and 165 miles east of Des Moines, Iowa. The area has a rate media market with 308,910 TV households in a designated market area, or 2.7% of United States. Properties were built to prioritize access to both rail and interstate infrastructure. Silvis also is near two major medical centers, including a critical access center. Silvis also has two community college districts, a Liberal Arts college, a public university auxiliary campus, two private universities, and two extension services in the area.

The cost of doing business in the Quad Cities is among the lowest in the nation, while the workforce exceeds national averages in quality, stability and productivity.[citation needed ]

More than 30,000 businesses, including Deere & Company World Headquarters, 3M, Alcoa, and the Rock Island Arsenal are already in the Quad Cities.[10]

Silvis public schools belong to three districts, Carbon Cliff-Barstow School District 36, East Moline School District 37 and Silvis School District 34. There are three Silvis preschool schools.,[2] three Elementary Schools, one Junior High school and one High School belonging to the Silvis School districts.