Aviation View | Volume 2, Issue 2

94 AVIATION VIEW VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2 ort O n the northern shores of the Mississippi River lies the historic town of Quincy, Illinois. From the native tribes who used the land, through French and then English settlers, the area has always been known as a place of beauty and prosperity. Following the War of 1812, the newly formed government gave away tracts of land in Quincy to veterans. Originally called “The Bluffs”, it was renamed after then-President John Quincy Adams. When it comes to famous residents, Confederate General George E Pickett called Quincy home and it was an important locale for Abraham Lincoln, who when running for President and opposing slavery often used Quincy as a base for his speeches. Quincy was also an important stop on the Underground Railway. The town is steeped in history, as well as providing a quaint way of life and idyllic agricultural landscape that echoes the bygone eras. For tourists and those looking to relocate, It truly deserves a second look. “Quincy is also an old river town and so from its beginning it has a really rich industrial history,” Gabriel Hanafin, Interim Airport Director for the Quincy Regional Airport, recounts. “Being on the Mississippi River has always been part of what makes us prosperous. Today, we have several large corporations that drive the region’s economy. Titan wheel, for example, creates tractor rims and wheels. Niemann Foods has its headquarters here and run hundreds of AT A GLANCE QUINCY REGIONAL AIRPORT WHAT: A popular commercial and general aviation airport WHERE: City of Quincy in Adams County, Illinois WEBSITE: www.quincyil.gov/explore/quincy-transportation/quincy-regional-airport