Tampico is located in Whiteside County, Illinois. It is located in the NW section of the state. Pronounced "TAMpico," unlike the city in Tampico, Mexico, which accents the last syllable. I believe there are a total of 4 cities/villages with the name of Tampico in the United States, plus one in Tampico, Mexico. The 2010 census claims about 770 +/- people, but I suspect that is counting the cows as well! (little humor, there) The village was founded by J. W. GLASSBURN and after the railroad came through in 1871, Tampico was incorporated as a village in 1875. It is the birthplace of many significant people, most notably Rear Admiral Joseph Mason REEVES & President Ronald REAGAN. Train Buffs may be familiar with the HY&T railway, which ran through - "Hooppole, Yorktown & Tampico." It was often referred to as the "Dummy" and was the shortest commuter train in the country. It ran so slowly that many stories are told of how the menfolk would ride on the train with their shotguns, shoot their prey (rabbits, squirrels, etc.), hop off the train and retrieve their kill and hop back on the train. All the while, the train never stopped.
Tampico is fortunate enough to have two museums. The first is the Ronald Reagan Birthplace & Museum. Visit their webpage http://www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com/R_Reagan_Birthplace_Museum.html
The other museum is the Tampico Area Historical Society, which archives ALL of the history of this mighty little town. Visit their website: www.tampicohistoricalsociety.com and click on the Table of Contents for thousands of pages of historical and genealogical information. There is a site search box on the Home page.This is a two-level museum. The upstairs houses the Family History Library & Research Center, where the old Tampico Tornado newspapers are archived. The paper was published from 1876-1966. Denise McLoughlin is the Family History Coordinator for the Library/Research Center. tampicohistoricalsociety@gmail.com. Joan Johnson is the president of the Tampico Area Historical Society as well as the Curator for the Ronald REAGAN Birthplace & Museum. reaganbirthplace@thewisp.net or 815-622-8705.
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