Quincy Illinois background and location
Quincy is known as Illinois' “Gem City,” on the western border of the state where Iowa & Missouri meet. During the 19th Century, Quincy was a thriving transportation center as riverboats and rail service linked the city to many destinations west and along the river.
See Map showing along Mississippi River
Could the metaphor of a cross cutting river next to a thriving town that was once a swamp be useful?