Quincy, Illinois

Quincy is a city in Adams County, Illinois, United States, and it is the county's main city. It sits along the Mississippi River and had a population of 39,463 as of the 2020 census.

Often called Illinois's "Gem City," Quincy was very important for transportation in the past. During the 1800s, riverboats and trains connected Quincy to many places west and along the river. At one time, it was the second-largest city in Illinois, becoming bigger than Peoria in 1870.

Today, Quincy still has many historic areas, like the Downtown Quincy Historic District and the South Side German Historic District. These areas show beautiful buildings from when many people from Germany came to live in the city during the late 1800s.

History

Early history

Quincy is located along the Mississippi River, which has brought people to the area for hundreds of years. The French were the first Europeans to settle here. Explorers like Louis Jolliet, Jacques Marquette, and La Salle Expeditions traveled through the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The river was important for moving goods, especially furs.

After the Seven Years' War ended in 1763, Great Britain took control of the area. Later, after the American Revolutionary War, it became part of the United States and then the State of Illinois in 1818.

19th century

After the War of 1812, the government gave land to veterans. In 1819, a man named Peter Flinn sold land to John Wood, who founded Quincy, then called Bluffs, Illinois. In 1825, the town was renamed Quincy and became the county seat of Adams County, named after President John Quincy Adams.

In 1837, many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints found safety in Quincy when they fled Missouri. In 1838, the Potawatomi tribe was sheltered here during their move from Indiana to Kansas.

The 1850s and 1860s brought growth to Quincy. Steamboats and railroads helped connect the city to other places. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and the Quincy Rail Bridge were built, making Quincy a busy place for trade. The city's population grew quickly during this time.

One famous person from Quincy is George E. Pickett, who learned law in Quincy in the 1840s. In 1860, John Wood, the founder of Quincy, became governor of Illinois. During this time, Quincy was sometimes called a second state capital.

Slavery was an important issue in Quincy because of its location near Missouri, where slavery was allowed. Richard Eells, an opponent of slavery, helped people escape to freedom. In 1858, Quincy hosted one of the famous debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas about slavery.

The Civil War helped Quincy's economy. Many soldiers from Illinois gathered in Quincy before going to fight. After the war, Quincy became home to Illinois' first Veteran's Home in 1886.

Immigration

Early settlers came from the Upper South and later from New England. They brought ideas like public education and opposing slavery. In the 1840s, people from Germany moved to Quincy and settled mainly on the south side, shaping the city's architecture and culture. In 1860, Franciscan friars started what would become Quincy University.

20th and 21st centuries

In the early 1900s, many of Quincy's important buildings were built, including its first skyscraper in 1925. In 1928, the Memorial Bridge was built to help people cross the Mississippi River.

In 1945, a tornado damaged the courthouse in Quincy. A new one was finished five years later.

In 1987, the Bayview Bridge was built to help with traffic. During the Mississippi River flood of 1993, the river rose very high and caused damage, closing one of Quincy's bridges for a time. Another flood happened in June 2008, affecting areas near the river.

Quincy has been honored as an All-America City twice and is part of the Tree City USA program. In 2010, it was named one of the best small cities to raise a family. In 2024, the police department had a full staff of 73 officers.

Geography

Quincy is found at 39°55′56″N 91°23′19″W / 39.93222°N 91.38861°W / 39.93222; -91.38861 (39.932335, -91.388737). It sits right next to the Mississippi River and Quincy Bay, a big area of water that gets fed by Cedar and Homan Creeks. The city covers 15.81 square miles (40.95 km²), most of which is land, with just a tiny bit being water.

Quincy is built on high ground that looks down at the Mississippi River. Across the river in Missouri is West Quincy. To the east of Quincy are the Quincy Hills, an area of gentle hills, woods, and farms. North of the city are flat fields, while to the south and southwest are bluffs, floodplains, and farmland.

The Quincy micropolitan area includes Adams County, Illinois and Lewis County, Missouri, with a total population of 75,546. Because Quincy is close to Hannibal, Missouri, the two places are grouped together as the Quincy-Hannibal, IL-MO Combined Statistical Area, which has about 116,000 people.

Quincy is the biggest city in the tri-state area covering western Illinois, northeastern Missouri, and southeastern Iowa. Suburbs around Quincy include North Quincy to the north, Hickory Grove to the east, Marblehead to the south, and West Quincy to the west.

Demographics

2020 census

According to the 2020 census, Quincy had 39,463 people living in 17,052 homes and 9,940 families. The city had 2,496.55 people for each square mile. There were 19,028 homes available.

The average age was 40.2 years. About 21.8% of people were younger than 18, and 20.9% were 65 or older. For every 100 women, there were 93.2 men, and for every 100 women age 18 and over, there were 90.2 men age 18 and over.

All residents lived in urban areas.

There were 17,052 homes in Quincy, with 25.7% having children under 18 living in them. About 38.8% were homes with married couples, 20.1% had a male householder without a partner, and 32.7% had a female householder without a partner. Around 36.7% of homes were single-person homes, and 16.2% of these were people age 65 or older.

There were 19,028 homes, with 10.4% being empty. The rate for empty homes owned by people was 2.0%, and for rented homes it was 11.6%.

Income

The average income for a home in the city was $46,935, and for a family it was $64,891. Men earned an average of $40,636, while women earned $26,977. Each person had an average income of $29,105. About 11.4% of families and 15.3% of all people lived below the poverty line, with 22.7% of children under 18 and 12.7% of people 65 or older in this situation.

Economy

Quincy is home to several companies, including Niemann Foods, Gardner Denver, Kohl Wholesale, and The Knapheide Manufacturing Company. Other notable businesses with facilities in Quincy are GatesAir Television and Radio Transmission, Broadcast Electronics, and Titan Wheel (Titan International). Blessing Hospital, the Quincy Public Schools, and Titan are the three biggest employers in the area.

In 1978, Quincy created the Great River Economic Development Foundation. This private, non-profit group works to keep current businesses and bring in new ones. It has helped Quincy become known as a special area close to bigger cities like Chicago, IL, St. Louis, MO, and Kansas City, MO. Overall, Quincy's economy is a bit weaker than the national average but still reasonable. The cost of living in Quincy is lower than the national average, including lower costs for food, utilities, and other everyday expenses. In 2010, Forbes magazine listed Quincy as one of the best small cities in the United States to raise a family, looking at things like commute times, school graduation rates, income, home ownership, and cost of living.

Arts and culture

Quincy and its surrounding area mix cultures from the American Midwest, blending Heartland and Rust Belt influences. The city is home to one of America's first Arts Councils, the Quincy Society of Fine Arts, started in 1947. That same year, the Quincy Little Symphony was founded, which is now called the Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association. In 2017 and 2018, Quincy was named one of America's most artistic towns.

Every early May, the Dogwood Parade and festival celebrate the blooming Dogwood trees in the city. Washington Park has fun rides, and a parade walks down Maine Street. The park and downtown area are busy with farmer’s markets, Q-Fest (once called the Midsummer Arts Faire), the Tin Dusters, and the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball tournament.

The Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County has museums at the History Museum, John Wood Mansion, and Woodland Cemetery. Quincy Community Theatre began its 81st season in 2018. The Quincy Art Center and Quincy Museum hold an Art Fest & Folk Life Festival on Maine Street each September.

Quincy’s riverfront is a popular spot for activities all year, including Fourth of July shows on Quincy Bay, outdoor movies, and concerts. The Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, known as Villa Kathrine, shows beautiful Mediterranean-style architecture.

Architecture

South of downtown is the South Side German Historic District, filled with buildings made by German immigrants. One important site is the Dick Brothers Brewery Buildings, made in 1857. Even though the brewery closed, the buildings are being fixed up for public and business use. Many brick homes in this area show German influence.

Francis Hall at Quincy University is another building with German style.

Besides the South Side, Maine Street and the East End display Quincy's architectural history. Many homes here were once homes of rich families and show Victorian-style design. One well-known home belonged to Richard Newcomb, and today it is the Quincy Museum. It was even featured on the cover of National Geographic. Groups like the Historical Society of Quincy & Adams County help take care of these old buildings, and some residents let people tour their beautiful 19th-century homes.

Quincy also has Mediterranean-style buildings, like Villa Kathrine and B’nai Sholom Temple. Villa Kathrine was built in 1900 in a Moroccan style, complete with a special courtyard and pool. Today, it serves as a visitor center. B’nai Sholom Temple shows Moorish revival style from the United States.

Parks and recreation

The Quincy Park District started in 1940 with five leaders chosen to manage it. Now, seven volunteers help take care of the parks for four years each. The district covers 1,000 acres and has 26 parks. Some of these parks include All-American Park, Berrian Park, Bob Bangert Park, and many more.

Washington Park was the first park in Quincy and is located downtown. It was one of the places where important debates happened long ago. Quinsippi Island, which is 130 acres, can be reached from All-American Park. Bob Mays Park, opened in 2008, covers fifty acres. Indian Mounds Park was the first place with a public pool and covers 37 acres. Moorman Park has spaces for baseball and softball and includes a batting cage and mini-golf course. Reservoir Park is a popular spot for tennis tournaments. These parks offer many fun activities for everyone to enjoy, including swimming pools, sports fields, and tennis courts.

Education

Quincy has several schools and colleges. The main public school system is Quincy Public School District 172, with Quincy Senior High School on Maine Street. There is also a private Catholic school called Quincy Notre Dame High School.

The city is home to Quincy University, founded in the 1860s. On the east side of Quincy is John Wood Community College, a regional community college. In downtown Quincy, you can find Gem City College and the Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences near Blessing Hospital. Quincy is also close to other colleges like Western Illinois University in Macomb, Hannibal-LaGrange College in Hannibal, Missouri, and Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri.

Media

Main article: List of media outlets in Quincy, Illinois

Quincy’s television area includes the cities of Quincy, Hannibal, Macomb, and Keokuk. In January 2008, Comcast began providing cable television service, replacing Insight Communications. People can also get satellite television from DirecTV or Dish. Quincy and nearby areas get channels from ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and the CW. Local media outlets are owned by STARadio Corporation and Quincy Media. As of February 2006, Quincy had 17 FM radio stations, 5 AM stations, and one weather radio station.

Transportation

Highways

Interstate 72 is about 12 miles south of Quincy, and its spur, Interstate 172, is just east of the city. Illinois Route 104 is a main road that goes east to west from the Mississippi River bridges to Interstate 172. Illinois Route 96 comes into the city from the southeast and goes north through the east side. Illinois Route 57 starts from U.S. Route 24 downtown and goes past Quincy's Civic Center to Interstate 172. Illinois 96 is also part of the Great River Road, which runs along the Mississippi River. U.S. Route 24 crosses the Mississippi River from Missouri using the Quincy Memorial Bridge, while traffic going west uses the Bayview Bridge.

Air

The Quincy Regional Airport is about 5 miles east of the city. Cape Air has daily flights to Chicago-O'Hare and St. Louis-Lambert. The airport also offers flight lessons, plane rentals, and hangar space.

Rail

Quincy has a railroad station where two trains, the Illinois Zephyr and the Carl Sandburg, go to Chicago. These trains connect Quincy to many cities across the country. There are also freight trains and short-line service available.

River

Quincy has a port on the Mississippi River that is open all year for barge traffic. The city is working on plans for a new port facility.

Public transit

Quincy Transit Lines runs bus services through the city with four main routes, operating Monday through Saturday from early morning to evening. On Sundays and holidays, there are two simpler routes available. One of the routes stops near the city's Amtrak station.

Health and medicine

Quincy has important healthcare places like Blessing Hospital and Quincy Medical Group. These centers help with many health needs such as cancer care, heart health, surgeries, and recovery after injuries. Blessing Hospital also runs a college for nursing students called the Blessing Rieman College of Nursing.

Notable people

Quincy, Illinois has been home to many interesting people. Some of them are famous actors like Mary Astor, musicians such as Avenue Beat, and athletes like Caren Kemner, an Olympic volleyball player. Others include inventors like Arthur Pitney, who helped create the postage meter, and John Wood, the 12th Governor of Illinois. The city has also been home to activists such as Nina Gomer Du Bois, who worked for civil rights, and Augustus Tolton, the first recognized African-American Roman Catholic priest in the United States.

Sister cities

Quincy, Illinois has two sister cities.

• Herford, Germany
• Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China