Paris is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,161 at the 2020 census. The town was laid out in 1831 by Abernathy, James C. Fox, Hightower F. Hackney, and E. W. McBride. In 1837, Paris contained seven stores and a number of families. On March 10, 1832, Abernathy and seven others organized the first Christian church in Paris. The church was built in a Gothic style of brick with four rooms at a cost of $11,000 ().

A post office called Paris has been in operation since 1841.

The Paris Male Academy and Union Covered Bridge are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Paris is in northeastern Missouri, in the center of Monroe County. U.S. Route 24 bypasses the city on the northwest side, leading northeast to Monroe City and west to Moberly. US 24 Business passes through the center of town, partly along Main Street. Missouri Route 15 passes through the center of Paris on Main Street, leading north to Shelbina and south to the city of Mexico. Missouri Route 154 leads east from Paris to Perry.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Paris has a total area of , of which , or 0.63%, are water.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,220 people, 528 households, and 309 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 643 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.7% White, 4.9% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 528 households, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.5% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.8% 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.

The median age in the city was 47.4 years. 19.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 28% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 43.8% male and 56.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census

Paris has a public library, a branch of the Little Dixie Regional Libraries.

Notable people

  • Armstead M. Alexander, U.S. congressman
  • Thomas Curtright, professor of physics at the University of Miami
  • Glenn Jacobs, WWE professional wrestler known as "Kane"
  • Mary Margaret McBride, radio pioneer; born near Paris

See also

  • List of cities in Missouri

References

  • Historic maps of Paris in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri