Paris, Arkansas

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This article is about the Arkansas city. For other uses, see Paris (disambiguation).

Paris is a city in Logan County, Arkansas, and serves as the county seat of Logan County. The population was 3,707 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Area Schools
5 Points of Interest
6 Local Festivals
7 Noted Native
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Geography

Paris is located at 35°17′30″N, 93°43′34″W (35.291665, -93.726156)^GR1. Its FIPS is 53480. Its ZIP code is 72855.

It is located in a river valley near the Arkansas River and in the Ozark Mountain region of Northwest Arkansas.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.4 km² (4.8 mi²). 11.7 km² (4.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (5.43%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 3,707 people, 1,553 households, and 984 families residing in the city. The population density was 316.0/km² (818.1/mi²). There were 1,713 housing units at an average density of 146.0/km² (378.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.09% White, 2.00% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 1.11% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. 2.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,553 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,424, and the median income for a family was $32,409. Males had a median income of $21,955 versus $17,015 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,738. About 15.0% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

The Logan County seat, Paris was named for Paris, France, in 1874.

Pioneers settled into the area about 1820. The village Paris was formed on the Old Military Road between Little Rock and Fort Smith, and 5 miles south of the Arkansas River. Paris was incorporated on February 18, 1879.

The villagers constructed a one-story frame courthouse. The town's prison was constructed nearly three blocks from the courthouse, and remained the town's prison for many years. The prison now serves as the Logan County Museum.

Coal mining flourished. In the 1890s, Paris was a bustling city of 800 people. Citizens boasted of two newspapers, a bottling works company, nine general stores and the Paris Academy.

Coal Mining was the community's main industry by 1917.

[edit] Area Schools

Paris School District has three public schools:

Paris Elementary
Paris Middle School
Paris High School

Subiaco preparatory academy:

Subiaco Abbey Academy

[edit] Points of Interest

Paris is located adjacent to Mount Magazine State Park, anchored by Mount Magazine, the highest point in the state of Arkansas and one of the highest points between the Alleghenies and the Rockies.
Among annual events in the area, an annual Butterfly Festival held each June is particularly popular, drawing worldwide visitors to Mount Magazine. The Paris Area Chamber of Commerce has hosted the event since 1997, celebrating the multiple species of butterflies found around the mountain, and the discovery of near-extinct species.
County Line Auction House and Flea Market held every Wednesday, just west of Paris in Countyline, AR.
Cowie Wine Cellars is a local vineyard and bottler of wines in the Arkansas River Valley, offering a museum and Bed and Breakfast.
Logan County Museum - This restored jail is the site of the last state-sanctioned hanging in Arkansas (in 1914). Prisoners were kept in an iron cages upstairs, while the jailer and his family lived downstairs. Displays on permanent exhibit at the Museum include the history of local mining, the development and demise of the county's railroads, the history and impact of the Smith family of doctors, numerous Indian artifacts, and vintage quilts and other needlework. Main entrance exhibit themes change monthly.
Cove Lake Recreation area near Mount Magazine. Noted campsite 31.

[edit] Local Festivals

Frontier Day - Held on the first Saturday of October, Frontier Day celebrates the founding members of the city.
Butterfly Festival - Next to last weekend in June, honors the multitudes of butterflies (both rare and nonrare) found in the bluff region of Mount Magazine, founded in 1998.
Farmers Market - beginning in May, farmers bring fresh produce to the square for sale.