Thomson, Georgia

Thomson, Georgia
City
Main Street in Thomson
Main Street in Thomson
Location in McDuffie County and the state of Georgia
Location in McDuffie County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 33°28′2″N 82°29′58″W / 33.46722°N 82.49944°W / 33.46722; -82.49944
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyMcDuffie
Area
 • Total
4.80 sq mi (12.42 km2)
 • Land4.78 sq mi (12.38 km2)
 • Water0.015 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation
531 ft (162 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
6,814
 • Density1,425.6/sq mi (550.43/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
30824
Area code706
FIPS code13-76280
GNIS feature ID0356589
Websitewww.thomson-mcduffie.gov

Thomson (originally called Slashes) is a city in and the county seat of McDuffie County, Georgia, United States. The population was 6,814 at the 2020 census. Thomson's nickname is "The Camellia City of the South", in honor of the thousands of camellia plants throughout the city. Thomson was founded in 1837 as a depot on the Georgia Railroad. It was renamed in 1853 for railroad official John Edgar Thomson and incorporated February 15, 1854 as a town and in 1870 as a city. It is part of the Augusta – Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Thomson, originally called "Slashes", was founded in 1837 as a depot on the Georgia Railroad. It was renamed in 1853 for railroad official John Edgar Thomson. In 1870, Thomson was designated seat of the newly formed McDuffie County. It was incorporated as a town in 1854 and as a city in 1870.

The Old Rock House, built in 1785, is said to be one of Georgia's oldest documented houses with its original design intact. Built by Thomas Ansley, the home is said to be the home of ancestors of former president Jimmy Carter. Thomson is also the birthplace of Populist leader and two-time presidential candidate Thomas E. Watson.

Thomson had a minor league baseball team. An affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, the Thomson Orioles became members of the 1956 six–team the Class D level Georgia State League. Playing home games at The Brickyard, Thomson led the league in attendance and qualified for the playoffs. The Georgia State League permanently folded following the 1956 season.

Geography

Thomson is located at 33°28′2″N 82°29′58″W / 33.46722°N 82.49944°W / 33.46722; -82.49944 (33.467346, −82.499450). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.95 square miles (5.1 km2), all land. Thomson is considered part of the Central Savannah River Area geographical designation.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880700—
189083619.4%
19001,15438.0%
19102,15186.4%
19202,140−0.5%
19301,914−10.6%
19403,08861.3%
19503,48913.0%
19604,52229.6%
19706,50343.8%
19807,0017.7%
19906,862−2.0%
20006,828−0.5%
20106,778−0.7%
20206,8140.5%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850-1870 1870-1880
1890-1910 1920-1930
1940 1950 1960
1970 1980 1990
2000 2010

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Thomson had a population of 6,814. The median age was 38.0 years. 26.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 77.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 70.1 males age 18 and over.

Thomson racial composition as of 2020
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 1,903 27.93%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 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%

99.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,749 households, of which 1,610 were family households, and 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 26.1% were married-couple households, 16.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 50.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,017 housing units, of which 8.9% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.5%.

Landmarks

Education

The McDuffie County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of four elementary schools, a middle school, a high school and an alternative school. The district has 262 full-time teachers and over 4,312 students.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Thomson". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ↑ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 225. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  6. ↑ Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 249. ISBN 978-1135948597. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  7. ↑ "1956 Georgia State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ↑ "The Brickyard". www.visitthomsonga.com.
  9. ↑ Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  10. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ↑ "1870 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1870.
  13. ↑ "1880 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  14. ↑ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2024.
  15. ↑ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930. pp. 251–256.
  16. ↑ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  17. ↑ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  18. ↑ "1960 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1960.
  19. ↑ "1970 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1970.
  20. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  21. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1990.
  22. ↑ "2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  23. ↑ "2010 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2010.
  24. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  25. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  27. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  28. ↑ Georgia Board of Education[permanent dead link], Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  29. ↑ School Stats Archived March 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved June 23, 2010.