[2] It is roughly defined as the area between the Mississippi River, Spring, Judson, and 13th Streets, Kirkwood Boulevard and Jersey Ridge Road.

The historic district was started as an independent community and became a part of the city of Davenport within five years.

[3] The area was a broad ravine along a bend of the Mississippi at the foot of the Rock Island Rapids.

The area was a square mile of shingles, kindling, sawdust, and 60-foot (18 m) high piles of lumber.

The fire was so hot it warped the rails of the railroad bed and buckled the pavement,[8] and the smoke was so thick it made the area as dark as midnight.

[9] The fire moved toward the downtown area, but stopped at the Tremont Avenue hill where St. Katherine's Hall, an Episcopal girls' school, was located.

In the end, 20 acres of land were burned, 250 people were left homeless and businesses suffered $1.25 million in losses.

A Federal Prohibition officer and Davenport Police Officers seized 4,185 bottles of homebrew, 90 gallons of mash, 15 crocks, 50 cans of malt, beer cases, capers, and other materials for making beer.

[10] Today the Village of East Davenport contains many of its original Civil War era buildings that house specialty shops, restaurants, taverns and other businesses.