History

80 Years of Celebrating Our Communities

Black Hawk College’s 80th Anniversary Celebration is an opportunity to honor eight decades of service and impact while looking ahead to the College’s future. Since 1946, generations of students, employees, alumni and community partners have helped shape Black Hawk College and the communities we serve.

Throughout the anniversary year, we will celebrate our history, recognize the people and moments that have made a lasting impact and highlight the College’s continued commitment to creating opportunities for generations to come.

Learn More about the 80th Anniversary Event

Serving the Region Since 1946

Black Hawk College began in 1946 as Moline Community College, created to provide greater access to higher education for local residents, including World War II veterans returning home to pursue a college education. The College held its first classes at Moline High School on Sept. 18, 1946, welcoming 239 students—222 men and 17 women—with courses primarily in English, history and business. In 1961, it became Black Hawk College and the first countywide junior college in Illinois.

Today, Black Hawk College serves Illinois Community College District 503, an area encompassing 2,200 square miles in nine counties of northwestern Illinois: Bureau, Henderson, Henry, Knox, Marshall, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark and Whiteside.

Map of the Black Hawk College District serving communities across western Illinois. The Quad-Cities Campus in Moline and the East Campus near Kewanee are highlighted within the district boundary.