Editing Thomson, Georgia

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
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|official_name            = Thomson, Georgia
|other_name               = 
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                 = 
|settlement_type          = City
|motto                    = 
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|image_skyline            = Thomson, Georgia Main Street, May 2017.jpg
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|image_caption            = Thomson [[U.S. Route 78 in Georgia|Main Street]]
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|image_map                = McDuffie_County_Georgia_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Thomson_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in [[McDuffie County, Georgia|McDuffie County]] and the state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
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<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Georgia (U.S. state)|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[McDuffie County, Georgia|McDuffie]]
|subdivision_type3        = 
|subdivision_name3        = 
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|established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
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|area_magnitude           = 
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_13.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=December 18, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 12.42
|area_land_km2            = 12.38
|area_water_km2           = 0.04
|area_total_sq_mi         = 4.79
|area_land_sq_mi          = 4.78
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01
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<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
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|population_total         = 6814
|pop_est_as_of = 
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|population_est = 
|population_density_km2   = 550.43
|population_density_sq_mi = 1425.52
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|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = −5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −4
|coordinates              = {{coord|33|28|2|N|82|29|58|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
|elevation_m              = 162
|elevation_ft             = 531
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 30824
|area_code                = [[Area code 706|706]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 13-76280<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0356589<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|www.thomson-mcduffie.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Thomson''' (originally called '''Slashes''') is a city and the [[county seat]] of [[McDuffie County, Georgia|McDuffie County]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> 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 metropolitan area|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]].<ref>{{cite book | url=http://www.kenkrakow.com/gpn/t.pdf| title=Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins | publisher=Winship Press | author=Krakow, Kenneth K. | year=1975 | location=Macon, GA | pages=225 | isbn=0-915430-00-2}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REtEXQNWq6MC&pg=PA249 | title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States | publisher=Routledge | date=May 13, 2013 | access-date=30 November 2013 | author=Hellmann, Paul T. | pages=249| isbn=978-1135948597 }}</ref>

The [[Old Rock House (Thomson, Georgia)|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 [[People's Party (United States)|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 (baseball)|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=36d234cf|title=1956 Georgia State League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitthomsonga.com/campaigns/view-campaign/YXrEHy78nqqxK4vk-fGX6zuA4j5aqDQwdL4IhDeMHtbyhtEwb3-xHzauP_60_5_-TN9Pn23o9bt-jqg4CipbJYyzRLMo3lnn|title=The Brickyard|website=www.visitthomsonga.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc">{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor-last1=Johnson |editor-first1=Lloyd |editor-last2=Wolff |editor-first2=Miles |edition=Third |publisher=[[Baseball America]] |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}}</ref>

==Geography==
Thomson is located at {{coord|33|28|2|N|82|29|58|W|type:city}} (33.467346, −82.499450).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.95|sqmi|km2}}, all land. Thomson is considered part of the [[Central Savannah River Area]] geographical designation.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 700
|1890= 836
|1900= 1154
|1910= 2151
|1920= 2140
|1930= 1914
|1940= 3088
|1950= 3489
|1960= 4522
|1970= 6503
|1980= 7001
|1990= 6862
|2000= 6828
|2010= 6778
|2020= 6814
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br> 1850-1870<ref name=1870CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1870 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1870|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1870-1880<ref name=1880CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1880 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1880|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1880/vol-01-population/1880_v1-09.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref><br> 1890-1910<ref name=1910CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1910 Census of Population - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1910|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ga.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1920-1930<ref name=1930CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1930 Census of Population - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1930|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|pages=251–256}}</ref><br> 1940<ref name=1940CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1940 Census of Population - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1940|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1950 Census of Population - Georgia |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1950|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-2/37779083v2p11ch2.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1960<ref name=1960CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1960 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1960|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-12-c.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 1970<ref name=1970CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1970 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1970|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ga-01.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1980|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_gaABC-01.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1990<ref name=1990CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1990 Census of Population - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Georgia |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1990|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cph-5/cph-5-12.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 2000<ref name=2000CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 2000|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-12.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 2010 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 2010|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-12.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Thomson racial composition as of 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US1376280&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-15|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|1,903
|27.93%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|4,487
|65.85%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|6
|0.09%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|30
|0.44%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|3
|0.04%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|197
|2.89%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|188
|2.76%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 6,814 people, 2,581 households, and 1,610 families residing in the city.

==Landmarks==
*Rock House (1785) – Oldest stone residence in Georgia
*Hickory Hill – Home of US senator [[Thomas E. Watson]] (1856–1922), noted author, statesman, and lawyer; known as the father of Rural Free Delivery

== 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.<ref>[http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=111&PID=62&PTID=69&CountyId=697&T=0&FY=2009 Georgia Board of Education]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Retrieved June 23, 2010.</ref> The district has 262 full-time teachers and over 4,312 students.<ref>[http://www.school-stats.com/GA/MCDUFFIE/MCDUFFIE_COUNTY.html School Stats], Retrieved June 23, 2010.</ref>
*Dearing Elementary School
*Maxwell Elementary School
*Norris Elementary School
*Thomson Elementary School
*Thomson-McDuffie Middle School
*[[Thomson High School]]
*McDuffie County Achievement Center

==Notable people==
*[[Zebedee Armstrong]], [[outsider art]]ist
*[[Casper Brinkley]], former [[defensive end]] for the NFL's [[Carolina Panthers]]
*[[Jasper Brinkley]], [[linebacker]] for the NFL's [[New York Giants]]
*[[Vonteego Cummings]], former professional [[basketball]] guard, played in the [[NBA]] and the [[Euroleague Basketball|Euroleague]]
*[[Darius Eubanks]], [[linebacker]] for the NFL'S [[Dallas Cowboys]]
*[[Ray Guy]], [[NFL]] punter for the [[Oakland Raiders]] and namesake of the [[Ray Guy Award]], presented each year to college football's top punter. He is the first and only punter admitted to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].
*[[Richard E. Hawes]], Navy admiral, World War II hero, and namesake of guided missile frigate ''USS Hawes''
*[[Eddie Lee Ivery]], [[running back]] for the [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets]] and the [[Green Bay Packers]]
*[[Millie Jackson]], R & B singer
*[[Franklin Langham]], [[PGA Tour]] golfer (1992–2005)
*Dr. [[Wendell Logan]], jazz composer and [[Guggenheim Fellowship]] recipient.  Dr. Logan established the jazz department at the [[Oberlin Conservatory of Music]]
*[[Jerry Mays (running back)|Jerry Mays]], [[running back]] for the [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets]] and the [[San Diego Chargers]]
*[[Blind Willie McTell]], singer and blues musician, wrote "[[Statesboro Blues]]". Thomson sponsors an annual blues festival in his honor
*[[Chris Mohr]], NFL punter for the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], [[Buffalo Bills]] and [[Atlanta Falcons]] (1989–2004); published songwriter
*Rev. [[Romulus Moore]], one of the first African-American legislators in the Georgia State Assembly, and one of the founding fathers of the civil rights movement.
*Brothers [[Paschal's|Robert Paschal and James Paschal]], notable Atlanta restaurateurs and civil rights advocates
*[[Ken Roberson (choreographer)|Ken Roberson]], [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] [[choreographer]] noted for his work in the 2004 [[Tony Award]]-winning "[[Avenue Q]]" and "[[All Shook Up]];" movie credits as choreographer include [[HBO]]'s "[[Lackawanna Blues]]" and independent film "Preaching to the Choir"
*[[Thomas E. Watson|Tom Watson]], U.S. senator, Populist Party leader, and renowned orator of the late 19th century.  Noted for establishing [[Rural Free Delivery]], which set up rural mail service for the nation

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{Official website|www.thomson-mcduffie.gov}}

{{McDuffie County, Georgia}}
{{Central Savannah River Area}}
{{Georgia county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Cities in McDuffie County, Georgia]]
[[Category:County seats in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Augusta metropolitan area]]