Paris, Texas, Lamar County seat. (original) (raw)
Crepe Myrtle Capital of Texas
Lamar County Seat, Central Texas North
33� 39' 45.03" N, 95� 32' 51.69" W (33.662508, -95.547692)
U.S. 82 & U.S. 271
103 miles NE of Dallas
50 miles NE of Greenville
15 miles E of Honey Grove
30 miles E of Bonham
ZIP codes 75460-75462
Area code 903/430
Population: 24,171 (2020)
25,171 (2010) 25,898 (2000) 24,799 (1990)
Book Hotel Here › Paris Hotels
Paris, Texas Eiffel Tower
Photo courtesy Lori Martin, 2005
"The Second Biggest Paris in the World" is the current slogan for this County Seat. We say current, because you never can tell about France (or Arkansas either). Historical Marker (on 200 block NW 3rd St.):Paris
This site marks the first call for survey of the city of Paris, Republic of Texas, 1844. Geo. W. Wright, early settler, soldier in Texas War for Independence, congressman of the Republic, donated 50 acres of land for Lamar County Seat. Plat of lots, blocks and streets was drawn, and from that beginning grew the present city.
Birds eye view of Paris, Texas in 1885
Click on image to enlarge
Photo By Henry Wellge (1850-1917) -
http://www.birdseyeviews.org
https://commons.wikimedia.org
The Paris Fire of 1916
Paris also holds third place in a category no town wants to be in. After The Chicago Fire and The San Francisco Earthquake Fire, comes The Paris Fire of 1916. This devastating fire resulted in the entire downtown having to be rebuilt, including the courthouse. The beautiful Culbertson Fountain in the Plaza was given to commemorate the rebirth of Paris.
(See America's Third Largest Fire by Mike Cox
John Cross had the day off that afternoon, March 21, 1916... About a mile from downtown Paris, a thriving North Texas city of 12,000-plus, Cross heard the Central Station fire bell... more)
Paris, Texas Chronicles
- America's Third Largest Fire by Mike Cox
John Cross had the day off that afternoon, March 21, 1916... About a mile from downtown Paris, a thriving North Texas city of 12,000-plus, Cross heard the Central Station fire bell... - William McDonald - An Orphan�s Gift by Bob Bowman
"Standing atop Mount Locke in the Big Bend area, McDonald Observatory is far removed from East Texas, but without the interest and generosity of an orphaned Confederate soldier... - Woman's Christian Temperance Union by Archie P. McDonald
The Woman�s Christian Temperance Union was misnamed: �temperance� means �moderation...avoiding extremes.� What the WCTU really wanted was total abstinence from all alcohol beverages... The first chapter of the WCTU, and then a state organization, were established in Paris in 1882... - Naked Lawyers in Paris, Texas by Mike Cox
People - Country Legend Gene Watson by Bob Bowman
Someone once asked country singing legend Ray Price to name his favorite singers. Price paused a minute and finally said, �I have too many to name, but Gene Watson would be right at the top.� But Watson--who was born in Palestine and raised in Paris--is such a low-keyed individual that he considers singing �just something I like to do,� like working on cars in his shop....
The Judgement of Paris
Texas Escapes wants to thank Judge Moree for his time and directions. We arrived after the Chamber had closed, but were fortunate to be photographing the Courthouse when Mr. Moree emerged (well after 5 pm). The Judge told us that as a boy, his family had unearthed a trove of crockery and bottles in their front yard while transplanting a rose bush. He owns a pocketknife engraved from a Paris Hardware Store that burned in the fire. Judge Moree, who has been known to hunt Turkey in Coleman County, has said he wouldn't consider living anywhere else but Paris. That's his final decision.
Paris, Texas
Landmarks/Attractions
Paris town square
Photo courtesy Holly Gibson, April 2015
The architecture of Paris is a direct result of the fire. Sturdy, elegant buildings with style replaced the wooden and stone structures that burned. Worthy of note are the R.F. Scott Building on the NE Corner of the Square and the Plaza Theater as well as several former Banks.
Paris is also the official Crepe Myrtle Capital of Texas. A visit in July or August is unforgettable and raises the question: why don't other towns and cities use this cost effective and long-lasting beautification plan? Crepe Myrtles are nearly pest-free, available in an array of colors and inexpensive.
- Lamar County Courthouse
- The Gibraltar Hotel
"The Gibraltar Hotel was once Paris� shining glory...." - Robin Jett more - The Wise House
"One of Paris� most beautiful buildings is the 1889 Wise House. Three stories tall, built with sturdy red brick, and decorated with ornate Queen Anne style scrollwork, it once served as the home of W.B. Wise and his family. Though not even a mile from downtown, the house sat surrounded by countryside. Wise built a lake with a picnic island behind the house, which he allowed most Parisians to use. Today, the lake has become the Wise baseball field. Because Wise had the house built west of the fancy Cherry Street district, it escaped the 1916 fire undamaged, and even the old carriage houses still stand." - � Robin Jett - The Santa Fe-Frisco-Kiamichi Depot (AKA Bonham St. Station) is being restored, but it is in use as the arrival point for the Hugo Heritage Railroad excursion train which arrives from Hugo every third Saturday. Paris is one of three destinations offered by the railroad, the others being Antlers and Ft. Towson, Oklahoma. Their schedule is available at their website: www.hugoheritagerr.ohgolly.com.
- Sam Bell Maxey House
- Camp Maxey
- Evergreen Cemetery and "Jesus in Cowboy Boots"
The Culbertson Fountain
Photo courtesy Lori Martin, 2005
- The Culbertson Fountain:
You needn't look too hard for this. In the square. Mr.Culbertson, one of Paris' wealthier citizens and philanthropists, has a notable mausoleum in Evergreen Cemetery. His house once stood where the Paris Library is now (facing Bywaters Park). It was dynamited in hopes of containing the spreading fire. Mr. Culbertson built elsewhere and gave the city the Library as well as the lot. - The First Presbyterian Church
"The oldest church in Paris derives from one of the earliest Protestant congregations in Texas � the First Presbyterian Church at 410 W. Kaufman. While the structure that stands today dates from 1892, the land was used as early as 1861, and is said to have come from the Presbyterian congregation in Clarksville, which had its start in the
1830s." - � Robin Jett
The First Presbyterian Church
Photos courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006
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Plaza Theatre in 2000 TE Photo |
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Sunset
Photo courtesy Holly Gibson, April 2015
Owl
Photo courtesy Holly Gibson, April 2015
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R.F. Scott Building in Paris TE Photo, 6-2000 |
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Paris Tourist Information
- The Paris Visitor's and Convention Council has an 88 page Visitors Guide/Membership Directory that is a lot nicer than some books you pay for. A map is right in the middle on pages 44 & 45. Included in the booklet are Lamar County Cities of Blossom, Deport, Reno and Roxton.
They also have a nice county/city map that is not in a booklet.
Contact them at 1651 Clarksville Street, or call them at 903-784-2501 or 800-PARISTX.
Paris is getting a lot of attention lately, being voted "Best Public Plaza" by Texas Monthly and "Best Pit Stop" by a Cross-country Auto Race. - Paris Hotels › Book Here
Paris' newest watertower
2004 photo courtesy of Herb Campbell, Paris
More Texas Water Towers
Paris' first water tower
1923 photo courtesy of Herb Campbell, Paris
Paris, Texas Forum
- I'm from Paris, Texas. Well I was born there, but my formative years were spent on the outskirts of Paris in Taylor Town. Down the street was Glory, Texas. My family had an old general store in Taylor Town called Gordon Mart (now closed)...now all that is left is a cemetery where a few of my relatives are buried.
Glory is less than a mile from the Taylor Town area and I think all that is left there are houses and a church my grandfather attends.
These two towns were an important part in my family heritage, and to have them added to your site would mean the world to me. I don't want them to be lost forever. Thank you. - Heather Gordon, December 29, 2004
Lamar County 1920s map
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office
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