[2] It is mostly residential, housing families who work in or out of the greater Quad Cities Area and is considered a suburb.

The first settlers in Coal Valley were trappers and farmers who came from Wales, England, Ireland, Germany and Sweden.

The pioneer settlers of the community are thought to have been William and Charles Bailey who built the first house within the present village limits.

In May 1892, a petition was signed by twenty-eight citizens of Coal Valley, asking that a town hall be erected.

In April 1900, the Village Board purchased a fire engine and hose cart for the sum of $875.

In November 1900, the Village Board purchased the land and built a one-story fire station.

In 1939, the Coal Valley High School was built at the cost of $70,000 and that fall forty-six pupils were enrolled.

The first members to graduate from the new Coal Valley High School were Ruth Schroeder, Evelyn Martin, Mary Kepple, Florence Robinson, Raymond Johnson, Harlan Raub, Robert Anderson, Sydney Bradford and Francis Creger.

[4] According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Coal Valley has a total area of 3.17 square miles (8.21 km2), all land.