Adams County, Illinois
Coca-Cola Bottling Company Building
Downtown Quincy Historic District
Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Chapel and Cemetery
Exchange Bank
Fall Creek Stone Arch Bridge
Gardner, Robert W., House
Lesem, S.J., Building
Lewis Round Barn
Lock and Dam No. 21 Historic District
Morgan-Wells House
Newcomb, Richard F., House
One Thirty North Eighth Building
Quincy East End Historic District
Quincy National Cemetery
Quincy Northwest Historic District
South Side German Historic District
South Side German Historic District (Boundary Increase)
State Savings Loan and Trust
Thomas, F. D., House
U.S. Post Office and Courthouse
Ursa Town Hall
Villa de Kathrine
Warfield, William S., House
Wood, Ernest M., Office and Studio
Wood, John, Mansion
Woodland Cemetery
A National Cemetery System
A Quincy "Copperhead"
A Victorian Cemetery
Archaic
Augustine Tolton
Changing Slavery
Charles Henry Bull House
Charley's Run
Crockets from Portico
Douglas' Disciple
Downtown Quincy in 1858
Dr. Thomas Edgar Musselman
Dred Scott Decision
Ernest M. Wood Office and Studio
His Friends Rest Here
Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County
Honoring Soldiers
In Honor of Those Who Gave the Ultimate Sacrifice
In Memory of the Potawatomi Indian "Trail of Death"
Indian Mounds Park
Indian Removals - A Memorial
John Wood 1798-1880
John Wood Mansion
Limestone Capitals
Lincoln Correspondent
Lincoln Promoter
Lincoln Recuperates
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Lincoln's 1854 Visit
Lincoln's Confidante
Lincoln's Friend Johnston
Lincoln's Honored Friend
Lincoln's Quincy
Lorado Taft (1860 - 1936)
Madison Park
Marquette & Jolliet
Mississippian
Morality of Slavery
Navy Reserve
Niemann Building
Original Site of Quincy College
Original Site of St. Peter Church
Paleoindian
Permanency of Slavery
Political Allies
Political Campaigning in 1858
Potawatomi Trail of Death
Quincy
Quincy National Cemetery
Quincy Senior High School
Quincy's Early Environment
Quincy's German Heritage
Quincy's Judge Douglas
R. F. Newcomb House
Racial Equality
Ruff Brewing Company
Search for Equality
Spire Section
Spread of Slavery Into The Territories
St. Boniface Catholic Church
St. John's Episcopal Church
Steamboats and Railroads
Stephen A. Douglas in Quincy
Stone Smokehouse
The Browning House
The History of South Park
The J. H. Brockschmidt Building
The Latter-Day Saints in Quincy
The Lord's Barn
The Lord's Cabin
The Monument
The Mormons in Quincy
Thomas Scott Baldwin 1858-1923
Trail of Death
Tri-State Business Center
Ulysses S. Grant
Warm, Sincere Friendship
Washington Theater
Welcome to Illinois
William L. King Building
Woodland
World Trade Center Artifact
In the early years of settlement, Adams County played a significant role in the development of Illinois as a state. The first permanent European settlers in the region were French traders, who established trading posts along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. As American settlers began to arrive, the county quickly grew in population and economic activity.
The city of Quincy, which is the county seat of Adams County, became a major hub for steamboat traffic on the Mississippi River during the mid-19th century. The river served as a vital transportation route, connecting the area to larger markets in St. Louis and New Orleans. This led to the rise of industries such as lumber, brick making, and manufacturing in the county.
During the Civil War, Adams County played a critical role in supporting the Union cause. Quincy became a strategic location for military recruitment and supply, and many residents joined the Union Army. The county also served as one of the many stops on the Underground Railroad, providing a safe haven for escaped slaves seeking freedom.
In more recent years, Adams County has continued to thrive as a center for agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare. The county is known for its fertile farmland, producing a variety of crops including corn, soybeans, and wheat. Quincy has also become a regional hub for healthcare, with numerous hospitals and medical facilities serving the area.
Today, Adams County remains a vibrant and diverse community, with a rich history that is celebrated and preserved through its numerous historical sites and museums. The county's strategic location on the Mississippi River, its contributions to the Union cause during the Civil War, and its agricultural and industrial sectors continue to shape its present-day identity.
Brief timeline of the history of Adams County, Illinois:
- 1825: Adams County, IL is established
- 1839: Quincy becomes the county seat
- 1841: The Mormon Temple is built in Nauvoo
- 1861-1865: Adams County residents serve in the American Civil War
- 1871: Quincy suffers a destructive fire
- 1898: The Adams County Courthouse is completed
- 1920: The Lock and Dam No. 21 is constructed along the Mississippi River
- 1940: The Great River Road is established in Adams County
- 1954: Interstate 172 is completed, connecting Quincy to the Interstate Highway System
- 1979: The Quincy Notre Dame High School is founded
- 1993: The Great River Bridge is opened between Quincy and West Quincy
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Adams County, Illinois.