Distinctions setting the Quad-Cities region apart include the fact that it's the only area where the Mississippi River flows from east to west, instead of north to south. The Quad-Cities also is the largest metropolitan area on the Mississippi River between Minneapolis and St. Louis.

It also keeps people guessing what four cities belong in the ``Quad.''

The metropolitan area has nearly 140,000 households, and about 485,000 people. More than 2.5 million people live within a 100-mile radius, and about 34 million people reside within a 300-mile radius, making it the largest market between Chicago and California.

River history dates back to an old Native American legend. The Great Father of Waters, according to the legend, carved his way southward, and created a new and mighty river, but he happened upon an area so unexpectedly beautiful that he turned his head for a lingering look, thus altering the course of the river forever.

Bluffs along the river were home to the Sauk and Mesquakie tribes.

The Quad-Cities also serves as the home to Arsenal Island -- the largest island in the upper Mississippi. National and Confederate Cemeteries are on Arsenal Island, as well as the original home of Col. George Davenport and the Commanding General's house, which is the second-largest single-family home owned by the U.S. government, second in size only to the White House in Washington, D.C.

Which cities make up the Quad-Cities depends on legend and who you ask. Early in the last century, the region was referred to as the Tri-City area, with everyone agreeing it consisted of Davenport, Rock Island and Moline.

The term Quad-Cities was coined as early as the 1920s to include East Moline, then the fourth-largest city. Yet, in the 1960s and '70s, Bettendorf's population shot past East Moline to stake its own claim as the fourth ``Quad-City.'' Some people started using the name ``Quint-Cities'' to avoid the controversy, but ``Quad'' stuck.

The metropolitan area includes the major cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline in Illinois. Many people extend the definition to include the rest of Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island County, as well as parts of Henry and Mercer counties, in Illinois.

The Quad-Cities is within a day's drive of many major metropolitan areas: Cedar Rapids is 90 miles away; Peoria, 95; Springfield, 150; Des Moines, 174; Chicago, 180; Milwaukee, 201; St. Louis, 240; Indianapolis, 303; Omaha, 305; Minneapolis, 330; Kansas City, 350; Cincinnati, 413; and Detroit, 415.

In the last decade, the Quad-Cities has become a Midwest tourist destination, mostly because of the Mississippi River and riverboat gambling, but increasingly as an entertainment center as well.

This Question and Answer book includes information about local cities, towns, schools, colleges, parks and recreational areas, tourist destinations, social service agencies, events, entertainment, boating and fishing spots, libraries, post offices, hospitals, professional sports, golf courses and all sorts of information for new and old Quad-Citians.