Payson is a village in Adams County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,025 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Payson was laid out in the Spring of 1835.

During the 1860 presidential campaign, the residents of Payson erected a pole on which they hung banners supporting the Democratic candidate, Stephen Douglas, and an effigy of Abraham Lincoln riding a rail. This resulted in two confrontations with the Quincy Wide Awakes, the Republican paramilitary organization, on August 25–26, 1860. During the second confrontation, shots were fired at the Wide Awakes, resulting in injuries. This action was related to the "Stone's Prairie Riot" at nearby Plainville.

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Payson has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Payson had a population of 1,025. The median age was 34.4 years. 29.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 107.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.5 males age 18 and over.

The population density was . There were 407 housing units at an average density of . 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 375 households in Payson, of which 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.7% were married-couple households, 14.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The comprehensive high school of that district is Payson-Seymour High School.

Notable people

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  • Mary Frances Leach, educator and chemist
  • Anna Kay Scott, medical missionary in India and China
  • Ralph Works, pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers

Footnotes

  • Official website