Quincy is a city in Grant County, Washington, United States. It is situated east of the Columbia River on State Route 28 and north of Interstate 90. The population was 7,543 at the 2020 census. Quincy is one of the closest cities to The Gorge Amphitheatre.
History
Geologic history
Quincy lies atop a part of the Columbia River Basalt Group which is overlain by Pleistocene outburst flood deposits. The Missoula Floods had one of their outlets at Trinidad, close to Quincy and another near Ancient Lakes, which includes the Ancient Lakes of the Columbia Valley AVA. Glacial erratics carried from as far away as Montana can be found nearby. The area also has an abundance of rimrock.
Great Northern Railway
Quincy was founded as a railroad camp during construction of the Great Northern Railway in 1892, and was incorporated on March 27, 1907. It was named after Quincy, Illinois.
Grand Coulee Dam
The arrival of the water from the Grand Coulee Dam in 1952 changed the town.
Geography
Quincy is located at (47.233691, −119.852296).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.
Climate
Quincy has a cold desert climate (BSk) according to the Köppen climate classification system.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,750 people, 1,915 households, and 1,541 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,020 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 54.9% White, 0.4% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 40.6% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 74.3% of the population.
There were 1,915 households, of which 55.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 9.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 19.5% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.51 and the average family size was 3.87.
The median age in the city was 26.2 years. 36.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.9% were from 25 to 44; 16.6% were from 45 to 64; and 8.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.7% male and 49.3% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,044 people, 1,470 households, and 1,176 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,252.8 people per square mile (869.4/km2). There were 1,552 housing units at an average density of 693.2 per square mile (267.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.1% White, 12.3% African American, 0.9% Native American, 3.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.5% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.5% of the population.
There were 1,470 households, out of which 50.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.38 and the average family size was 3.79.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 36.0% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,181, and the median income for a family was $31,847. Males had a median income of $27,813 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,649. About 18.4% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Farming
Quincy has long had an agricultural economy, which was enhanced by irrigation made possible with the Grand Coulee Dam. Major crops include potatoes, wheat, and timothy grass. Orchards and vineyards are also displacing lower-value crops in the Quincy Valley.
An investigation into the dumping of toxic waste onto farmland and its relabeling as fertilizer in Quincy was the subject of the 2001 book Fateful Harvest.