Payson is a village in Adams County, Illinois, United States.

[3] 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.

This action was related to the "Stone's Prairie Riot" at nearby Plainville.

[4] According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Payson has a total area of 1.17 square miles (3.03 km2), all land.