Editing Thomson, Illinois

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Thomson
| official_name            = 
| native_name              = 
| native_name_lang         = 
| other_name               = 
| settlement_type          = [[List of towns and villages in Illinois|Village]]
| image_skyline            = Thomson Station - November 2016.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_alt                = 
| image_caption            = The [[Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad]] depot in Thomson in November&nbsp;2016, serving as a museum.
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = 
| etymology                = 
| nickname                 = The Melon Capital of the World
| motto                    = 
| anthem                   = 
| image_map                = File:Carroll County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Thomson Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 
| map_alt                  = 
| map_caption              = Location of Thomson in Carroll County, Illinois.
| image_map1               = Illinois in United States (US48).svg
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_alt1                 = 
| map_caption1             = Location of Illinois in the United States
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| coordinates              = {{coord|41|57|31|N|90|05|56|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint            = 
| coordinates_footnotes    = 
| grid_name                = 
| grid_position            = 
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = State
| subdivision_name1        = Illinois
| subdivision_type2        = County
| subdivision_name2        = [[Carroll County, Illinois|Carroll]]
| subdivision_type3        = Township
| subdivision_name3        = [[York Township, Carroll County, Illinois|York]]
| subdivision_type4        = 
| subdivision_name4        = 
| established_title        = Founded
| established_date         = 
| established_title1       = 
| established_date1        = 
| established_title2       = 
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| extinct_title            = 
| extinct_date             = 
| founder                  = 
| named_for                = 
| seat_type                = 
| seat                     = 
| seat1_type               = 
| seat1                    = 
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| governing_body           = 
| leader_party             = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = Village President
| leader_name1             = Vicky Trager<ref>{{Cite book |title=Illinois Blue Book |edition=2021-2022 |location=Springfield |chapter=Incorporated Cities, Towns & Villages of Illinois |issn=0191-104X |oclc=1645571|url=https://www.ilsos.gov/publications/illinois_bluebook/home.html|chapter-url=https://www.ilsos.gov/publications/illinois_bluebook/incorporated.pdf}}</ref>
| total_type               = 
| 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_17.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 5.75
| area_total_sq_mi         = 2.22
| area_land_km2            = 5.75
| area_land_sq_mi          = 2.22
| area_water_km2           = 0.00
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
| area_water_percent       = 
| area_metro_footnotes     = 
| area_metro_km2           = 
| area_metro_sq_mi         = 
| area_rank                = 
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="usgs">{{cite web|url={{Gnis3|419679}}|title=USGS detail on Newtown|access-date=October 21, 2007}}</ref>
| elevation_m              = 
| elevation_ft             = 597
| elevation_point          = 
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| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 1610
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
| population_rank          = 
| population_density_km2   = 280.19
| population_density_sq_mi = 725.55
| population_metro_footnotes = 
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| demographics2_title1     = 
| demographics2_info1      = 
| timezone1                = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1              = -6
| timezone1_DST            = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST          = -5
| timezone2                = 
| utc_offset2              = 
| timezone2_DST            = 
| utc_offset2_DST          = 
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code|ZIP Code(s)]]
| postal_code              = 61285
| postal2_code_type        = 
| postal2_code             = 
| area_code_type           = 
| area_code                = [[Area code 815|815]]
| geocode                  = 
| iso_code                 = 
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 17-75172
| blank1_name              = 
| blank1_info              = 
| blank2_name              = 
| blank2_info              = 
| blank_name_sec2          = 
| blank_info_sec2          = 
| blank1_name_sec2         = 
| blank1_info_sec2         = 
| blank2_name_sec2         = Wikimedia Commons
| blank2_info_sec2         = Thomson, Illinois
| website                  = http://www.thomsonil.com
| footnotes                = 
}}

'''Thomson''' is a village along [[Illinois Route 84]] near the [[Mississippi River]] in [[Carroll County, Illinois|Carroll County]], [[Illinois]], [[United States]]. The population was 590 at the 2010 census, up from 559 at the 2000 census.  Just north of the village is the [[United States Penitentiary, Thomson]], a mostly-unused former state prison, purchased by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 2012. Currently USP Thomson houses over 100 low-security inmates as it remodels to federal maximum-security standards.

Thomson is known for wonderful [[watermelons]], and it has the nickname "Melon Capital of the World."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Moreno |first=Richard |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666237206 |title=Illinois curiosities : quirky characters, roadside oddities, and other offbeat stuff |date=2011 |publisher=Globe Pequot Press |isbn=978-0-7627-5861-6 |location=Guilford, Conn. |oclc=666237206}}</ref><!--For that information please click the "Location" tab-->

==Geography==
Thomson is located at {{coord|41|57|37|N|90|6|11|W|type:city}} (41.960168, -90.103152),<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=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> about a mile (kilometer and a half) east of the [[Mississippi River]] in northwestern Illinois, {{convert|9|mi}} northeast of [[Clinton, Iowa]], {{convert|38|mi}} northeast of [[Moline, Illinois]] in the [[Quad Cities]], and {{convert|120|mi}} west of [[Chicago]].

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Thomson has a total area of {{convert|2.22|sqmi|km2|2}}, all land.<ref name="gaz2021">{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=June 29, 2022 |website=Census.gov}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 380
|1890= 374
|1900= 467
|1910= 487
|1920= 495
|1930= 508
|1940= 529
|1950= 559
|1960= 543
|1970= 617
|1980= 911
|1990= 538
|2000= 559
|2010= 590
|2020= 1610
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1775172 |access-date=June 28, 2022 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> there were 1,610 people, 190 households, and 127 families residing in the village. The population density was {{Convert|725.55|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. There were 263 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|118.52|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the village was 58.45% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 36.65% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.11% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.43% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.12% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.24% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 12.55% of the population.

There were 190 households, out of which 13.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.63% were married couples living together, 14.21% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.16% were non-families. 30.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.74% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 1.94.

The village's age distribution consisted of 12.2% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 28.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $51,071, and the median income for a family was $62,031. Males had a median income of $27,330 versus $25,250 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $30,156. About 4.7% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 31.1% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

==History==
{{Expand section|history before 2001|date=December 2009}}

===Prison===
{{main|United States Penitentiary, Thomson}}
The [[United States Penitentiary, Thomson]] (formerly Thomson Correctional Center) was opened in 2001, but as of 2009 has never had a prisoner in its main, 1600-bed maximum-security unit; the only prison population has been in the 200-bed minimum-security unit, which was populated in 2006 and averages about 150 prisoners. The minimum security unit has an annual budget of $7 million.<ref name=wsj/> State budget constraints, as well as labor union opposition to closing other state prisons, prevented the maximum-security prison from opening.<ref name=wsj>{{cite news|title=Guantanamo Detainees Welcome Here|work=Wall Street Journal|page=A6|date=December 19, 2009|first=Joe|last=Barrett}}</ref>

In 2008, Illinois Governor [[Rod Blagojevich]] proposed closing the state prison in [[Pontiac, Illinois]] and opening the Thomson maximum-security unit instead. However, Blagojevich was subsequently arrested on December 9, 2008, and removed from office. His replacement, Governor [[Pat Quinn (politician)|Pat Quinn]] cancelled plans to close the Pontiac prison in March 2009, leaving Thomson unused.<ref name=wsj/>

In 2009 the [[United States government]] announced that prisoners at the [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp]] would be moved to the prison in Thomson.<ref name="cnn-gitmo-illinois">"[http://thomsonil.com/village-board/ Some Guantanamo detainees to be moved to Illinois]." [[CNN.com]]. December 15, 2009. Retrieved on December 15, 2009.</ref> [[CNN]] stated that before the decision was announced, many people in the town wanted the Guantanamo prisoners to be housed there so the town could get economic benefits.<ref name=wsj/><ref>{{cite news | last = Fantz | first= Ashley | url = http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/12/15/illinois.gitmo.react/index.html?iref=allsearch | title = Many in Illinois town hope locating Gitmo detainees there helps business | work =[[CNN.com]] | date = December 15, 2009 | access-date = December 15, 2009}}</ref>

On December 15, 2009, President Barack Obama ordered the federal government to proceed with acquisition of the underutilized state prison in Thomson to be the new home for a limited number of terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091215/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_detainee_prison |title=Rural Illinois prison to get some Gitmo detainees |first=Henry C. |last=Jackson |agency=[[Associated Press]] |publisher=[[Yahoo!]] |date=December 15, 2009 |access-date=December 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091216114250/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091215/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_detainee_prison |archive-date=December 16, 2009 }}</ref> The facility was also used as a Bureau of Prisons facility to house other federal inmates. 
In response to the 2009 presidential order, the [[American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees]] (AFSCME), which represents 13,000 Illinois prison staff, argued that rather than turn the maximum-security unit over to the Federal government, it should be used to relieve overcrowding in other Illinois prisons. AFSCME claims that the other facilities were designed for 32,000 prisoners, but currently house 45,000.<ref name=wsj/> Subsequent Congressional banning of federal expenditures for imprisoning in the United States of terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, stopped the Obama plans regarding those terror suspects, even though the federal government announced on October 2, 2012, that the acquisition of Thomson is going forward.

==Culture==
The processing plant for Schafer Fisheries is located in Thomson. Annually in December, Schafer may process up to 300,000 pounds of fish to support the Polish "Christmas Carp" tradition, and sends these packages both domestically and internationally. The retail store is located in Fulton, IL.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-22 |title=Holy Carp! How an IL fishery is fulfilling a Polish holiday tradition |url=https://www.wqad.com/article/life/holidays/schafer-fisheries-christmas-carp-polish-meal/526-54bc5f13-07e6-4bfc-96c8-2cc5cc604957 |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=wqad.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Location & More |url=https://schaferfish.com/location-more/ |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=Schafer Fisheries |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Illinois}}
*[http://www.thomsonil.com/ Village of Thomson]
*[http://www.thomsonillinois.com/ Visit Thomson]

{{Carroll County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Carroll County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Illinois populated places on the Mississippi River]]
[[Category:Villages in Illinois]]