Paris, Texas

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This article is about the city in Northeast Texas. For other meanings see: Paris, Texas (disambiguation) and Paris (disambiguation).
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Paris is a city located 98 miles (158 km) northeast of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in Lamar County, Texas, in the United States. It is situated in East Texas, specifically Northeast Texas, at the western edge of the Piney Woods. Physiographically, these regions are part of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. In 1900, 9,358 people lived in Paris, Texas; in 1910, 11,269; in 1920, 15,040; and in 1940, 18,678. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 25,898. It is the county seat, business and employment center of Lamar County, Texas population of approximately 50,000.

FIPS code 55080

Location: 33.66664 N, 95.54762 W
Population (1990): 24699 (11191 housing units)
Area: 70.4 km² (land), 4.3 km² (water)
ZIP code(s): 75460, 75461, 75462

The film Paris, Texas by Wim Wenders is named after this city, although none of its scenes are actually set in Paris, Texas, and no scenes were shot there.

Recognizing its connection to the French capital, the city celebrates Bastille Day every July 14. Local residents like the humorous slogan "Second Largest Paris in the World," and along these lines a (smaller) duplicate of the Eiffel Tower, which in recent years has completed this lampoon with a giant red cowboy hat. The current tower is at least the second Eiffel tower built in Paris. The first was constructed of wood, but was destroyed by a tornado.

It is governed by a city council as specified in the city's charter adopted in 1948. It has fewer than 100 police officers, and fewer than 100 fire fighters. It is not in an earthquake zone, as evidenced by its rating as a Risk Zone 1 which is the lowest rating in earthquake potential.

Contents

[edit] Historic

The first recorded settlement in the vicinity was in 1826, and settlements were known to be in the area as early as 1824. The town was founded by merchant George W. Wright, who donated fifty acres of land in February 1844, when the community was also designated the county seat by the voters. It was incorporated by the Congress of the Republic of Texas on February 3, 1845. The community has no factual knowledge of who named the town, but it is assumed it was named after its French counterpart. Paris was on the Central National Road of the Republic of Texas, which ran from San Antonio north through Paris to cross the Red River. By the eve of the Civil War, when it had 700 residents, Paris had become a cattle and farming center. It is the site of the first municipally owned and operated abattoir in the United States. Lamar County was one of the few Texas counties that voted against secession, though many of its inhabitants later served in the Confederacy. In 1877, 1896 and 1916, major fires forced the city to rebuild.

Paris has long been a railroad center. The Texas and Pacific reached town in 1876; the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe (later merged into the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway) and the St. Louis - San Francisco Railway] in 1887; the Texas Midland (later Southern Pacific) in 1893; and the Paris and Mount Pleasant (Pa-Ma Line) in 1910.

Paris Junior College was established in 1924. In 1990 it was one of the oldest junior colleges in Texas; at that time the main campus had twenty buildings, including a new $1.1 million physical education center, and the college offered both technical and academic instruction. Its jewelry technologies department, now known as The Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology at Paris Junior College, is internationally recognized. Recently, the PJC Dragon's Men's basketball team won the NJCAA national championship in 2005.

From 1942-45, the U.S. Army operated Camp Maxey, 10 miles north of Paris. The camp served as an infantry-training camp. Named in honor of Samuel Bell Maxey. It was activated on July 15, 1942 and deactivated October 1, 1945. It also served as an internment center for many German Prisoners of War.

On April 2, 1982, Paris was hit by an F4 tornado that destroyed more than 1,500 homes, left ten people dead, 170 injured and 3,000 homeless. The damage toll from this tornado is estimated at 50 million USD in 1982 dollars.

Named "Best Small Town in Texas" in 1998 by Kevin Heubusch in his book The New Rating Guide to Life in America's Small Cities.

[edit] Geography and weather

Paris is located at 33°39′45″N, 95°32′52″W (33.662508, -95.547692)GR1.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 115.0 km² (44.4 mi²). 110.7 km² (42.8 mi²) of it is land and 4.3 km² (1.7 mi²) of it (3.74%) is water.

Paris is located in "Tornado Alley", an area largely centered on the middle of the United States which sees tornados frequently. Paris is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7b for winter temperatures. This is cooler than its southern neighbor Dallas, Texas, and while similar to Atlanta, Georgia, its warmer summertime temperatures must be accounted for as well. Summertime average highs reach 94 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit in July and August, with associated lows of 72 and 71. Winter temps drop to an average high of 51 and low of 30 in January. The highest temperature on record was 115, set in August of 1836, and the record low was -5 set in 1930. Average precipitation is 47.82 inches. Snow is not unusual, but is by no means predictable, and years can pass with no snowfall at all.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 25,898 people, 10,570 households, and 6,711 families residing in the city. The population density was 233.9/km² (605.7/mi²). There were 11,777 housing units at an average density of 106.4/km² (275.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.92% White, 22.26% African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.56% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.12% of the population.

There were 10,570 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% are classified as non-families by the United States Census Bureau. Of 10,570 households, 385 are unmarried partner households: 349 heterosexual, 14 same-sex male, and 22 same-sex female households. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,438, and the median income for a family was $34,916. Males had a median income of $29,378 versus $20,080 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,137. About 16.5% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Economic

In the past, Paris was a major cotton exchange, and while cotton is still farmed on the lands around Paris, it is no longer the economic force that it once was.

Paris has two major hospitals, Paris Regional Medical Center South (formerly St. Joseph's Hospital) and Paris Regional Medical Center on the Loop (formerly McCuistion Regional Medical Center), and serves as center for healthcare for much of Northeast Texas and Southeast Oklahoma. Both are now operated jointly under the name of the Paris Regional Health Center, a division of Essent Healthcare. The health network is the largest employer in the Paris area[citation needed].

Beyond healthcare, the largest employers are Kimberly-Clark, Campbell's Soup, and Sara Lee Bakery.

[edit] Transportation

Paris is served by two U.S. Highways: US 82 and US 271. Other important highways with routes through Paris are State Highway 19 (co-signed with State Highway 24) and State Highway Loop 286.

According to the Texas Transportation Commission, Paris is the second-largest city in Texas without a four-lane divided highway connecting to an Interstate highway within the state. However, those traveling north of the town can go into the midwest on a four-lane thoroughfare, a portion along the Indian Nation Turnpike.

Cox Field provides general aviation services.

[edit] Education

[edit] Attractions

  • Pat Mayse Lake
  • Lake Crook
  • [2]Central Presbyterian Church - founded in 1844, it was the first church formed in Lamar County, boasts historic stained glass windows and is historically registered at the state and federal levels.
  • Beaver's Bend Resort Park (Oklahoma)
  • Evergreen Cemetery - Located on the south side of town, there are over 50,000 people interred; it is the home of the infamous 12-foot tall "Jesus with cowboy boots" statue and grave marker, as well as the resting place of banker/philanthropist William J. McDonald, Confederate General/U.S. Senator Sam Bell Maxey, rancher Pitts Chisum, and cotton magnate John J. Culbertson. Pitts Chisum's more famous brother, John Chisum, is also buried in the city.
  • Sam Bell Maxey House - Maxey was a Confederate General.
  • Culbertson Fountain
  • Bywaters Park
  • Pine Branch Daylily Farm - Breeding and selling of over 1000 registered varieties.
  • Paris Eiffel Tower
  • Restored Courthouse and its lawn with monuments.
  • Downtown restored 1918ish buildings.
  • Record Park
  • Public Pool & Bath House

[edit] Famous Parisians

The town has been home to:

[edit] External links

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