Paron, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paron, Arkansas
|
|
|---|---|
 Paron, Arkansas
Location in Arkansas
Paron, Arkansas
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Saline |
| Elevation | 492 ft (150 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
72122
|
| Area code(s) | 501 |
| GNIS feature ID | 73008 |
Paron is a small community in Saline County, Arkansas, United States. It is an "unincorporated community." This means it does not have its own local government. Paron is located along Arkansas Highway 9. It is about 17.5 miles (28.2 km) northwest of Benton. The community has a post office with ZIP code 72122.
In 2006, writers from the Arkansas Times noted that Paron mainly had churches and schools. The schools have since closed. Students from Paron now attend schools in Bryant.
Contents
Who Lives in Paron?
In 2006, some people living in Paron had moved there from bigger cities in Central Arkansas. Others were from families who had owned land in Paron for many generations.
It is hard to know the exact number of people living in Paron. In 2006, it was thought that a few hundred people lived there. The average age of residents is 54 years old. Most of the people in Paron, about 97.65%, were born in the United States.
How People Make a Living in Paron
Around 2006, most people living in Paron worked in nearby towns. These towns include Benton, Bryant, and Little Rock. Some residents have jobs in construction or farming right in Paron.
There are no retail stores or gas stations very close to Paron. You would need to travel about 15 to 20 miles (24 to 32 km) to find them. About 57.49% of people in Paron work in "white collar" jobs. This means they often work in offices or professional roles. About 6.12% of people are self-employed. Most people, 73.39%, work for private companies. About 11.62% work for the government.
Learning and Schools in Paron
Paron is part of the Bryant School District. Students from Paron attend Salem Elementary School in Bryant. This school is about 21 miles (34 km) from Paron. They also attend Bryant High School, which is also in Bryant. In 2006, students in the Paron area could also attend public schools in other nearby districts.
History of Schools in Paron
Paron used to have its own school district, called the Paron School District. This district ran Paron Elementary School and Paron High School. On July 1, 2004, the Paron School District joined with the Bryant School District.
Paron High School stayed open for a while but closed in 2006. This was because Paron was considered a rural area. Students from Paron High School then moved to Bryant High School. In 2015, the Bryant district decided to close Paron Elementary School. At that time, about 75 students attended the school. These students were then sent to Salem Elementary School.
In 2006, it was noted that Paron students generally did well in school. Most could get into state universities without needing extra help. They also performed at the state average on important tests.
Efforts to Reopen a School
In 2016, there was a plan to open a charter school in Paron. This school would have been in the old Paron public school building. The idea came from worries about students having to travel far to Bryant or to schools in the Perryville School District. However, the Arkansas Department of Education did not approve this plan. They felt there was not enough experience or support for the new school. But they encouraged the community to try again later. The community decided not to apply the very next year.
In 2021, the community tried again to start a charter school. In 2022, they sent plans for a K-12 (kindergarten through 12th grade) charter school to the state. The community is still working to get a school back in Paron. They planned to send their letter of intent in January 2022. It seems they have a good chance of getting a school this time.
Paron's Climate
The weather in Paron has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Paron has a humid subtropical climate. This is often shown as "Cfa" on climate maps.
