The City of De Quincy nestled in the middle of the towering pine forest of southwest louisiana is steeped in the history of the railroad. The city was created through the union of the railroad and timber industries at the turn of the century in 1903. KCS railroad ran north and south and Missouri Pacific ran east and west. The City Hall and the historic Railroad museum still stand at that intersection today. Most of the town "oldtimers" of the railroad refer to this intersection as "The Crossroads of Contentment."
Knocking on random doors throughout town, residents at each one of them would have some connection to the railroad. If they do not have someone that works there today there was most certainly a generation or two that did. There are 10 railroad crossings within city limits. Though the depot is closed and the UP roundhouse is now the city's beautiful ball park, the memories and little signs from the past are ever present.
Each year during the second weekend in April, this little city comes alive with the Annual Louisiana Railroad Days Festival. It is the only state festival devoted to the Railroad Industry. During these three days visitors step back in time and visit with railroad workers from days gone by at our Old Timers Reunion. This tradition just celebrated its 30th anniversary. What started as a small one-day event with a few booths has grown into a three-day event attended by more than 10,000.
At Christmastime, the Railroad Museum and the City are decked in their Railroad finest. Yes, the railroad remains a life force in DeQuincy. The railroad has always been a presence in city government, and most of our Mayors have all worked for the railroad. In fact, three of the last four Mayors have worked for UP. It is a vast understatement to say that without UP, there would be no DeQuincy.