Tamms, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Tamms is a village in Alexander County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 724 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Girardeau
–Jackson
, MO
-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area. Tamms is the location of the Tamms Correctional Center
, a super-maximum correctional facility operated by the Illinois Department of Corrections that housed the State of Illinois execution chamber
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6 km²). None of the village's land area is covered by water.
of 2000, there were 724 people, 279 households, and 191 families residing in the village. The population density
was 309.4 people per square mile (119.5/km²). There were 316 housing units at an average density of 135.1 per square mile (52.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 74.72% White, 23.62% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.14% from other races
, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.66% of the population.
There were 279 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples
living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the village the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $19,511, and the median income for a family was $28,214. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $11,131. About 24.7% of families and 30.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.1% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.
, a super-maximum correctional facility operated by the Illinois Department of Corrections. The State of Illinois execution chamber
was at Tamms. Prior to the January 11, 2003 commutation of death row sentences, male death row inmates were housed in Tamms, Menard
, and Pontiac
correctional centers. After that date, only Pontiac continued to host the male death row. The death penalty was abolished in Illinois in March 2011.
Alexander County, Illinois
Alexander County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 8,238, which is a decrease of 14.1% from 9,590 in 2000. Its county seat is Cairo. Alexander County is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 724 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and north of Memphis. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 37,941. A college town, it is the home of Southeast Missouri...
–Jackson
Jackson, Missouri
Jackson is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,758 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cape Girardeau County. Jackson is named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson. It is a principal city of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan...
, MO
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area. Tamms is the location of the Tamms Correctional Center
Tamms Correctional Center
The Tamms Correctional Center is a Illinois Department of Corrections prison located in Tamms, Illinois. The prison has two sections, a 200-bed minimum security facility opened in 1995, and a 500-bed maximum security facility known as the Closed Maximum Security Unit opened in 1998...
, a super-maximum correctional facility operated by the Illinois Department of Corrections that housed the State of Illinois execution chamber
Execution chamber
An execution chamber, or death chamber, is a room or chamber in which a legal execution is carried out. Execution chambers are almost always inside the walls of a maximum-security prison, although not always at the same prison where the death row population is housed...
.
Geography
Tamms is located at 37°14′25"N 89°15′53"W (37.240207, -89.264822).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6 km²). None of the village's land area is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 724 people, 279 households, and 191 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 309.4 people per square mile (119.5/km²). There were 316 housing units at an average density of 135.1 per square mile (52.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 74.72% White, 23.62% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.14% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.66% of the population.
There were 279 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the village the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $19,511, and the median income for a family was $28,214. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $11,131. About 24.7% of families and 30.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.1% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
Tamms is the location of the Tamms Correctional CenterTamms Correctional Center
The Tamms Correctional Center is a Illinois Department of Corrections prison located in Tamms, Illinois. The prison has two sections, a 200-bed minimum security facility opened in 1995, and a 500-bed maximum security facility known as the Closed Maximum Security Unit opened in 1998...
, a super-maximum correctional facility operated by the Illinois Department of Corrections. The State of Illinois execution chamber
Execution chamber
An execution chamber, or death chamber, is a room or chamber in which a legal execution is carried out. Execution chambers are almost always inside the walls of a maximum-security prison, although not always at the same prison where the death row population is housed...
was at Tamms. Prior to the January 11, 2003 commutation of death row sentences, male death row inmates were housed in Tamms, Menard
Menard Correctional Center
Menard Correctional Center, known prior to 1970 as Southern Illinois Penitentiary, is located in the town of Chester in Randolph County, Illinois. It is a state prison housing maximum-security and high medium-security adult males.The average daily population as of 2007 is 3,410. Menard Correctional...
, and Pontiac
Pontiac Correctional Center
Pontiac Correctional Center, established in June 1871, is a Illinois Department of Corrections maximum security prison for adult males in Pontiac, Illinois. The prison also has a medium security unit that houses medium to minimum security inmates and is classified as Level 3...
correctional centers. After that date, only Pontiac continued to host the male death row. The death penalty was abolished in Illinois in March 2011.