It includes most of the northwestern portion of the state, with most of its population living on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities, as well as parts of Peoria and Rockford.
[6] Evans retired in 2006 as a result of declining health, and the seat was won by his longtime aide Phil Hare.
Although the district had been designed to elect a Democrat, Hare lost in 2010 to Republican pizzeria owner Bobby Schilling.
From 1982 to 2013, the district's representatives hailed from Rock Island, these being Lane Evans, Phil Hare, and Bobby Schilling.
Since 2013, the district's representatives have hailed from neighboring Moline, and include Cheri Bustos and Eric Sorenson.
The 17th district takes in the communities of Alexis (shared with Mercer County), Monmouth, and part of Cameron.
The 17th district takes in the communities of Burgess, Matherville, Viola, Preemption, Sherrard, Swedona, Cable, Windsor, North Henderson, and Alexis (shared with Warren County).
The 17th district takes in the communities of Freeport, Pearl City, Bolton, Ridott, German Valley, Willow Lake; and part of Baileyville, Cedarville, and Lena.
The 17th district takes in the communities of Canton, Cuba, Farmington (shared with Peoria County), Avon, Marietta, Ellisville, Smithfield, Fairview, Norris, St. David, Bryant, Dunfermline, and Banner.
They are partitioned by W Gerber Rd/W Rosenbohm Rd, W Southport Rd, BN & SF Railroad, W Southport Rd, N Townhouse Rd, W Cottonwood Rd, N McAllister Rd, W Greengold Rd, W Farmington Rd, N Kickapoo Creek Rd, Saint Mary's Cemetery, N Swords Ave, N Northcrest Dr, C & NW Railroad, Weaverridge Golf Club, W Charter Oak Rd, Illinois Highway 6, W War Memorial Dr, N Allen Rd, W Northmoor Rd, Big Hollow Creek, West Imperial Dr, West Willow Knolls Dr, North University St, Manning Park, West Teton Dr, Illinois Highway 40, North Prospect Rd, East Prospect Ln, North Montclair Ave, East Euclid Ave, North Grandview Dr, Forest Park Nature Center, Forest Park Apartments, North Galena Rd, Illinois Highway 29, and Forest Park Riverfront-Longshore.