Quincy, Illinois | |
|---|---|
 Seal | |
| Nickname: Gem City | |
 Location of Quincy in Adams County, Illinois. | |
| Coordinates:39°55′52″N91°22′20″W / 39.93111°N 91.37222°W /39.93111; -91.37222[1] | |
| Country | USA |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Adams |
| Settled | 1819 |
| Incorporated (town) | 1834 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1870 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| Area | |
• City | 15.81 sq mi (40.94 km2) |
| • Land | 15.76 sq mi (40.83 km2) |
| • Water | 0.042 sq mi (0.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 633 ft (193 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• City | 39,463 |
• Estimate (2024)[3] | 38,786 |
| • Density | 2,503/sq mi (966.5/km2) |
| • Metro | 75,546 |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 62301, 62302, 62303, 62304, 62305, 62306 |
| Area codes | 217, 447 |
| FIPS code | 17-001-62380 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396301[1] |
| Website | www |
Quincy (/ˈkwɪnsi/KWIN-see) is a city inAdams County, Illinois, United States, and itscounty seat.[5] Located on theMississippi River, the population was 39,463 as of the2020 census, down from 40,633 in 2010. TheQuincy micropolitan area had 114,649 residents.[6]
Known asIllinois's "Gem City", Quincy was a thriving transportation center asriverboats and rail service linked the city to many destinations west and along the river during the 19th century. It was Illinois' second-largest city, surpassingPeoria in 1870.[7] The city has several historic districts, including theDowntown Quincy Historic District and theSouth Side German Historic District, which display the architecture of Quincy's many German immigrants from the late 19th century.
Quincy's location along the Mississippi River has attracted settlers for centuries. TheFrench became the first European presence to colonize the region, afterLouis Jolliet,Jacques Marquette, Jamison Knapp and theLa Salle Expeditions explored theUpper Mississippi River Valley. Fur goods became a valuable commodity of the region, and European explorers and merchants alike were attracted to the prospects of the growingfur trade of the North American frontier. The Mississippi River, acting as a superhighway for transporting goods downstream, became the area's most vital transportation asset.
Following the events of theSeven Years' War, which ended in 1763,Great Britain took control of New France, and the area that is now Illinois became part of theIndian Reserve. After theAmerican Revolutionary War a few decades later, the area became part of theNorthwest Territory of the United States, and eventually the State of Illinois in 1818.
After theWar of 1812, the American governmentgrantedmilitary tracts to veterans as a means to help populate the West. Peter Flinn, having acquired the land from veteran Mark McGowan for his military service in 1819, ended up selling 160 acres (0.65 km2) of land acquisitions toMoravia, New York nativeJohn Wood for $60 (~$1,739 in 2024). John Wood later founded Quincy, which at the time was coined Bluffs, Illinois.[8]
In1825, Bluffs renamed their community Quincy and became the seat of government forAdams County, both named afternewly electedPresidentJohn Quincy Adams. In addition, they originally named the town square John Square until eventually changing its name to Washington Square. In December 1830, Peter Felt, who had recently arrived with his family from New Hampshire, and others held the first service at what would become the firstcongregational churches in the state. In June 1834, Quincy was incorporated, withArchibald Williams, Joseph T. Holmes, S. W. Rogers, Levi Wells, and Michael Mast elected as trustees.[9] Quincy incorporated as a city in 1840, with Ebenezer Moore elected as its first mayor.[10]
In 1837, following the signing ofMissouri Executive Order 44, which called for the expulsion of Mormons from Missouri and the extermination of those who refused, many members of theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fled persecution in Missouri and found shelter in Quincy. Despite being vastly outnumbered byMormon refugees, residents provided food and lodging for the displaced people.Joseph Smith then led members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 40 miles (64 km) upstream toNauvoo, Illinois, in hopes of finding a permanent home.[11] Also in 1838, Quincy sheltered thePotawatomi tribe as they wereforcibly relocated fromIndiana toKansas.[12]
The 1850s and 1860s brought increased prosperity to Quincy. Steamboats and railroads began linking Quincy to places west, making the city a frequent destination for immigrants. The founding of theChicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in 1855, and the construction of theQuincy Rail Bridge, were major drivers for creating a transportation hub in the region to further commerce.[13] It is during this time that the city's population grew enormously, from just under 7,000 residents in 1850 to 24,000 by 1870, helping Quincy surpassPeoria in becoming the second-largest city in the state (at that time).[7][14]
One famous former resident of Quincy isGeorge E. Pickett. The future Confederate general came to Quincy to live as a young man, and learn the law, from his uncle Alexander Johnson in the 1840s. Johnson was acquainted with Abraham Lincoln, and Pickett and Lincoln may have even met each other in Quincy.[15]
In 1860, Quincy founder and Lieutenant Governor John Wood inherited the governorship afterWilliam H. Bissell died while in office. At the time, he was overseeing business interests and the construction of hismansion. The Illinois legislature allowed him to stay in Quincy during his tenure, effectively making Quincy a "second" capitol for the state. His absence from the official governor's office in Springfield providedAbraham Lincoln a space for planning his presidential run.[16]
Slavery was a major religious and social issue in Quincy's early years. The Illinois city's location, separated only by the Mississippi River from the slave state of Missouri, which was a hotbed of political controversy on the issue, made Quincy itself a hotbed of political controversy on slavery.[17]Richard Eells, who was a staunch abolitionist, built his home in Quincy in 1835 and sheltered formerly enslaved people who had escaped and were on their way to Chicago. His home became a major stop on theUnderground Railroad.[18] The divide over slavery climaxed in 1858, when Quincy hosted the sixth Senatorialdebate by U.S. SenatorStephen A. Douglas and his challenger,Abraham Lincoln. With a crowd of 12,000 in attendance, Quincy was the largest community at which Lincoln and Douglas debated.[19][20]
Lincoln and Douglas again confronted each other in the1860 Presidential election and the resulting campaign again divided Quincy and the surrounding region. Lincoln enthusiasts and Quincy's chapter of the Republican Party's para-military organizationWide Awakes, while en route to a political rally inPlainville, marched upon nearbyPayson, which was a community predominantly filled with Douglas supporters. Although a confrontation was avoided while en route to Plainville, Douglas supporters shot upon the Wide Awakes on their journey back to Quincy, resulting in a skirmish known as the Stone Prairie Riots.[21]
TheCivil War brought increasing prosperity to Quincy. Although the battles took place far from the city, Quincy was the organization site for several Illinois volunteer work infantry regiments, including theUnion Army's16th,50th,78th,84th,119th,137th,138th, and151st. Following theReconstruction Era, Quincy was selected as the location for Illinois' firstVeteran's Home in 1886.[22]
Early immigrants to Quincy came predominately from theUpper South but were followed later by those fromNew England, seeking better land. They brought with themprogressive values, such aspublic education andabolitionism. Starting in the 1840s, migrants from Germany settled in Quincy to escape revolutions among the German provinces and conflicts between the European powers. German migrants mainly lived in close proximity to one another and settled predominantly in the southern parts of the city, influencing much of Quincy's historic architecture and creating theSouth Side German Historic District. Collectively, the south side of Quincy became known asCalftown, due to the fact that nearly every household possessed a cow.[23] Among the notable German-Americans from Quincy's Southside wasLouise Maertz (1837–1918), a nurse during the American Civil War.[24]
In 1860, a group ofFranciscan friars founded the St. Francis Solanus College, which later developed intoQuincy University.
Throughout the 19th century, Quincy had grown from a backwater hamlet along the Mississippi River to become one of the state's most important cities and ports. Activity from rail and steamboat continued to flourish and Quincy benefited from the increased traffic. It was during the early decades of the 20th century that many of the city's historic buildings in theDowntown Quincy Historic District were constructed, including the city's first skyscraper, the Western Catholic Union Building, in 1925.[25]
The increasing presence of the automobile led Quincy to consider alternatives to Mississippi River crossings. Prior to the automobile, the most common means of crossing the near-mile wide river was by boat or ferry. In 1928, construction began on theMemorial Bridge which was a two-lane truss toll bridge; it opened in May 1930. By 1945, the city had repaid its outstanding bonds and eliminated the toll.[26]
OnApril 12, 1945, a tornado ripped through the business district of Quincy and severely damaged the courthouse. The wind was so severe that it blew the roof off the structure, damaging it beyond repair.[27] Because the incident occurred a few hours after news reached Quincy of President Roosevelt's death, several residents joked that "FDR and God were just fighting over the power-up there."[28] Five years passed beforea new courthouse was completed.[29]
On September 27, 1976, threeimprovised explosive devices were detonated at the Colt Industries Inc. Quincy Compressor Division Plant. A team ofEOD Specialists fromFort Leonard Wood, in the area in support of theSecret Service during a visit to Quincy by Republican vice-presidential candidateBob Dole, was called to respond. A fourth unexploded IED was discovered by Quincy firefighters during a search of the plant. During an examination of the device, it detonated, killing the EOD team supervisor, Sergeant Major Kenneth Foster Sr. and seriously injuring the Illinois State Arson Inspector.[30]
In 1987, the cable-stayedBayview Bridge was constructed with the intent of alleviating traffic on the aging Memorial Bridge. Today the two bridges complement each other by Bayview carrying westbound traffic and Memorial carrying eastbound. Although lighting was originally intended for the Bayview Bridge during its construction phase, the actual installation of lights did not occur until 2015.[31]
During theMississippi River flood of 1993, riverside businesses and industries suffered extensive damage when the river crested at a record 32.2 feet (9.81 m), 15 feet (4.6 m) above flood stage. For a time, the Bayview Bridge, one of Quincy's two bridges, was the only bridge open across the Mississippi River betweenAlton, Illinois andBurlington, Iowa. The Memorial Bridge was closed from the end of June, due to water over its western approach. On July 16, 1993, the Bayview Bridge closed when the river submerged the land on the west side of the Mississippi River at Taylor, Missouri; Quincy's bridges reopened 73 days later on September 26, 1993.[32]
On November 19, 1996, theUnited Express Flight 5925 collided on landing at Quincy with another Beechcraft, a privateKing Air, that was taking off from an intersecting runway. All occupants of both planes, twelve on board the 5925 and two on board the King Air, were killed as a result.[33]
A flood in June 2008 submerged much of Quincy's riverfront and low-lying regions not protected by the bluffs. Record Mississippi River levels occurred on June 22, 2008. The Red Cross[34] accepted donations for Quincy and other communities in Adams County, as natural disaster funds were depleted in 2010.
Quincy has been twice recognized as anAll-America City and is a participant in theTree City USA program. In the fall of 2010,Forbes listed Quincy as the eighth "Best Small City To Raise A Family."[35]
In January 2024, Quincy Police Chief Adam Yates announced a full strength staff of 73 sworn police officers.[36]
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Quincy is located at39°55′56″N91°23′19″W / 39.93222°N 91.38861°W /39.93222; -91.38861 (39.932335, -91.388737).[37] It is adjacent to the Mississippi River and Quincy Bay, a large inlet of water fed by Cedar and Homan Creeks. According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Quincy has a total area of 15.81 square miles (40.95 km2), of which 15.77 square miles (40.84 km2) (or 99.73%) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (or 0.27%) is water.[38]
The city is situated on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Adjacent to Quincy, on the Missouri side of the river, isWest Quincy,Missouri and a vast floodplain used primarily for farming. East of Quincy lies the Quincy Hills geographic region, a region of hills that are similar to theLincoln Hills in Missouri, where a mixture of rolling hills, woods, and farming shape the landscape. Flat prairie lie north of Quincy and as the Mississippi turns sharply to the southwest; bluffs, floodplain, and farmland lie to the south and southwest of the city.
TheQuincy micropolitan area includesAdams County,Illinois andLewis County,Missouri and together hold a population of 75,546. Due to its proximity toHannibal,Missouri, the two communities have been bulked intoQuincy-Hannibal, IL-MO Combined Statistical Area which holds approximately 116,000 residents. As of the 2010 Census, it is currently ranked as the156th most populated CSA in the United States.
Geographically, Quincy is the largest city and central hub of thetri-state area encompassingwestern Illinois, northeastern Missouri, and southeastern Iowa.
Quincy has several suburbs.North Quincy is the city's most populated suburb and lies to the north, beyond a rail line and a large creek.Hickory Grove, Illinois is an edge town and lies adjacent to Quincy to its east, bordered byInterstate 172. The town ofMarblehead lies to the south, and West Quincy to the west.
The Hannibal–Quincy micropolitan area is also technically not located within the nearbySt. Louis metropolitan, but are regionally associated due to their proximity and accessibility toGreater St. Louis.
| Climate data for Quincy, Illinois (Lock and Dam No. 21) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1901–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 79 (26) | 80 (27) | 88 (31) | 92 (33) | 103 (39) | 105 (41) | 114 (46) | 111 (44) | 105 (41) | 97 (36) | 87 (31) | 76 (24) | 114 (46) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 59.6 (15.3) | 64.6 (18.1) | 74.2 (23.4) | 83.6 (28.7) | 88.5 (31.4) | 93.9 (34.4) | 97.1 (36.2) | 97.3 (36.3) | 92.5 (33.6) | 85.9 (29.9) | 73.3 (22.9) | 62.9 (17.2) | 99.4 (37.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 35.1 (1.7) | 40.4 (4.7) | 51.8 (11.0) | 64.4 (18.0) | 74.1 (23.4) | 83.4 (28.6) | 87.2 (30.7) | 85.6 (29.8) | 78.9 (26.1) | 66.6 (19.2) | 52.5 (11.4) | 40.2 (4.6) | 63.3 (17.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.0 (−2.8) | 31.6 (−0.2) | 41.9 (5.5) | 53.6 (12.0) | 64.1 (17.8) | 73.6 (23.1) | 77.4 (25.2) | 75.7 (24.3) | 68.0 (20.0) | 56.0 (13.3) | 43.2 (6.2) | 32.3 (0.2) | 53.7 (12.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18.9 (−7.3) | 22.7 (−5.2) | 32.0 (0.0) | 42.9 (6.1) | 54.2 (12.3) | 63.9 (17.7) | 67.6 (19.8) | 65.7 (18.7) | 57.1 (13.9) | 45.4 (7.4) | 33.8 (1.0) | 24.5 (−4.2) | 44.1 (6.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −1.5 (−18.6) | 4.1 (−15.5) | 13.6 (−10.2) | 29.1 (−1.6) | 41.4 (5.2) | 53.3 (11.8) | 58.8 (14.9) | 57.6 (14.2) | 43.7 (6.5) | 31.0 (−0.6) | 18.4 (−7.6) | 6.2 (−14.3) | −5.0 (−20.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −21 (−29) | −29 (−34) | −12 (−24) | 12 (−11) | 26 (−3) | 39 (4) | 48 (9) | 44 (7) | 26 (−3) | 10 (−12) | −3 (−19) | −20 (−29) | −29 (−34) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 1.66 (42) | 1.91 (49) | 2.48 (63) | 4.22 (107) | 4.80 (122) | 4.12 (105) | 3.64 (92) | 3.33 (85) | 3.37 (86) | 2.65 (67) | 2.57 (65) | 1.73 (44) | 36.48 (927) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 7.2 | 6.6 | 9.1 | 10.5 | 10.6 | 9.3 | 8.2 | 7.0 | 6.2 | 8.2 | 7.3 | 6.9 | 97.1 |
| Source:NOAA[39][40][41] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 2,319 | — | |
| 1850 | 6,902 | 197.6% | |
| 1860 | 13,718 | 98.8% | |
| 1870 | 24,052 | 75.3% | |
| 1880 | 27,268 | 13.4% | |
| 1890 | 31,494 | 15.5% | |
| 1900 | 36,252 | 15.1% | |
| 1910 | 36,587 | 0.9% | |
| 1920 | 35,978 | −1.7% | |
| 1930 | 39,241 | 9.1% | |
| 1940 | 40,469 | 3.1% | |
| 1950 | 41,450 | 2.4% | |
| 1960 | 43,793 | 5.7% | |
| 1970 | 45,288 | 3.4% | |
| 1980 | 42,554 | −6.0% | |
| 1990 | 39,681 | −6.8% | |
| 2000 | 40,366 | 1.7% | |
| 2010 | 40,633 | 0.7% | |
| 2020 | 39,463 | −2.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[42] | |||
As of the2020 census[43] there were 39,463 people, 17,226 households, and 9,940 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,496.55 inhabitants per square mile (963.92/km2). There were 19,028 housing units at an average density of 1,203.77 per square mile (464.78/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.3%White, 5.87%African American, 0.18%Native American, 1.01%Asian, 0.08%Pacific Islander, 0.95% fromother races, and 5.59% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.33% of the population.
There were 17,226 households, out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.52% were married couples living together, 11.26% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.30% were non-families. 36.06% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.12% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 2.26.
The city's age distribution consisted of 21.4% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,935, and the median income for a family was $64,891. Males had a median income of $40,636 versus $26,977 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $29,105. About 11.4% of families and 15.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.
Companies based in Quincy includeNiemann Foods,Gardner Denver, Kohl Wholesale and The Knapheide Manufacturing Company.GatesAir Television and Radio Transmission has a facility in town, as doesBroadcast Electronics. Titan Wheel (Titan International) is also located in Quincy. Blessing Hospital, the Quincy Public Schools and Titan are the top three employers in the area.[44]
In 1978, Quincy formed the Great River Economic Development Foundation, a private, non-profit organization designed to retain existing businesses and attract new ones to the area. This organization has been instrumental in putting theQuincy-Hannibal Area on the map as a distinct region in conjunction with the major metropolitan areas nearby such asChicago, IL,St. Louis, MO, and evenKansas City, MO.[44] As a whole, Quincy falls from average to just above average in several economic categories[45] in comparison to the national averages.
The cost of living in Quincy is well below the national average.[46] The city is also below the national averages in cost of food, utilities and other miscellaneous costs.[46] In the fall of 2010 Quincy was listed as eighth in the top fifteen small cities to raise a family in the United States by Forbes magazine for its commute times, high school graduation rate, median household income, home ownership rate and cost of living. Forbes compared 126 cities with a population under 100,000 and ranked them on these five quality-of-life measures.[47]
Quincy and the surrounding region lie in a blended zone ofmidwestern culture, where influences from theHeartland andRust Belt converge. It is also a community that deeply admires the arts, as it is home to America's first Arts Council, Quincy Society of Fine Arts, which was founded in 1947 byGeorge M. Irwin. Irwin also founded Quincy Little Symphony (now known as the Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association) in 1947. Numerous nonprofit arts organizations provide the community with opportunities for entertainment, workshops, hands-on creative experiences, annual festivals, gallery and museum exhibit openings, theater, architecture, education and much more. Quincy was also named to Expedia's list ofAmerica's Most Artistic Towns in 2017 and 2018.
TheDogwood Parade and festival is an annual event held in early-May celebrating the blossoming Dogwoods located throughout the city. Washington Park hosts amusement rides and a parade marches down Maine Street. Washington Park and downtown also become the focal point of activity for farmer's markets, Q-Fest, formerly the Midsummer Arts Faire,[48] the Tin Dusters, and theGus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball tournament.
The Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County engage the community in various events at the History Museum, the John Wood Mansion and Woodland Cemetery. In 2018, Quincy Community Theatre opened its 81st season. Quincy Art Center and Quincy Museum host the annual Art Fest & Folk Life Festival on Maine Street each September and provide various educational opportunities.
Quincy's riverfront is also a center for popular activities throughout the year, including the Fourth of July display on the Quincy Bay, outdoor showings of movies, and concerts. The Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is housed in a unique example of Mediterranean Revival architecture, the Villa Kathrine, along the river bluff and provides visitors and those traveling along the Great River Road a stop with informational materials about Quincy and the surrounding area.
The Historic Downtown District is the premier destination for dining, entertainment and shopping. With the backdrop of historic architecture, The District merges the past with a touch of modern flair to bring customers all the modern conveniences they would want. Broadway Street leads from the Mississippi River through the east end of the town. Along the route are numerous chain franchises, stores,Quincy Mall and various strip malls for additional shopping opportunities. The Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce was established in 1887 to promote and enhance the business climate and economic well-being of the Quincy area.
The Quincy YMCA and The Salvation Army Kroc Center provide fitness and recreational activities. There also several dance and yoga studios available. The Quincy Park District also offers public access to numerous parks, trails, facilities and programs throughout the city.
Quincy is home to a diverse and vibrant collection of buildings that have come to be a tourist attraction in and of themselves. South of downtown is theSouth Side German Historic District, which holds many of the German-influenced structures that early immigrants built. A central site in the district is theDick Brothers Brewery Buildings, which were constructed in 1857 and rivaled many larger breweries.[49] The lager tunnel system and natural aquifer can still be found underground. Although the brewery survivedProhibition by bottling water and other beverages, slow modernization efforts forced the brewery into bankruptcy. However, the buildings remain and are being renovated for public use and commercial space.[50] Other examples of rich German-influence in Quincy can also be seen in the many brick homes within the district.
Francis Hall of Quincy University is another example of German influence in the city's structures.
Other than the South Side, Maine Street and the East End are popular strips where Quincy's rich architectural history is displayed. Once housing some of Quincy's elite, many of the homes in these regions are influenced mainly byVictorian schools. Known residents of this part of town included Richard Newcomb and city founderJohn Wood. Today, the Newcomb residence functions as theQuincy Museum and was once featured on the cover ofNational Geographic as "one of the most architecturally significant corners in the United States."[51] There are many organizations in the town that continue to oversee renovations to structures, such as the Historical Society of Quincy & Adams County, and some residents allow for tours of their 19th Century homes.
There is also a significant Mediterranean influence to Quincy with theVilla Kathrine andB'nai Sholom Temple. In 1900, Quincy resident W. George Metz commissioned George Behrensmeyer to design aMoroccan-style home overlooking the river. It included a harem, courtyard, and reflecting pool. Today, the Villa Kathrine functions as the visitor's center.[52] The Temple B'nai Sholom is another structure that was heavily influenced by theMoorish revival in the United States.
The Quincy Park District was founded in 1940 when five commissioners were elected to govern the district. Today the board for the Park District is made up of seven volunteers who serve four-year terms. Quincy Park District is made up of 1,000 acres (400 ha) which is divided into 26 parks. The 26 parks located in Quincy are All-American Park, Berrian Park, Bob Bangert Park, Bob Mays Park, Boots Bush Park, Clat Adams Bicentennial Park, Edgewater Park, Emerson Park, Gardner Park, Indian Mounds Park, Johnson Park, Kesler Park, Leon Bailey Park, Lincoln Park, Madison Park, Moorman Park, Parker Heights Park, Quinsippi Island, Reservoir Park, Riverview Park, South Park, Sunset Park, Washington Park, Wavering Park, and Westview Park. Washington Park was the first park in Quincy, IL. It is located downtown and sits on 4 acres (1.6 ha). Washington Park served as one of the locations in Illinois for theLincoln-Douglas debates. Quinsippi Island is accessible through the All-American Park and comprises 130 acres (53 ha). Bob Mays Park sits on fifty acres of land and opened in 2008. The site of the first public pool was at Indian Mounds Park. It also sits on 37 acres (15 ha) of land. Moorman Park where visitors can find baseball and softball diamonds. Moorman Park sits on 80 acres (32 ha) and includes a batting cage and mini-golf course. Besides a swimming pool and baseball/softball diamonds, there are also tennis courts for the community to use. One park that has tennis courts is Reservoir Park where many city tennis tournaments are held. This is just some of the information regarding the parks in Quincy.[53]
Quincy has a number of educational institutions within the city or close by.
The school district for Quincy isQuincy Public School District 172.[54]Quincy Senior High School is located on Maine Street in Quincy.Quincy Notre Dame High School, a private Catholic high school, is also located in Quincy.Quincy University is located in Quincy and established in the 1860s. On the city's east side,John Wood Community College is the regionalcommunity college. Gem City College is located in the heart of downtown Quincy and the Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing is located next door to Blessing Hospital. Regionally, Quincy is within driving distance ofWestern Illinois University inMacomb,Hannibal-LaGrange College downriver in Hannibal, Missouri, andCulver-Stockton College inCanton, Missouri.
Quincy's television market includes the cities of Quincy, Hannibal, Macomb, and Keokuk. The market was widely served byInsight Communications through 2007. In January 2008,Comcast took control of thecable television system. Satellite television services are provided byDirecTV orDish.
The city is usually combined with Hannibal due to its proximity and labeled as the 170th market on theDMA chart. With regards to television service, Quincy and the surrounding region are served by affiliates ofABC,CBS,NBC,Fox, and theCW networks.STARadio Corporation andQuincy Media own many of the local media outlets in the region. As of February 2006, Quincy can receive 17 FM stations, 5 AM stations, and one NOAA Wideband Weather Radio station.[55]
Interstate 72 passes approximately 12 miles (19 km) south of Quincy. Its spur route,Interstate 172, passes just east of town. In recent years, the Prairie Trails Shopping Complex has been a focal point for development in this area.Illinois Route 104 (Broadway) is a main east–west artery from the Mississippi River bridges to Interstate 172.Illinois Route 96 enters the city from the southeast and travels north (through the east side of Quincy) toU.S. Route 24.Illinois Route 57 branches south from U.S. 24 downtown and passes Quincy's Civic Center on its way to Interstate 172 southeast of the city. Illinois 96 also serves as theGreat River Road, which follows the path of the Mississippi River. Eastbound U.S. 24 crosses the Mississippi River fromMissouri on theQuincy Memorial Bridge, while westbound traffic uses the newerBayview Bridge. Bayview bridge was constructed in 1986, but was not built as a four-lane bridge because of budget cuts, as the cable suspension made it unaffordable to build a four-lane bridge. Other groups claimed that business in the downtown part of Quincy would decline if the Memorial bridge was shut down.[citation needed]
On the Missouri side,U.S. 61 carries theAvenue of the Saints, a four-lane highway connectingSaint Louis toMinneapolis–Saint Paul. The Avenue of the Saints derives its name from Saint Louis andSaint Paul, Minnesota.
Quincy is at the center of four-lane highways in all directions:
TheQuincy Regional Airport is to Quincy's east, about 5 miles (8.0 km) outside of the city limits.Cape Air operates daily flights to Chicago-O'Hare, which is 222 flying miles from Quincy and St. Louis-Lambert, which is 93 miles away. It is the 425th busiest airport in America based on passenger counts.[56] Flight instruction, plane rentals and hangar space are also available at the airport. Longest Runway: 7,098 ft. Width: 150 ft.
Quincy is anAmtrak community with arailroad station on the north side of town. Two state-supported trains, theIllinois Zephyr and theCarl Sandburg link Quincy with Chicago, Amtrak's main hub, with connections to hundreds of cities across the country. TheIllinois Zephyr departs in the morning and arrives in the evening, while theCarl Sandburg arrives mid-day and departs in the late afternoon. Both make the same stops toChicago'sUnion Station.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Norfolk Southern offer multiple freight trains daily and Burlington Junction Rail Road offers short line service many sites and development districts.
Quincy is home to the northernmost port on the Mississippi River for 12-month barge traffic. The municipal barge dock currently serves multiple industries in the South Quincy Development District. The Mid America Intermodal Port Commission is working to secure funding for an additional multimillion-dollar intermodal port facility.
Quincy Transit Lines provides fixed-route and paratransit bus service throughout Quincy.[57] There are four fixed routes, and each route is split into two branches.[58] Those routes run Monday–Saturday, between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm. During Sundays and holidays, Quincy Transit Lines operates a pared-down version of the fixed-route system that is made up of two routes – the North route and the South route.[59]
Quincy Transit Lines route Route 4 stops near the city's Amtrak station at Wissman Lane/30th Street intersection.[60]
Quincy is home to Blessing Hospital and Quincy Medical Group. Specialty areas include a cancer center, cardiovascular center, outpatient surgery center, Level 2 trauma center, and rehabilitation. Blessing also operates the Blessing Rieman College of Nursing.[61]
Quincy, Illinois has twosister cities.
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