Paris, Maine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paris, Maine
Town
From top, left to right: Oxford County Courthouse (around 1907); Hamlin House (around 1920); Old High School (around 1907); Market Square (around 1905)
Seal
Paris, Maine Location in Maine Show map of Maine Paris, Maine Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Oxford
Incorporated	June 20, 1793
Area
• Total	40.97 sq mi (106.11 km2)
• Land	40.77 sq mi (105.59 km2)
• Water	0.20 sq mi (0.52 km2)
Elevation	610 ft (186 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,179
• Density	127/sq mi (49.0/km2)
Demonym(s)	Parisian
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	04271 (Paris) 04281 (South Paris)
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-56625
GNIS feature ID	0582661

Paris is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. It is also the county seat, which means it's where the main government offices for the county are located.

Paris is part of the larger Lewiston-Auburn area in Maine. In 2020, about 5,179 people lived there. A part of the town is called South Paris. The U.S. Post Office often refers to the whole town as South Paris. Because of this, many people commonly call the entire town South Paris.

One special area is Paris Hill. It is a beautiful historic district that many tourists like to visit. In 2019, the town decided to support the Second Amendment, which is about the right to own guns.

History of Paris, Maine

View of Paris Hill, a Victorian era stereographic card from the past.

The land for Paris was given by Massachusetts on June 11, 1771. It was given to Captain Joshua Fuller and 59 other soldiers. This was to thank them for their service in the French and Indian Wars. This was the second time they tried to pay the soldiers. Their first land grant in New Hampshire was not valid. The land in Maine was called Township Number Four.

In 1773, the landowners planned the township. They decided to set aside strips of land for future roads. This made sure no land would be trapped without access to a road.

The first settlers arrived in 1779. They were Lemuel Jackson, John Willis, and their families. The area was first called Number Four Plantation. It officially became the town of Paris on June 20, 1793. When Oxford County was created in 1805, Paris became its county seat. This helped the town grow and become a busy place.

Paris was known for its beautiful scenery and great pasturage (land for grazing animals). It had some of the best livestock and dairy farms in Maine. There were also many large apple orchards.

Paris Hill's Historic Charm

The village of Paris Hill is about 820 feet above sea level. From there, you can see amazing views of Mount Chocorua and Mount Washington. These mountains are part of the White Mountains.

The Paris Hill Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It has many beautiful buildings. These buildings show off Federal and Greek Revival styles. The old Oxford County Jail, built in 1822 from granite, is now the Hamlin Memorial Library and Museum. It was given to the Paris Hill Library Association in 1902.

Growth and Industry

The Little Androscoggin River was important for Paris. It provided water power for mills in South Paris. The town center moved to South Paris after the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad arrived in 1850.

Industries in South Paris included:

• A gristmill (for grinding grain)
• A sawmill (for cutting wood)
• A shingle mill (for making roof tiles)
• A planing mill (for smoothing wood)
• An iron foundry (for melting and shaping metal)
• A machine shop

In the 1890s, the county seat moved from Paris Hill to South Paris. This was to be closer to the train station. Manufacturing slowed down during the Great Depression. But South Paris is still the main business area of the town. West Paris, which includes North Paris, became its own town in 1957.

Many people believe the town's name comes from the famous city in France.

Where is Paris, Maine?

Paris is located in Maine. It has a total area of about 40.97 square miles (106.11 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, and a small part is water. The Little Androscoggin River flows through Paris.

The town sits on a type of rock called pegmatite. This rock often contains many interesting gems and rare stones. You might find beryl, garnet, tourmaline, amethyst, and smoky quartz here.

Several important roads cross through Paris. These include Route 26, Route 117, Route 118, and Route 119.

Population of Paris

In 2010, there were 5,183 people living in Paris. There were 2,187 households. About 28.6% of these households had children under 18. Most residents were White (95.9%).

The average age in Paris was 44.3 years old. About 20.8% of the people were under 18. And 19.9% were 65 years or older.

Places to Visit and Historic Sites

• Celebration Barn Theater
• Hamlin Memorial Library & Museum
• Paris Cape Historical Society
• Deering Memorial United Methodist Church

Famous People from Paris

The Old Jail at Paris Hill, which is now the Hamlin Memorial Library & Museum.

Many notable people have come from Paris, Maine. Some of them include:

• Charles Andrews, a U.S. congressman
• John Andrews, a Maine state representative
• Timothy J. Carter, a U.S. congressman
• Mary S. Caswell, an educator and writer
• Charles Deering, a businessman and helper of good causes
• James Deering, an industrialist who built Villa Vizcaya
• William Deering, a businessman and helper of good causes
• Rufus K. Goodenow, a U.S. congressman
• Hannibal Hamlin, a U.S. congressman, senator, and the 15th U.S. vice president
• Levi Hubbard, a U.S. congressman
• William Wirt Kimball, an admiral in the navy
• Horatio King, a U.S. postmaster general
• Enoch Lincoln, a U.S. congressman and the 6th governor of Maine
• Tony Montanaro, a mime, director, and teacher
• Harvey D. Parker, a hotel owner
• Albion K. Parris, a U.S. senator and the 5th governor of Maine
• Virgil D. Parris, a U.S. congressman
• Joe Perham, a storyteller and humorist
• Z. B. Rawson, a member of the Washington House of Representatives
• Reta Shaw, an actress from South Paris
• Daniel Bartlett Stevens, a Wisconsin assemblyman

See also

In Spanish: Paris (Maine) para niños