The Ugly Truth About Quincy -- Part II
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4/13/2008
Quincy and surrounding towns are very polluted. Sidewalks littered with lit cigarettes, as well as careless people who smoke in areas where there are children, are the norm here. Trash (soda cans, candy wrappers, etc.) seems to be everywhere. Pollution in Quincy may not be at the same level as Washington DC or Los Angeles, but it is worse than most big cities I've been to (Seattle, Denver, Dallas, etc.) Quincy seems to have a lot of smokers, so maybe that's why the air has a very unclean feel to it in my opinion. The water in Quincy also tastes terrible.
Let's not get started on the downtown area. Quincy claims to be full of historic charm, but nothing could be further from the truth. The historic buildings are concentrated in a small area south of downtown, and those buildings do look nice, but that's about it. Since Quincy was an industrial town until the mid-1970s, closed-down factories are a common sight in and near downtown. Other buildings in the downtown area are about as plain as they can get. Quincy also seems to have urban decay in areas near downtown, especially on the northwest side, with houses that look like they're ready to fall apart. For the most part, Quincy is not a beautiful city at all.
Quincy does have some positive aspects. Blessing Hospital is Quincy's largest employer by far, and it offers some of the best healthcare in the Midwest. The cost of living and housing is very low, and aside from the areas with urban decay, housing quality is very good for the price. Quincy also offers a decent public transportation system for a town its size. Unfortunately, that's not enough to make up for a high crime rate, bad public schools, drug problems, a lack of things to do, pollution, and urban decay.
If the small-town life and a low cost of living are what you're looking for, there are far better options for your family than Quincy. Galesburg, which is in the northwest-central part of the state, is about the same population as Quincy, yet has a lower cost of living, much lower crime, and a much better public school system. Hannibal, Missouri, across the river 15 miles south, is also a decent option, but you'll still have to go to Quincy for higher-end shopping. But whatever you do, avoid Quincy at all costs, and don't say I didn't warn you!
Clint | Liberty, IL