1944 Map of Quincy

About this map

Quincy dominates this Mississippi River corridor as a major 1940s rail and industrial hub, defined by the extensive operations of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy RR. The map captures the complex river geography before major modern alterations, showing a landscape of seasonal sloughs and islands like Cottonwood Island and Fabius Island. Beyond the urban core, the upland areas of Ellington and Melrose are densely settled with landmark institutions, including the Soldiers Home and numerous parochial and rural schools such as St Ludgerus School and Hickory Grove School. A notable industrial detail is the Distillery located south of the city near Mound School. The river bottoms reveal a different economy of Pumping Stations and drainage projects like the Durgen Creek Diversion Ditch, critical for maintaining the agricultural viability of the floodplains in both Illinois and Missouri.