Paris, Illinois

Paris is a city in Edgar County, Illinois, south of Chicago and west of Indianapolis. The population was 8,291 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat and largest city of Edgar County.

History

Paris was established in 1826 on land donated by Samuel Vance to be the county seat, and was incorporated as a village in 1849. The town most likely received its name from the word "Paris" carved into a jack-oak tree in the middle of what became the town.

Paris's history includes the service of two brothers, Walter Booth and Newton Booth, as its mayors in the mid-1850s. Newton Booth later moved west to California, where he served as governor and a U.S. senator.

The commission form of government was adopted in 1915. In 1907, L. A. G. Shoaff bought the Centralia White Stockings and renamed them the Paris Colts. In 1908 the team was renamed the Paris Parisians. After the 1908 season the team went under. In the 1950s Paris was home to a minor-league baseball team named the Paris Lakers. A contest was held among the community to decide on a name for the team. James C. Dickey's submission, the Paris Lakers, was chosen. The Lakers were the 1956 Midwest League Champions and were affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.

Geography

Paris is located at (39.613014, -87.693829).

U.S. Route 150 and Illinois State Route 1 pass through Paris. Both Illinois State Route 16 and Illinois State Route 133 have Illinois State Route 1 as their eastern terminus. One railroad passes through town, a CSX Transportation line that goes north to Danville and southeast to Terre Haute, Indiana.

According to the 2010 census, Paris has an area of , of which (93.39%) is land and (6.61%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,077 people, 3,874 households, and 2,382 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,211 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.31% White, 0.51% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.

There were 4,137 households, of which 27.7% had children under age 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 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 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 39. For every 100 females, there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median income for a household was $42,446, and the median income for a family was $37,872. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $20,673 for females. The per capita income was $24,984. About 8.9% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under 18 and 11.2% of those 65 or older.

Education

Paris has two public school districts: Paris Union School District 95 (for those living inside city limits) and Paris Community Unit School District No. 4 (for those outside the city limits). Those in District 95 send their children to Mayo Middle School, while Unit 4 children attend Crestwood School. Both schools feed into one high school, Paris High School, which until 2009 was under District 95. On July 1, 2009, the renamed Paris Cooperative High School became Illinois's first cooperative high school. The high school celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2009.

Paris Cooperative High School's mascot is the tiger and its colors are orange and black.

Paris is also the home of Saint Mary's School, a Catholic school serving preschool through 8th grade open to children of all religions. St. Mary's is the only tuition-based private school in Paris.

Fire districts

Paris Community Fire Protection District - This district has five stations, including Paris, which is a full-time paid department. The others are Vermilion, Oliver, Grandview, and Redmon, which are all volunteer departments.

Climate

Climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is " Cfa" (Humid Subtropical Climate).Climate Summary for Paris, Illinois
/ref>

Notable people

* Lionel Artis, civil servant
* George W. Bristow, Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, lived in Paris
* Shorty Cantlon, race car driver
* Ed Carpenter, race car driver, born in Paris
* Alfred M. Craig, Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, born in Paris
* Brett Eldredge, country music singer, born in Paris
* Jack Franklin, pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers
* Albert Austin Harding, University of Illinois band director, raised in Paris
* George Hunt, Illinois Attorney General
* Alice Moore McComas (1850–1919), author, editor, lecturer and reformer
* Richard P. Mills, educator
* Jean Paige, silent-film actress
* Troy Porter, plumber and civil rights leader
* Bernie Shively, college football Hall of Fame member and University of Kentucky athletic director
* Benny Shoaff, American race car driver who appeared in two Indianapolis 500 races
* Lee Sholem, film and television director, born in Paris
* Abraham L. Stanfield, businessman and politician
* Barbara Stuart, actor, born in Paris
* Tom Sunkel, pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers. Managed the Paris Lakers from 1950 to 1954
* Carl Switzer, actor ("Alfalfa" in ''Our Gang'')
* Harold Switzer, actor ("Harold" in ''Our Gang''); older brother to Carl Switzer
* Bill Van Dyke, outfielder for the Toledo Maumees, St. Louis Browns and Boston Beaneaters
* Rodney Watson, men's head basketball coach, University of Southern Indiana
* W. H. Lillard, college instructor, Headmaster at Tabor Academy, head football coach at Dartmouth College
* William Zeckendorf, real estate developer

Sports teams

*Paris Lakers, minor league baseball team from 1950 to 1959
*Paris Parisians (Eastern Illinois League), semi-pro baseball team
* Paris Picaduras, semi-pro baseball team

See also

*Asher Morton Farmstead
* Edgar County Courthouse
* France Hotel
* Paris Carnegie Public Library
* Paris Elks Lodge No. 812 Building
*Pine Grove Community Club

References

External links

*

{{authority control

Populated places established in 1826
Cities in Edgar County, Illinois
Cities in Illinois
County seats in Illinois
1826 establishments in Illinois