What Is Sister Cities International? Sister Cities International is a non-profit citizen diplomacy network creating and strengthening partnerships between U.S. and international communities in an effort to increase global cooperation at the municipal level, to promote cultural understanding and to stimulate economic development. To learn more about Sister Cities International go to http://www.sister-cities.org/.
The City of Davenport is a member city of Sister Cities International.
 Mission Statement:
Promote peace through mutual respect, understanding and
cooperation - one individual, one community at a time.
Who are our Sister Cities? Kaiserslautern, Germany and Davenport, Iowa became sister cities on June 10, 1960 under the National League of Cities. Since 1967, the sister city program is no longer administered by the National League of Cities. It has become Sister Cities International. The separation from National League of Cities took place due to the high level of activity of the program since it was begun in 1956 by President Eisenhower. Kaiserslautern, Germany was chosen as Davenport's sister city because of its close resemblance to Davenport in demographics, economics and geography. Kaiserslautern's name came, in part, from the wealth of water and forest which are very much a part of the city. The emperor Federick I (Kaiser) built a palace in this corner of his realm in 1140 because of the beauty of the forests which meant plentiful game, and the clear water stream (lauter) which comes from the forest flowing north, which is known as the Waldlauter. The region protects its forest, and its water is still clear to this day. It is a modern city with many remnants of the past. But, as those who have been there can attest, its greatest asset are its people. In April 2000 the Davenport City Council approved a sister city relationship between Kaiserslautern and Columbia, South Carolina. The Davenport approval was necessary because no city may have more than one sister city in any one country. To find out more about Columbia and her sister cities you may visit http://www.columbiawac.org/.
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Carlow County, Ireland and Davenport, Iowa became sister cities on September 26, 2006. Davenport's Mayor Edwin Winborn went to Carlow County, Ireland to sign the proclamation along with Cathaoirleach (ko-heer-loch) Michael Abbey, representing Carlow County. Carlow County, Ireland became Davenport's third sister city.
Carlow County is located in the southeast of Ireland approximately 45 minutes south of Dublin and is one of Ireland's most charming inland counties. The pace of life is unhurried in Carlow's rural towns and villages, with the famous Irish warmth and proud Celtic culture to be found in every quiet corner. For those who wish to visit an Irish town which does not cater to tourists, Carlow is the place to go.
The mountains and valleys of Carlow are designed for action. Play on a golf course, walk a towpath or mountain trail; freewheel on quiet roads; ride over open moorland or canoe through the breathtaking river scenery; navigate the winding trails in a cool all-terrain country quad.
 There are two institutions of higher learning in Carlow; Institute of Technology and Carlow College. Both, Institute of Technology and Carlow College have partnerhips with St. Ambrose University, located here in Davenport. |
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