Coal Valley

As its name suggests, this town was established after coal was discovered in 1856. It soon became a company town operated by the Sherrard and Cable Coal Company. It was connected by rail to Rock Island, through Camden Mills (renamed Milan in 1870), on a route that would be completed to Peoria in 1871 as the Rock Island and Peoria Railroad.

An early wagon road led to Moline, crossing the Rock River via ferry before the first bridge was built in 1872. Today, Coal Valley’s old center can be found just off Highway 150, while a commercial strip of more recent origin lines Highway 6.

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