Paris, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Paris is a rural city located on the western side of the Bear Lake Valley in Bear Lake County
, Idaho
, United States
. Its population was 576 at the 2000 census
. The county seat of Bear Lake County, it was settled on September 26, 1863 by pioneer settlers
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Paris was settled by a group of dedicated Mormons
led by Charles C Rich. During early years, pioneers suffered difficulties with the harsh cold climate, however their determination and faith kept them from leaving the area.
Paris sports an impressive landmark for a city of its size: the LDS Bear Lake Stake Tabernacle, a sandstone church designed by Joseph Don Carlos Young and built between 1884 and 1889. It seats around 2000 people, nearly four times the population of the city.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²), of which, 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.85%) is water.
Paris lies in a high valley of the Rocky Mountains
, at nearly 6000 feet in elevation. Due to the high elevation, cold winters, late springs and mild summers are the norm for Paris and the area. Most of the surrounding country is used for ranching.
on September 29, 1863. The settlers in the initial group were John Pool, Charles & Ann Atkins, Cass Whittle, William Harris, Lewis Ricks, Thomas Sleight, John Bright, Thomas Mantle, Ebenezer Lander, J. Bowman, Alex Allen and Matthew Fifield.
The settlers believed the town to be located in Utah until a survey in 1872 showed that it was in fact in Idaho.
fun run (approx. 9 miles) from the KVSI radio station in Montpelier ending in Paris. The City of Paris chuckwagon breakfast is held at the finish line of the fun run. The Bear Lake Pageant is held at the Paris Tabernacle followed by a parade that runs through the city. The event concludes with a youth rodeo at the Paris rodeo grounds.
of 2000, there were 576 people, 218 households, and 168 families residing in the city. The population density
was 165.2 people per square mile (63.7/km²). There were 292 housing units at an average density of 83.7 per square mile (32.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.13% White, 0.35% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.35% from other races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 218 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.1% were married couples
living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,341, and the median income for a family was $45,000. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $20,313 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,725. About 3.8% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
Bear Lake County, Idaho
Bear Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 6,411 . The county seat is Paris, and Montpelier is the largest city....
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its population was 576 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. The county seat of Bear Lake County, it was settled on September 26, 1863 by pioneer settlers
Mormon Pioneer
The Mormon pioneers were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Latter-day Saints, who migrated across the United States from the Midwest to the Salt Lake Valley in what is today the U.S. state of Utah...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Paris was settled by a group of dedicated Mormons
Mormons
The Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, a religion started by Joseph Smith during the American Second Great Awakening. A vast majority of Mormons are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while a minority are members of other independent churches....
led by Charles C Rich. During early years, pioneers suffered difficulties with the harsh cold climate, however their determination and faith kept them from leaving the area.
Paris sports an impressive landmark for a city of its size: the LDS Bear Lake Stake Tabernacle, a sandstone church designed by Joseph Don Carlos Young and built between 1884 and 1889. It seats around 2000 people, nearly four times the population of the city.
Geography
Paris is located at 42°13′40"N 111°23′58"W (42.227699, -111.399373).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²), of which, 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.85%) is water.
Paris lies in a high valley of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
, at nearly 6000 feet in elevation. Due to the high elevation, cold winters, late springs and mild summers are the norm for Paris and the area. Most of the surrounding country is used for ranching.
History
Paris was founded by Mormon pioneers, under the direction of Charles C. RichCharles C. Rich
Charles Coulson Rich was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and served as an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
on September 29, 1863. The settlers in the initial group were John Pool, Charles & Ann Atkins, Cass Whittle, William Harris, Lewis Ricks, Thomas Sleight, John Bright, Thomas Mantle, Ebenezer Lander, J. Bowman, Alex Allen and Matthew Fifield.
The settlers believed the town to be located in Utah until a survey in 1872 showed that it was in fact in Idaho.
Events
The Paris July 4 Celebration is the big event of the year, a tradition that brings people from miles around. Starting off with the KVSIKVSI
KVSI is a commercial radio station in Montpelier, Idaho, broadcasting to the Montpelier, Idaho-Paris, Idaho area on 1450 AM.- Annual events :Since 1982 KVSI has sponsored a Fun-Run that kicks off the Paris, Idaho July 4 celebration. Runners and walkers leave the KVSI station and finish in Paris,...
fun run (approx. 9 miles) from the KVSI radio station in Montpelier ending in Paris. The City of Paris chuckwagon breakfast is held at the finish line of the fun run. The Bear Lake Pageant is held at the Paris Tabernacle followed by a parade that runs through the city. The event concludes with a youth rodeo at the Paris rodeo grounds.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 576 people, 218 households, and 168 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 165.2 people per square mile (63.7/km²). There were 292 housing units at an average density of 83.7 per square mile (32.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.13% White, 0.35% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.35% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 218 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,341, and the median income for a family was $45,000. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $20,313 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,725. About 3.8% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.