1971 Map of Quincy West

About this map

The city of Quincy dominates the eastern bluffs of the Mississippi River, serving as a dense urban center characterized by its numerous religious and educational institutions. The map reveals a high concentration of schools and parochial facilities, including the Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Home, Quincy College, and the Our Lady of Angels Seminary. Along the riverfront, industrial and civic infrastructure is evident through the Waterworks, various pumping stations, and the massive Lock and Dam No 21. Across the river in Missouri, the landscape shifts dramatically to a network of levees and winding waterways like the Fabius River and Cottonwood Chute. This contrast highlights the mid-century development of the Illinois riverbank against the managed agricultural floodplains of the west. Notable public spaces like Indian Mounds Park and the Mark Twain Wildlife Refuge frame the river, reflecting the area's dual identity as both a regional hub and a significant riparian corridor.