Editing Quincy, Illinois (section)

==History==

===Early history===
[[File:Quincy in 1848, by Henry Lewis.jpg|thumb|left|Quincy in 1848 by [[Henry Lewis (artist)|Henry Lewis]]]]
Quincy's location along the Mississippi River has attracted settlers for centuries. The [[New France|French]] became the first European presence to colonize the region, after [[Louis Jolliet]], [[Jacques Marquette]], Jamison Knapp and the [[La Salle Expeditions]] explored the [[Upper Mississippi River|Upper 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 growing [[fur 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 the [[Seven Years' War]], which ended in 1763, [[British America|Great Britain]] took control of New France, and the area that is now Illinois became part of the [[Indian Reserve (1763)|Indian Reserve]]. After the [[American Revolutionary War]] a few decades later, the area became part of the [[Northwest Territory]] of the United States, and eventually the State of Illinois in 1818.

===19th century===
After the [[War of 1812]], the American government [[land grant|granted]] [[Military Tract of 1812|military tract]]s 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 {{convert|160|acre|km2}} of land acquisitions to [[Moravia, New York]] native [[John Wood (governor)|John Wood]] for $60 (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=60|start_year=1819}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}). John Wood later founded Quincy, which at the time was coined Bluffs, Illinois.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adamscohistory.org/html/mansion.html |title=Mansion |publisher=Adamscohistory.org |access-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812004809/http://www.adamscohistory.org/html/mansion.html |archive-date=August 12, 2014 }}</ref>

In [[1825 in the United States|1825]], Bluffs renamed their community Quincy and became the seat of government for [[Adams County, Illinois|Adams County]], both named after [[1824 United States presidential election|newly elected]] [[United States President|President]] [[John 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 first [[Congregationalism|congregational]] churches in the state. In June 1834, Quincy was incorporated, with [[Archibald Williams (judge)|Archibald Williams]], Joseph T. Holmes, S. W. Rogers, Levi Wells, and Michael Mast elected as trustees.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Holmes|first=Joseph T.|url=http://hdl.handle.net/2027/loc.ark:/13960/t02z20q26|title=Quincy in 1857.|publisher=Quincy, Ill.|year=1857|pages=16|hdl=2027/loc.ark:/13960/t02z20q26}}</ref> Quincy incorporated as a city in 1840, with Ebenezer Moore elected as its first mayor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Quincy Past- Former Mayors|url=https://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/qpl/id/2281/rec/5|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=www.idaillinois.org|language=en}}</ref>

In 1837, following the signing of [[Missouri Executive Order 44]], which called for the expulsion of Mormons from Missouri and the extermination of those who refused, many members of the [[History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] fled persecution in Missouri and found shelter in Quincy. Despite being vastly outnumbered by [[Mormonism|Mormon]] 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 {{convert|40|mi|km}} upstream to [[Nauvoo, Illinois]], in hopes of finding a permanent home.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/mormon-thoroughfare/7-quincy-illinois-temporary-refuge-1838%E2%80%9339 |title=7. Quincy, Illinois: A Temporary Refuge, 1838–39 &#124; Religious Studies Center |publisher=Rsc.byu.edu |access-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190234/http://rsc.byu.edu/archived/mormon-thoroughfare/7-quincy-illinois-temporary-refuge-1838%E2%80%9339 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 }}</ref> Also in 1838, Quincy sheltered the [[Potawatomi]] tribe as they were [[Potawatomi Trail of Death|forcibly relocated]] from [[Indiana]] to [[Kansas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-potawatomitraildeath.html |title=Potawatomi Trail of Death |publisher=Legendsofamerica.com |access-date=March 5, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:View of Quincy showing court house, by John Sanftleben.jpg|thumb|left|19th century view of Quincy Courthouse by John Sanftleben]]
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 the [[Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad]] in 1855, and the construction of the [[Quincy Rail Bridge]], were major drivers for creating a transportation hub in the region to further commerce.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.american-rails.com/chicago-burlington-and-quincy.html |title=The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Way of the Zephyrs |publisher=American-rails.com |access-date=March 5, 2014}}</ref> 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 surpass [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]] in becoming the second-largest city in the state (at that time).<ref name="seequincy1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greatriverroad.com/quincy/quincytown.htm |title=Visitors Guide to Quincy, Illinois |publisher=Greatriverroad.com |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305105925/http://www.greatriverroad.com/quincy/quincytown.htm |archive-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

One famous former resident of Quincy is [[George Pickett|George 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.<ref>Prokopowicz, G.J. (2009) Did Lincoln Own Slaves? : And Other Frequently Asked Questions About Abraham Lincoln. New York: Knopf Doubleday, p. 132</ref>

In 1860, Quincy founder and Lieutenant Governor John Wood inherited the governorship after [[William H. Bissell]] died while in office. At the time, he was overseeing business interests and the construction of his [[John Wood Mansion|mansion]]. 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 provided [[Abraham Lincoln]] a space for planning his presidential run.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adamscohistory.org/html/john_wood.html |title=John Wood |publisher=Adamscohistory.org |access-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102193521/http://www.adamscohistory.org/html/john_wood.html |archive-date=January 2, 2014 }}</ref>

[[File:Quincy Lincoln Douglas Taft.JPG|thumb|A mural to the 1858 [[Lincoln–Douglas debates]] in Quincy]]
[[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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://shs.umsystem.edu/civilwar/abriefhistory.html#read |title=more |publisher=Shs.umsystem.edu |date=June 27, 2012 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511124358/http://shs.umsystem.edu/civilwar/abriefhistory.html#read |archive-date=May 11, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[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 the [[Underground Railroad]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Shannon Bell |url=http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/underground/il3.htm |title=Aboard the Underground Railroad-Dr. Richard Ells House |publisher=Nps.gov |access-date=March 5, 2014}}</ref> The divide over slavery climaxed in 1858, when Quincy hosted the sixth Senatorial [[Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858|debate]] by U.S. Senator [[Stephen 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lincolndouglasquincydebate.com/html/the_debate.html#QuincyDebate |title=The Debate |publisher=Lincolndouglasquincydebate.com |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228024700/http://lincolndouglasquincydebate.com/html/the_debate.html#QuincyDebate |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://genealogytrails.com/ill/adams/history/quincyhistory.html |title=Quincy History |publisher=Genealogytrails.com |date=July 14, 2006 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140102094011/http://genealogytrails.com/ill/adams/history/quincyhistory.html |archive-date=January 2, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Lincoln and Douglas again confronted each other in the [[1860 United States presidential election|1860 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 organization ''[[Wide Awakes]]'', while en route to a political rally in [[Plainville, Illinois|Plainville]], marched upon nearby [[Payson, Illinois|Payson]], 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.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nelson |first1=Iris A. |last2=Waggoner |first2=Walter S. |title=Sick, sore, and sorry: The Stone's Prairie Riot of 1860 |journal=Journal of Illinois History |date=April 30, 2002 |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=19–32 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112103936537?urlappend=%3Bseq=25%3Bownerid=13510798903771142-29 |access-date=April 30, 2025}}</ref>

The [[American Civil War|Civil 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 the [[Union Army]]'s [[16th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|16th]], [[50th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|50th]], [[78th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|78th]], [[84th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|84th]], [[119th Illinois Infantry Regiment|119th]], [[137th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|137th]], [[138th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|138th]], and [[151st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|151st]]. Following the [[Reconstruction Era]], Quincy was selected as the location for Illinois' first [[Veteran's Home]] in 1886.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quincyivh.org/ |title=Illinois Veterans Home - Quincy, IL |publisher=Quincyivh.org |access-date=March 5, 2014}}</ref>

====Immigration====
Early immigrants to Quincy came predominately from the [[Upper South]] but were followed later by those from [[New England]], seeking better land. They brought with them [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive values]], such as [[public education]] and [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionism]]. 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 the [[South Side German Historic District]]. Collectively, the south side of Quincy became known as ''Calftown'', due to the fact that nearly every household possessed a cow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seequincy.com/SeeAreaAdamsMCHA.html |title=quincy, il &#124; see the unexpected |publisher=Seequincy.com |access-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204062707/http://www.seequincy.com/SeeAreaAdamsMCHA.html |archive-date=December 4, 2013 }}</ref> Among the notable German-Americans from Quincy's Southside was [[Louise Maertz]] (1837–1918), a nurse during the American Civil War.<ref>Amy Kaiser, [http://www.whig.com/story/19189755/louise-maertz-a-lesson-in-how-to-make-a-difference# "Louise Maertz: A lesson in how to make a difference"] ''Quincy Whig-Herald'' (August 3, 2012).</ref>

In 1860, a group of [[Franciscans|Franciscan]] friars founded the St. Francis Solanus College, which later developed into [[Quincy University]].

===20th and 21st centuries===
[[File:Quincyflood.jpg|thumb|Quincy during the [[Great Flood of 1993]]. Quincy was protected by the bluffs; however, [[West Quincy, Missouri]], across the river, was completely submerged.]]
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 the [[Downtown Quincy Historic District]] were constructed, including the city's first skyscraper, the Western Catholic Union Building, in 1925.<ref>{{YouTube|38BUQv27Ifw|WCU Building}}</ref>

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 the [[Quincy Memorial Bridge|Memorial 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adamscohistory.org/Memorial_Bridge.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=January 2, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102195820/http://www.adamscohistory.org/Memorial_Bridge.pdf |archive-date=January 2, 2014 }}</ref>

On [[Tornado outbreak of April 1945|April 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lsx/?n=adams_tor |title=Adams County |publisher=Crh.noaa.gov |access-date=March 5, 2014}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adamscohistory.org/Tornadoes_and_Quincy.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=August 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102200042/http://www.adamscohistory.org/Tornadoes_and_Quincy.pdf |archive-date=January 2, 2014 }}</ref>  Five years passed before [[Adams County Courthouse (Illinois)|a new courthouse]] was completed.<ref>Weiser, Dennis.  ''Illinois courthouses: an illustrated history''. [[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]]: Donning, 2009, 14.</ref>

On September 27, 1976, three [[improvised explosive device]]s were detonated at the Colt Industries Inc. Quincy Compressor Division Plant. A team of [[Explosive ordnance disposal (United States Navy)|EOD]] Specialists from [[Fort Leonard Wood]], in the area in support of the [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] during a visit to Quincy by Republican vice-presidential candidate [[Bob 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://goordnance.army.mil/HallOfFame/2010/2017/SGMFOSTER.html|title=Sergeant Major Kenneth R. Foster Sr. |publisher=[[US Army]] |date= |access-date=May 31, 2024}}</ref>

In 1987, the cable-stayed [[Bayview 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.connecttristates.com/news/story.aspx?id=1242372 |title=Quincy bridge lighting celebration announced |publisher=[[KHQA-TV]] |date= August 11, 2015|access-date=August 14, 2014}}</ref>

During the [[Great Flood of 1993|Mississippi River flood of 1993]], riverside businesses and industries suffered extensive damage when the river crested at a record 32.2 feet (9.81&nbsp;m), {{convert|15|ft|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 between [[Alton, Illinois]] and [[Burlington, 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.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubdoc/MP/ISWSMP-151.pdf|title=The 1993 Flood on the Mississippi River in Illinois|publisher=Illinois State Water Survey|year=1994|pages=96}}</ref>

On November 19, 1996, the [[United Express Flight 5925]] collided on landing at Quincy with another Beechcraft, a private [[King 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.<ref name="NTSB_report">{{cite journal
|title=Aircraft Accident Report, Runway Collision, United Express Flight 5925 and Beechcraft King Air A90, Quincy Municipal Airport, Quincy, Illinois, November 19, 1996
|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR9704.pdf
|publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] |id=NTSB/AAR-97/04 |date=July 1, 1997 |access-date=September 16, 2017 }}</ref>

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<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mercantilebk.com/secure/redcross.html |title=American Red Cross of Adams County Online Donation Form |publisher=Mercantilebk.com |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809042253/http://www.mercantilebk.com/secure/redcross.html |archive-date=August 9, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> accepted donations for Quincy and other communities in Adams County, as natural disaster funds were depleted in 2010.

Quincy has been twice recognized as an [[All-America City]] and is a participant in the [[Tree City USA]] program. In the fall of 2010, [[Forbes]] listed Quincy as the eighth "Best Small City To Raise A Family."<ref>{{cite web |last=Levy |first=Francesca |url=http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/the-best-small-cities-to-raise-a-family.html |title=The Best Small Cities To Raise A Family - Yahoo Homes |publisher=Realestate.yahoo.com |date=October 25, 2010 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125075340/http://homes.yahoo.com/news/best-small-cities-raise-family-220607181.html |archive-date=January 25, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In January 2024, Quincy Police Chief Adam Yates announced a full strength staff of 73 sworn police officers.<ref> https://muddyrivernews.com/top-stories/back-to-full-strength-qpd-up-to-73-sworn-officers/20240103075450/</ref>