Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as the Gem City, is a city located in Adams County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 40,366. It is the county seat of Adams CountyTemplate:GR.
Geography
Quincy is located at 39°55'56" North, 91°23'19" West (39.932335, -91.388737)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 37.9 km² (14.6 mi²). 37.9 km² (14.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.20% water.
History
Quincy sits on the banks of the Mississippi River, at the westernmost point in Illinois. The site was home to Sauk, Fox and Kickapoo Native American tribes. Quincy’s founder, John Wood, came west from Moravia, New York in 1818 and settled in the Illinois Military Tract. Wood purchased 160 acres from a veteran for $60 and the next year became the first settler in what was originally called "Bluffs," and by 1825 would be known as Quincy. Wood was later elected Lieutenant Governor of Illinois in 1856 and became Governor in 1860 upon the death of elected Governor William Henry Bissell.
In 1825 Quincy became the Adams County seat, both named in honor of the newly-elected U.S. President, John Quincy Adams.
Five thousand members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Mormons, were driven from their homes in Missouri and arrived in Quincy during the winter of 1838-1839. Though vastly outnumbered by the new arrivals, the residents of Quincy provided food and shelter for the Mormons until Joseph Smith led his followers 40 miles up river to the settlement of Nauvoo.
Quincy’s earliest settlers, primarily from New England in origin, were joined by a wave of German immigrants in the 1840s. The new residents brought with them much needed skills for the expanding community.
The matter of 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, made Quincy a hotbed of political controversy. Dr. Eells House, at 415 Jersey, was considered station number one on the Underground Railroad from Quincy to Chicago.
Father Augustine Tolton became the nation's first black priest when he was ordained on April 24, 1886. He said Mass for the first time in Quincy on July 18, 1886.
Quincy grew rapidly in the 1850s. In the 1850s steamboat arrivals and departures made Quincy’s riverfront a beehive of activity. Quincy was a site for the sixth Senatorial debate by U.S. Senator Stephen Douglas and his challenger, Abraham Lincoln. Quincy was the largest city in which Lincoln and Douglas appeared.
The Civil War brought increasing prosperity to Quincy. By 1870, Quincy passed Peoria to become the second largest city in Illinois. A massive railroad bridge across the Mississippi River had been completed, and Quincy was linked by rail to Omaha, Nebraska, Kansas City and points west.
Twice recognized as an All-American City, Quincy has a vast collection of some of the most impressive architecture of any community in Illinois, including several Gothic style churches. The Villa Kathrine, a Moroccan castle situated on the river bluffs, is a unique example of Mediterranean architecture in the Midwest. The city is home to Quincy University, a Catholic Franciscan College founded in 1860, John Wood Community College, as well as a technical college and the Blessing-Riemann College of Nursing. The city is also home to several museums, an extensive park system, several manufacturing companies, high tech & telecommunications companies and a large health care system.
Quincy is the birthplace and childhood home of silent & sound film actress Mary Astor.
During the Flood of 1993, Quincy suffered a terrible loss. Bridges were forced to close due to the rising Mississippi River. The Quincy Bridge survived most of the hardships, but did close down because the levee broke. Before its closure, Quincy had the only opened bridge within 100 miles, the closest bridge was Saint Louis or the Quad Cities.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 40,366 people, 16,546 households, and 10,109 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,066.0/km² (2,761.2/mi²). There are 18,043 housing units at an average density of 476.5/km² (1,234.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 93.02% White, 4.65% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 16,546 households out of which 28.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% are married couples living together, 11.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% are non-families. 33.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 2.94.
In the city the population is spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $30,956, and the median income for a family is $40,718. Males have a median income of $30,734 versus $20,748 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,479. 12.2% of the population and 9.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.2% of those under the age of 18 and 8.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Corporations
Broadcast Electronics, manufactures Radio equiptment, their famed product is the Audiovault.
Gardner-Denver Corporation, manufactures petroleum and compressor products.
Hollister-Whitney, constructs elevators.
Knapheide Services, constructs parts for semi trucks.
Quincy Newspapers, Inc, media corporation that owns several television, radio, and newspaper assets.
Titan Wheel International, manufactures tires.
Media
Television
WTJR 16 - local Christian station
Radio
FM
WGCA(The Mix) - 88.5 - Christian Mix
WQUB - 90.3 - Public Radio NPR
KJIR - 91.7 - Gospel Music
KGRC(Real 929) - 92.9 - Hot A/C
KOKX - 95.3 - Oldies
KICK - 97.9 - Country
WCOY - 99.5 - Country
KRRY(Y101) - 100.9 - Top 40
KQPW - 102.5 - Christian
WQIN - 102.9 - Christian
WQCY(The Fox) - 103.9 - Sports/80's
WGEM - 105.1 - Local/News/Talk
KZZK(The Grizz) - 105.9 - Rock
WPWQ(Q106) - 106.7 - Oldies
WQJC - 107.9 - Oldies
AM
WTAD - 930 - Local/News/Talk
WCAZ - 990 - Agriculture
KHMO - 1070 - Adult Contemporary
WGEM - 1440 - Local/News/Talk
KPCR - 1530 - Country
Published Works
Arts/Quincy
Attractions
- Gardner Museum of Archutecture & Design, Located at the heart of Downtown at Washington Park, the GMOA&D offers a breathetaking view of of historic archutechture from Quincy's historic past and beutiful stained glass archutecture from all over the world.
- Quincy Museum, Explore through one of Quincy's most beutiful mansions which once made the cover of National Geographic as one of "America's most beutiful homes", their you can explore through Quincy's past as well as have some fun with the Dinosaur and Space exhibits.
- Jesus Tree, an old tree located in Calvary Cemetary has the image of Jesus Christ holding a lamb embedded in its bark.
- Illinois Veterans Home & All Wars Museum, the oldest and largest of the Illinois Veterans Home, has had its home in Quincy since the Civil War. Some features here include a small zoo/park, space rocket at the back gates, and the amount of military equiptment on display throughout the facility.
- Mississippi Valley Auto Museum On the shores of Quincy Bay rests the Mississippi Valley Auto Museum, which features cars from the start, such as the Model A and more...
- John Wood Mansion, founder of Quincy and the 12th governor of Illinois, explore his home and a part of Quincy's past.
- Quinsippi Isle, Located right in the middle of the mighty Mississippi is the isle of Quinsippi. Here explore old an historic village with log cabins, much like that of the 1800's. Hike or bike across the island through many of the island hiking trails.
- Clatt Adams Park, Clatt Adams Park rests in-between both the Quincy Memorial Bridge and the Quincy Bayview Bridge, and offers an breathtaking view of the Mississippi, especially at sunset.
- Stone Arch Bridge (South Park), South Park is located on the south side of Quincy, and it has nothing to do with the TV show. South Park has everything, baseball diamond, hiking trails, bike route, and the 8th street Stone Arch bridge, which was built in the 1880's as a bridge over Curtis Creek, the bridge has survived that long and still survives the hardships of traffic each day.
- Historic Maine Street, From 14th Street to 30th Street along Maine Street lies some of the nation's most beutiful examples of German archutecture. Also, the street is home to some of Quincy's historic buildings such as the Quincy Museum, Junior High, and Madison School
- World Aero Space Museum, Here 5 miles east of Quincy at the regional airport is the World Aero Space Museum, which houses some of America's top fighter planes from the Cold War era
- Villa Kathrine Castle, Resting on the bluffs of the Mississippi is the Villa Kathrine Castle, which was originally designated as a gift for the designers wife, became one of Quincy's most historic buildings and maybe one of the America's most unique structures. The castle is also designated as an Illinois Welcome Center.
- Quincy National Cemetary, located on Maine & 36th Streets, the Quincy National Cemetary serves as the final resting place of the nation's fallen heroes from the region.
- Oakley-Lindsay Center, Just a half mile from Quincy's downtown and 3 blocks from the Mississippi, The Oakley-Lindsay Center is the areas convention complex ready for anything reserved. The Quincy Community Theater also resides in this building with many performances that almost match those of Broadway.
- First Maid Rite, Quincy is the home of the very first Maid-Rite resturant in the franchise. It is located on North 12th Street, near the enterance to Blessing Hospital.
- Hannibal, Missouri (17 miles south on Interstate 172)
Regional Events
Transportation
Quincy, Illinois is at a prime location when it comes to transporation. Quincy is home to several trucking companies which need well paved roads to make their ventures, and the whole tri-state region is full of exciting paths on our regional transportation system.
Interstate 72 passes just south of Quincy and its spur route Interstate 172 is just east of us, ancored by our Wal-Mart and Prairie Crossings Shopping Complex. Illinois Route 104(Broadway) is our buziest street, and Illinois Route 96 crosses straight through our city. Illinois Route 57 takes you right by Quincy's Civic Center and straight through our downtown. Illinois Route 96 also serves as the Great River Road, which follows the path of the Mississippi. US 24 crosses the Mississippi River straight into our Downtown area.
On the Missouri side, US 61 carries the Avenue of the Saints, which is a four-lane highway connecting Saint Louis and the Twin Cities.
An airport is to Quincy's east, about 5 miles past the city limits, and Quincy is an Amtrak community with a rail station on the north side of town.
Sister Cities
Herford, Germany - 65,100