Situated in the middle of Quincy Township, eastern Branch County, in the south-central Lower Peninsula, the village of Quincy, Michigan serves as the commercial and historical center of activity for the township.
The chief route through the village is US-12 (Chicago Road, Chicago Street), which intersects North Ray Quincy Road downtown.
Cities and villages within twenty-five miles of Quincy include Allen, Coldwater, Jonesville, Litchfield, Hillsdale, Reading, Tekonsha, Montgomery, Bronson, Camden, Burlington, Union City, Sherwood, Colon, and Burr Oak, while the unincorporated communities of South Butler and Butler are within ten miles. Fremont, Clear Lake, and Jamestown, Indiana are also within the twenty-five-mile range.
Bagley Creek flows through the northern part of the village, and Marble Lake and First Lake are just outside the village limits in the southwest.
Since first appearing on a census roll in 1870, Quincy's population has remained relatively stable, ranging from a low of 1,092 in 1870 to a peak of 1,701 in 2000.
The first permanent European-American settler in the area of what would later become Quincy was Horace Wilson, Sr., who acquired 320 acres from the US government and built a log cabin in 1830. John Cornish built a house there in 1833, and in time the settlement at the center of the township grew into a village.
When the township separated from Coldwater in 1836, the first suggestion was to name it Springfield or Springville but, as these names were already in use within the state, it was named Quincy, for the Massachusetts hometown of Dr. Hiram Aiden.
A post office was established in the log home of Enos G. Berry on December 16, 1836, with Mr. Berry as postmaster, it was named for the township.
With the promise that townspeople would build a freight house, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad was persuaded to come through Quincy rather than the planned route further east on the county line. Lucas Joseph is credited with spearheading the project to bring the railroad to Quincy.
By the early 1850s, Quincy had a tavern known as the Quincy House, a couple of stores, a blacksmith, a doctor's office, and a post office. In 1856, the village site was platted. Villagers in Quincy at that time included those already mentioned, as well as William Arnold, Joseph Berry, John Broughton, William Cole, Christopher Conley, Martin Hawley, Cyrus Lusk, and John Sebring.
Quincy was incorporated as a village in 1858. By then, the village had a population of about four hundred. Among the officers of the village were Ebenezer Mudge, Moses A. Hewelt, Cornelius Shear, Havens Wilbur, David C. Myers, John Sebring, William P. Arnold, Martin Hawley, Alden Gregory, Harlow W. Williams, Julius I. Gregory, and Allen C. Culver. The first brick building in town was built in 1855.
By 1870, there were more than a thousand people in Quincy, and the village had a stave and heading factory, a sawmill, a flour mill, and a commercial district.
The latter part of the 19th century brought about a transition from wood buildings to brick and stone buildings, and sidewalks were made of cement or brick. In 1890, the village voted to fund an electric light plant, and its kerosene street lamps were replaced by electric lights, and several of the village's stores and private homes were wired for electricity.
A few years later, a water works was built, and water was pumped from driven wells adjacent to the powerhouse, north of the depot.
A fire department was established in the 1860s and improved upon. The Quincy Union Fire Company was organized in 1871.
Today, Quincy is largely residential, although the village supports a number of commercial businesses, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Besides the local population, US-12 brings several people through the village year-round, and some of them stop.
Quincy Community Schools provides a K-12 public school curriculum for students in Quincy village and township. Its campuses include Jennings Elementary School, Quincy Middle School, and Quincy High School.
The focal point of this portion of our guide is on the village of Quincy, Michigan. Appropriate resources for this category include websites representing any governmental bodies within the village, as well as local businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities.
Recommended Resources
Specializing in the manufacture of indoor and outdoor archery targets made from medium density closed-cell foam, with low water absorption and resistance to mildew, mold, rot, and bacteria. Available in an assortment of sizes, the company offers customization options, and will accept individual and large bulk orders. Family-owned and operated, the company is in Quincy, Michigan. Products may be viewed and ordered online, and customer photos and videos are displayed.
https://bbatargets.com/
Offering a K-12th-grade public school curriculum through three campuses, an elementary, middle, and high school, each of which is featured here, the district serves the village and township of Quincy. The district board of education, administrative personnel, faculty, and staff are introduced, with contacts, a district calendar, enrollment schedules and information, projects and bid data, and employment opportunities are posted, and staff resources are included.
https://quincyschools.org/
Once again known as the Quincy Daze Festival, the three-day, late-summer event, is sponsored by the Quincy Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Quincy. After being called the Quincy Main Street Festival for three years, the Village Council voted to retake the original name for the event in 2021. Featured on its site is a schedule of events, event registration data and forms, food vendor applications, and a sponsorship form, as well as contacts and announcements.
http://www.quincydaze.com/
The civil township in Branch County includes the village of Quincy, with no other named settlements or communities within the township limits. Its official website presents a profile of the agricultural township, lists the township board members, and meeting agendas and minutes may be downloaded in PDF format. Contacts for the township assessor, zoning administrator, board of appeals, and planning commission are posted, and contacts and announcements are provided.
http://www.quincytownship.org/
Situated in Quincy Township, Branch County, Quincy is served by United States Highway 12. The official municipal website lists the names of village council members, committees, and boards, and reports on meeting agendas and minutes. Village taxes may be paid online, and the site includes public notices, announcements, schedules, ordinances, and employment opportunities, as well as a guide to local services, churches, schools, organizations, and businesses.
https://www.quincy-mi.org/
Located on Clarendon Road in Quincy, Michigan, the Christian ministry meets at various times during the week for worship, prayer, Bible study, and fellowship. Its address is posted on the site, a map shows its location, and its weekly schedules, a calendar of events, and contacts are presented. Leadership and group ministries, outreach ministries, and other programs are outlined, a video archive is available, and services may be viewed online through streaming video.
https://www.woloc.com/
