Thomson, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomson, Georgia
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City
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Thomson Main Street
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Location in McDuffie County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | McDuffie |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.79 sq mi (12.42 km2) |
| • Land | 4.78 sq mi (12.38 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 531 ft (162 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,814 |
| • Density | 1,425.52/sq mi (550.43/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
30824
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| Area code(s) | 706 |
| FIPS code | 13-76280 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0356589 |
Thomson is a city in Georgia, United States. It is the main city and county seat of McDuffie County. In 2020, about 6,814 people lived there.
Thomson was first called "Slashes." It got its current name in 1853 from a railroad official named John Edgar Thomson. The city is known as "The Camellia City of the South" because of the many beautiful camellia flowers growing there. Thomson is also part of the larger Augusta – Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History of Thomson, Georgia
Thomson began in 1837 as a depot, which was a stop for trains on the Georgia Railroad. It was first known as "Slashes." In 1853, the city was renamed Thomson to honor John Edgar Thomson, an important person in the railroad company.
In 1870, Thomson became the county seat for the new McDuffie County. This meant it was the center for government and business in the county. The city was officially recognized as a town in 1854 and then as a city in 1870.
Historic Buildings and People in Thomson
The Old Rock House was built in 1785. It is one of Georgia's oldest houses that still looks like it did when it was first built. It is believed that the family of former President Jimmy Carter lived there a long time ago.
Thomson is also the birthplace of Thomas E. Watson. He was a famous leader of the Populist Party and ran for president twice. He was known for helping to start Rural Free Delivery, which brought mail service to people living in the countryside.
Thomson's Baseball Team
Thomson once had its own minor league baseball team called the Thomson Orioles. They were part of the Baltimore Orioles team. In 1956, they played in the Class D Georgia State League. The team played their home games at a field called The Brickyard. The Thomson Orioles were very popular and had the most fans in their league that year. They even made it to the playoffs! However, the Georgia State League stopped playing after the 1956 season.
Geography of Thomson
Thomson is located in the state of Georgia. Its exact location is 33.467346 degrees North and -82.499450 degrees West. The city covers a total area of about 1.95 square miles (5.05 square kilometers). All of this area is land. Thomson is considered part of a region known as the Central Savannah River Area.
Population and People of Thomson
The population of Thomson has changed over the years. In 1880, there were about 700 people living in the city. By 2020, the population had grown to 6,814 people.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 700 | — | |
| 1890 | 836 | 19.4% | |
| 1900 | 1,154 | 38.0% | |
| 1910 | 2,151 | 86.4% | |
| 1920 | 2,140 | −0.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,914 | −10.6% | |
| 1940 | 3,088 | 61.3% | |
| 1950 | 3,489 | 13.0% | |
| 1960 | 4,522 | 29.6% | |
| 1970 | 6,503 | 43.8% | |
| 1980 | 7,001 | 7.7% | |
| 1990 | 6,862 | −2.0% | |
| 2000 | 6,828 | −0.5% | |
| 2010 | 6,778 | −0.7% | |
| 2020 | 6,814 | 0.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850-1870 1870-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 |
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Racial Makeup of Thomson
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Thomson as of 2020. This information comes from the 2020 United States census.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (not Hispanic or Latino) | 1,903 | 27.93% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic or Latino) | 4,487 | 65.85% |
| Native American | 6 | 0.09% |
| Asian | 30 | 0.44% |
| Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 197 | 2.89% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 188 | 2.76% |
In 2020, there were 6,814 people living in Thomson. These people lived in 2,581 households, and 1,610 of these were families.
Important Places in Thomson
- Rock House (built in 1785) – This is the oldest stone house in Georgia.
- Hickory Hill – This was the home of Thomas E. Watson. He was a U.S. senator, writer, and lawyer. He is famous for helping to create Rural Free Delivery, which brought mail to people in the countryside.
Schools in Thomson
The McDuffie County School District manages the schools in Thomson. It teaches students from pre-school all the way to twelfth grade. The district has four elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one alternative school. There are 262 full-time teachers and more than 4,312 students in the district.
- Dearing Elementary School
- Maxwell Elementary School
- Norris Elementary School
- Thomson Elementary School
- Thomson-McDuffie Middle School
- Thomson High School
- McDuffie County Achievement Center
Famous People from Thomson
Many talented people have come from Thomson, Georgia. Here are a few:
- Casper Brinkley and Jasper Brinkley – These brothers both played as linebackers in the NFL (National Football League). Casper played for the Carolina Panthers, and Jasper played for the New York Giants.
- Vonteego Cummings – A professional basketball player who played in the NBA and Euroleague.
- Ray Guy – A famous NFL punter for the Oakland Raiders. He is the only punter to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There's even an award named after him for the best college punter!
- Eddie Lee Ivery – A running back who played for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Green Bay Packers.
- Millie Jackson – A well-known R&B singer.
- Blind Willie McTell – A famous blues singer and musician. He wrote the song "Statesboro Blues." Thomson holds an annual blues festival to honor him.
- Chris Mohr – Another NFL punter who played for teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills.
- Tom Watson – A U.S. senator and leader of the Populist Party in the late 1800s. He is remembered for helping to start Rural Free Delivery, which brought mail to people in rural areas.
See also
In Spanish: Thomson (Georgia) para niños
