Paris, Arkansas
December 1, 2019
Folks, I am on sensory overload. I am filled with wonder at what I take in each day - new sights, new emotions, new thoughts, new feelings, new dreams. Pretty sure if I were not writing this blog and taking these photos that my head would have exploded by now.
I did not expect so much of this Paris, yet today has been filled with adventures. I’ll let the slideshow tell the story. I hope you like the music - Johnnie.
But before the slideshow, here’s some information about this Paris.
Paris, Arkansas a city in Logan County and serves as the county seat for the northern district of the county. Interestingly, it appears that counties in Arkansas have two county seats.
Demographics
As of the 2010 Census, the population was 3,532 people, 1,553 households, and 984 families residing in the city. The population density was 818.1 people per square mile. There were 1,713 housing units at an average density of 780 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 93% White, 2% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 1% Asian, 1% from other races, and 1% from two or more races. 2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,553 households out of which 29% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46% were married couples living together, 14% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37% were non-families. 33% of all households were made up of individuals and 19% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.3 and the average family size was 2.9.
In the city, the population was spread out with 24% under the age of 18, 8% from 18 to 24, 25% from 25 to 44, 22% from 45 to 64, and 22% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 87 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,400, and the median income for a family was $32,400. Males had a median income of $22,000 versus $17,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,700. About 15% of families and 19% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28% of those under age 18 and 19% of those age 65 or over.
History
Pioneers settled the area about 1820. The village of Paris was formed on the Old Military Road between Little Rock and Fort Smith, and 5 miles south of the Arkansas River. Paris, was named after the French city in 1874. Paris was incorporated in February 1879.
The villagers constructed a one-story frame courthouse. The town 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.
By 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, but had declined by the 1960s. . As a result, community leaders sought to diversify the town's economic base. Today, the economy benefits from the presence of manufacturing facilities producing parts for the automotive industry and the aerospace industry. Farming and ranching remain among the largest industries in the area.
Paris was the site of the last public hanging in Arkansas before the first electric chair came into use, in Little Rock. The hanging took place in 1914.
The newspaper, Paris Express, was founded in 1880, and it is the oldest, continually operating business in the city. Today it has a circulation of 3,600.
Points of Interest in the Area
- Mount Magazine State Park is the highest point in the state of Arkansas. (I went there. It’s
cool.)
- County Line Auction House and Flea Market is held every Wednesday, just west of Paris in
Countyline, Arkansas.
- 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 is the restored jail. - 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. (Closed until Wednesday)
- Cove Lake Recreation Area near Mount Magazine. (I went here, too. Spent the night. $15. Hard to beat. Nice place).
And now the slideshow....