Quincy

Quincy is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Illinois, located on the Mississippi River. The 2020 census counted a population of 39,463 in the city itself, down from 40,633 in 2010. During the 19th century, Quincy was a thriving transportation center as riverboats and rail service linked the city to many destinations west and along the river. It was Illinois' second-largest city, surpassing Peoria in 1870. The city has several historic districts, including the Downtown Quincy Historic District and the South Side German Historic District, which display the architecture of Quincy's many German immigrants from the late 19th and early 20th century. The Quincy Micro Area had an estimated population of 77,220 as of July 1, 2015, and is known as Illinois's "Gem City" The city's location, only separated by the. Mississippi River from the state of Missouri, was a hotbed of political controversy on the issue of slavery, which was a major social and religious issue in Quincy's early years. In 1837, following the signing of Missouri Executive Order 44, which is an extermination order, many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fled persecution in Missouri and found shelter in Quincy. Quincy sheltered the Pottawatomie tribe as they were forcibly relocated from Indiana to Kansas. The future Confederate general George E. Pickett came to Quincy to live, and learn the law, from his uncle Alexander Johnson in the 1840s. In 1860, John Wood inherited the governorship after William H. Bissell died.

History

Quincy's location along the Mississippi River has attracted settlers for centuries. The French became the first European presence to colonize the region in 1763. In 1837, many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fled persecution in Missouri and found shelter in Quincy. Steamboats and railroads began linking Quincy to places west, making the city a frequent destination for immigrants. Quincy was a hotbed of political controversy on slavery. It hosted the sixth Senatorial debate between Abraham Lincoln and his challenger Stephen A. Douglas in 1858. The city's population grew enormously, from just under 7,000 residents in 1850 to 24,000 by 1870, helping Quincy surpass Peoria in becoming the second-largest city in the state (at that time) The city was named after newly elected President John Quincy Adams, who was born in Quincy in 1778. The Quincy River Bridge was built in 1855 to connect the city to the rest of Illinois. It is the only bridge in the U.S. that is not named after a specific person, but for the town square John Square, which was originally named John Square. It was also named after the town's first mayor, Ebenezer Moore, who served from 1834 to 1840. Quincy is located only by the Mississippi river from the slave state of Missouri, which made it an important political hotbed in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The town is located on the banks of the Illinois River, which runs through the center of Quincy.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census there were 39,463 people, 17,226 households, and 9,940 families residing in the city. There were 19,028 housing units at an average density of 1,203.77 per square mile (464.78/km²) 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, and 24.3% from 45 to 64. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males. The median income for a household was $46,935, and $64,891 for a family. The per capita income for the city was $29,105. About 11.4%. of families and 15.3%. of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7%. of those under age 18 and 12.7. of those age 65 or over. The city is located on the U.S.-Mexico border. It is located near the border with Mexico. It has a population of about 39,000, and a population density of 2,496.55 inhabitants per sq mile (963.92/ km²) It is one of the largest cities in the state, with a population growth rate of about 7.5%. The city has a median age of 40.3 years, and the median income of $46.935. It also has a poverty rate of 15.7%, the highest of any city in Texas.

Geography

Quincy is located at 39°5556N 91°2319W (39.932335, -91.388737). 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 99.73% is land and 0.04 sq miles (0.10 km²) (or 0.27%) is water. The Quincy micropolitan area includes Adams County, Illinois and Lewis County, Missouri and together hold a population of 75,546. As of the 2010 Census, it is currently ranked as the 156th most populated CSA in the United States. Quincy is the largest city and central hub of the Tri-State region, encompassing western Illinois, northeastern Missouri, and southeastern Iowa. It is also technically not located within the nearby St. Louis metropolitan, but are regionally associated due to their proximity and accessibility to Greater St Louis. The city has two sister cities: Herford, Germany and Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China. It also has a sister city in Hannibal, Missouri, where it is located on the Missouri side of the river and on a vast floodplain used primarily for farming. The town of Marblehead, Missouri lies to the south, and West Quincy to the west. North Quincy, Illinois is the city's most populated suburb.

Economy

Quincy-Hannibal Area is home to companies such as Niemann Foods, Gardner Denver and The Knapheide Manufacturing Company. As a whole, Quincy falls from average to just above average in several economic categories in comparison to the national averages. 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. 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. The organization has been instrumental in putting the Quincy-HANNibal Area on the map as a distinct region in conjunction with the major metropolitan areas nearby such as Chicago, IL, St. Louis, MO, and even Kansas City, MO. The city is also below the national average in cost of food, utilities and other miscellaneous costs. The cost ofLiving in Quincy is well below thenational average. The Quincy Public Schools and Titan are the top three employers in the area, as well as GatesAir Television and Radio Transmission. Titan Wheel (Titan International) is also located in Quincy. Blessing Hospital, the Quincy Public schools and Titan is the top employer in the region, as is Gardner Denver.

Culture

Quincy and the surrounding region lie in a blended zone of midwestern culture, where influences from the Heartland and Rust 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, and the Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association. Quincy was also named to Expedia's list of America's Most Artistic Towns in 2017 and 2018. Like most Mississippi river cities, blues music has made a lasting impression upon the city and every year the free admission Blues in the District concert series brings the music to Washington Park. The Historic Downtown District is the premier destination for dining, entertainment and shopping. 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. The Quincy YMCA and The Salvation Army Kroc Center provide fitness and recreational activities. There also several dance and yoga studios available. The historic Downtown District merges the past with a touch of modern flair to bring customers all the modern conveniences they would want. Along the route are numerous chain franchises, stores, Quincy Mall and various strip malls for additional shopping opportunities. along the river bluff and provides visitors and those traveling along the Great River Road a stop with informational materials about Quincy.

Architecture

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 the South Side German Historic District, which holds many of the German-influenced structures that early immigrants built. There is also a significant Mediterranean influence to Quincy with the Villa Kathrine and B'nai Sholom Temple. In 1900, Quincy resident W. George Metz commissioned George Behrensmeyer to design a Moroccan-style home overlooking the river. It included a harem, courtyard, and reflecting pool. Today, the Newcomb residence functions as the Quincy Museum and was once featured on the cover of National Geographic as "one of the most architecturally significant corners in the U.S." The Dick Brothers Brewery Buildings were constructed in 1857 and rivaled many larger breweries. The lager tunnel system and natural aquifer can still be found underground. Other examples of German influence in Quincy can also be seen in the many brick homes within the district. 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. Other than the south side, Maine Street and the East End are popular strips where Quincy's rich architectural history is displayed. It is also possible to visit some of the homes in these regions are influenced mainly by Victorian schools. It's possible to also visit some homes that were once housing some of Quincy's elite, including Richard Newcomb and city founder John Wood.

Infrastructure

Quincy has a number of educational institutions within the city or close by. Quincy University is Quincy's most highly decorated school, and was established in the 1860s. 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. Quincy is within driving distance of Western Illinois University in Macomb, Hannibal-LaGrange College downriver in Hannibal, Missouri, and Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri. The Quincy Park District is made up of 1,000 acres (400 ha) which is divided into 26 parks. Quincy Regional Airport is about 5 miles (8 km) east of the city limits. Air Canada operates daily flights to Chicago, O'Hare, and Chicago's O'hare International Airport, as well as non-stop flights to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The city is home to the Blessing Hospital and Quincy Medical Group, which operates a cancer center, cardiovascular center, outpatient surgery center, Level 2 trauma center, and rehabilitation center. Quincy has a large number of parks, including All-American Park, Berrian Park, Bob Bangert Park, Indian Mounds Park, Boots Bush Park, Edgewater Park, Emerson Park, Gardner 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.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois = 81.2. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 55. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 99. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Quincy = 3.8 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 39,463 individuals with a median age of 39.6 age the population dropped by -2.49% in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 2,503.20 residents per square mile of area (966.50/km²). There are average 2.25 people per household in the 16,431 households with an average household income of $38,275 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 8.80% of the available work force and has dropped -5.08% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 21.84%. The number of physicians in Quincy per 100,000 population = 224.9.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Quincy = 36.5 inches and the annual snowfall = 20.6 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 96. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 199. 90 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 18.6 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 36, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois which are owned by the occupant = 60.72%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 56 years with median home cost = $73,460 and home appreciation of -5.47%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $14.84 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $3,895 per student. There are 16.8 students for each teacher in the school, 1690 students for each Librarian and 563 students for each Counselor. 5.96% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 12.77% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 6.99% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).