Paris, Tennessee

Paris, TN
City
The Eiffel Tower of Paris, Tennessee.
Location of Paris, Tennessee
Coordinates: 36°18′4″N 88°18′50″W / 36.30111°N 88.31389°W / 36.30111; -88.31389Coordinates: 36°18′4″N 88°18′50″W / 36.30111°N 88.31389°W / 36.30111; -88.31389
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	Henry
Incorporated	1823
Named for	Paris, France[1]
Area
• Total	10.9 sq mi (28.3 km2)
• Land	10.9 sq mi (28.2 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation	515 ft (157 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	10,156
• Density	897.4/sq mi (346.5/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	38242
Area code(s)	731
FIPS code	47-56720[2]
GNIS feature ID	1296772[3]

Paris is a city in Henry County, Tennessee, 86 miles (138 km) northwest of Nashville, on a fork of the West Sandy River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 10,156. It is the county seat of Henry County.^[4]

A 60-foot (18 m) replica of the Eiffel Tower stands in Paris.^[5] Paris is also home of the "World's Biggest Fish Fry".

History

The present site of Paris was selected by five commissioners appointed to the task at the December 1822 session of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Henry County. Their choice was fifty acres, 37 and one half of which were owned by Joseph Blythe and 12 and one half owned by Peter Ruff, both of whom gifted the land. A public square, streets, alleys and 104 lots were laid off and the lots were sold at auction over a two-day period in either March or April 1823.^[6]

Paris was incorporated on September 30, 1823. It was the first town incorporated in West Tennessee, followed by Lexington on October 9, 1824, and Memphis on December 19, 1826.^[6][7][8] The city was named after Paris, France, in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette.^[1]

Downtown Paris, Tennessee

Geography

Paris is located at 36°18′4″N 88°18′50″W / 36.30111°N 88.31389°W / 36.30111; -88.31389 (36.301229, -88.313815).^[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.9 square miles (28 km²), of which 10.9 square miles (28 km²) is land and 0.04-square-mile (0.10 km²) is water. The total area is 0.37% water.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 10,156 people, 4,394 households, and 2,605 families residing in the city. The population density was 897.4 people per square mile (346.5/km²). There were 4,965 housing units at an average density of 456.4 per square mile (176.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.99% White, 19.25% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 2.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.63% of the population.

There were 4,394 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% were married couples living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.94% under the age of 18, 55.89% from 18 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 81.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,261, and the median income for a family was $32,258. Males had a median income of $27,759 versus $20,198 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,572. About 14.1% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 20.5% of those age 65 or over.

Industry

Local companies manufacture brakes, small electric motors, aftermarket auto parts, metal doors, rubber parts and school laboratory furniture.^[12]

Culture

The text of the sign beneath the catfish statue reads Welcome to Paris, Tennessee.

Eiffel Tower

Originally constructed by Christian Brothers University in the early 1990s, the Eiffel Tower is located in Memorial Park. The original tower suffered from wood decay and was later replaced with a metal structure. The tower is a 60-foot (18 m) tall scale model of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.^[13]

In addition to the Eiffel Tower, Memorial Park provides tennis courts, a public Olympic-sized swimming pool, soccer fields, two walking trails, a children's playground with pavilions, and a newly constructed frisbee golf course.

World's Biggest Fish Fry

Paris is home of the "World's Biggest Fish Fry". The festival is held every year and culminates on a weekend, on the last full week in April, with a parade, an art and craft fair, a rodeo and a fun fair. Part of the festivities include the "catfish races." There is a sign which features a roughly 20-foot (6.1 m) long catfish that can be seen when entering the town from the south on U.S. Route 79. As Kentucky Lake is only a 20 minute drive from downtown, fishing is a popular activity.

Arts

Paris is known for its support of the arts. Many large events of musical nature take place in the city's auditorium, the Krider Performing Arts Center. Known as "KPAC", the building is attached to the city's public elementary school, Paris Elementary.

Notable people

Paris/Henry County media

Radio stations

• WRQR AM/1000 - "Classic Hits WRQR"
• W248BK FM/97.5 - "Classic Hits FM"
• WMUF FM/104.7 - "104.7 W-M-U-F"
• WLZK FM/94.1 - "94.1 The Lake"
• WAKQ FM/105.5 - KF99-KQ105
• WTPR AM/710 - WENK-WTPR
• WTPR FM/101.7

Newspapers

• The Paris Post-Intelligencer

References

External links

• Official website

Municipalities and communities of Henry County, Tennessee, United States County seat: Paris Cities McKenzie‡ Paris Puryear Towns Cottage Grove Henry Unincorporated communities Buchanan Como Mansfield Midway (north) Midway (south) Old Springville Spring Creek Springville Whitlock Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties