Paris, TX
Music connected to Paris
Ever heard Lana Del Rey croon about "Paris, Texas?" Or maybe Bright Eyes' haunting "To Death’s Heart (In Three Parts)" brought this Texan town to mind? Turns out, the city has inspired a surprising number of artists, appearing in over 50 songs, from Randy Newman to Miley Cyrus. But beyond its lyrical allure, Paris, TX, boasts its own musical claim to fame: it's where country music legend Charlie Pride spent his formative years.
Nestled in the Piney Woods region, this city of around 24,000 offers a dose of Southern charm. While it's flatter than the surrounding terrain, don't expect a boring landscape. The area is a mix of hardwood forests and grasslands, home to white-tailed deer. History buffs will appreciate the Beaux-Arts Lamar County Courthouse, rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1916. And of course, no trip to Paris, TX, is complete without a photo op at its 65-foot Eiffel Tower replica, complete with a Texas-sized cowboy hat!
About Paris
- • Country music legend, Charlie Pride, was born in Sledge, Mississippi, but grew up in Paris.
- • Campbell Soup Company's canned gravy production began in Paris, Texas.
- • Its strategic location on railroad lines made Paris a major shipping point for cotton.
- • A 65-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower sports a red cowboy hat on top.
- • The Great Fire of 1916 destroyed much of Paris, leading to a rebuilding boom.
- • Named after Paris, France, the city was established in 1844 and incorporated in 1845.
- • With 24,171 residents, it is smaller than Greenville, TX, but larger than Bonham, TX.
- • Sitting 600 feet above sea level, the town is noticeably flatter than the surrounding terrain.
- • Manufacturing provides a significant portion of the jobs in Paris, Texas.
- • Paris offers a nostalgic, small-town charm with a hint of Southern hospitality.
- • The area's geology is characterized by Cretaceous-era sedimentary rocks.
- • The city is located within the watershed of the Red River.
- • White-tailed deer are commonly found in the forests surrounding the city.
- • The region features a mix of hardwood forests and grasslands.
- • The Caddo people inhabited the area before European settlement.
- • A devastating fire destroyed much of the city in 1916.
- • The Lamar County Courthouse, built in 1916 after the fire, features a Beaux-Arts design.
- • The Jefferson Highway, one of America's first national highways, passed through the city.