South Paris, Maine
Market Square
South Paris, Maine Location within the state of Maine
Coordinates: 44°13′18″N 70°30′53″W / 44.22167, -70.51472
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Oxford
Area
- Total	4.0 sq mi (10.2 km²)
- Land	3.9 sq mi (10.0 km²)
- Water	0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²)
Elevation	387 ft (118 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	2,237
- Density	577.1/sq mi (222.8/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	04281
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-71780
GNIS feature ID	0575877

Moore Park in 1909

South Paris is a census-designated place (CDP) in Oxford County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 2,237. It is the county seat of Oxford County^[1]. It is located within the town of Paris, and most parts of the town are also popularly referred to as South Paris, whether they are part of the CDP or not.

History

During the 19th-century, the Little Androscoggin River provided water power to operate mills in South Paris, and the village grew up around them. The opening of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad on June 8, 1850 further spurred development of the small mill town. In the 1890s, the Oxford County Courthouse moved from Paris Hill to be near the train station. Much of the manufacturing and industry faded with the Great Depression, but South Paris remains the commercial section of Paris, and retains much of its Victorian era architecture.

Geography

South Paris is located at 44°13′18″N, 70°30′53″W (44.221609, -70.514603)^[2].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.2 km²), of which, 3.9 square miles (10.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (2.03%) is water. South Paris is drained by the Little Androscoggin River.

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 2,237 people, 972 households, and 536 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 577.1 people per square mile (222.6/km²). There were 1,052 housing units at an average density of 271.4/sq mi (104.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.32% White, 0.36% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.49% of the population.

There were 972 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.8% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $27,569, and the median income for a family was $42,105. Males had a median income of $28,906 versus $19,960 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,486. About 4.4% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

Sites of interest

• Celebration Barn Theater
• Paris Cape Historical Society

References

1. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
3. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

• History of Paris, Maine (1886)

External links

• Town of Paris, Maine
• Paris Public Library

• South Paris, Maine is at coordinates 44°13′18″N 70°30′53″W / 44.221609, -70.514603 (South Paris, Maine)Coordinates: 44°13′18″N 70°30′53″W / 44.221609, -70.514603 (South Paris, Maine)