Paris | |
|---|---|
Unincorporated community | |
 Grand River riverfront in Paris, Ontario | |
  Paris  Paris | |
| Coordinates:43°11′36″N80°23′05″W / 43.19333°N 80.38472°W /43.19333; -80.38472[1] | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| County | Brant |
| Area | |
• Total | 13.55 km2 (5.23 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 14,956 |
| • Density | 1,103.6/km2 (2,858/sq mi) |
| Forward sortation area | |
Paris (2021 population, 14,956[2]) is a community located in theCounty of Brant,Ontario, Canada. It lies just northwest from the city ofBrantford at the spot where theNith River empties into theGrand River. Paris was voted "the Prettiest Little Town in Canada" byHarrowsmith Magazine.[3] The town was established in 1850. In 1999, its town government was amalgamated into that of the County of Brant, ending 149 years as a separate incorporated municipality, with Paris as the largest population centre in the county.
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1841 | 1,000 |
| 1871 | 2,640 |
| 1881 | 3,173 |
| 1891 | 3,094 |
| 1901 | 3,229 |
| 1911 | 4,098 |
| 1921 | 4,368 |
| 1931 | 4,137 |
| 1941 | 4,637 |
| 1951 | 5,249 |
| 1961 | 5,820 |
| 1971 | 6,483 |
| 1981 | 7,485 |
| 1991 | 8,600 |
| 2001 | 9,881 |
| 2006 | 11,177 |
| 2011 | 11,763 |
| 2016 | 12,389 |
| 2021 | 14,956 |
Paris was named for the nearby deposits ofgypsum, used to makeplaster of Paris. This material was discovered in 1793 while the area was being surveyed for the British Home Department. By late 1794 a road had been built from what is nowDundas, Ontario, to the east bank of the Grand River in what became Paris, called The Governor's Road (now Dundas St. in Paris). The town has been referred to as "the cobblestone capital of Canada" (in reference to a number of agedcobblestone houses).
The town was first settled on 7 May 1829, when its founder,Hiram Capron, originally from Vermont, bought the land at the Forks of the Grand in 1829 for $10,000 and divided some land into town lots.[4] Capron built a grist mill on the present townsite and was also involved in opening an iron foundry and in mining of gypsum
Records from 1846 indicate that the settlement, in a hilly area called Oak Plains, was divided into the upper town and the lower town. In addition to successful farmers in the area, the community of 1000 people (Americans, Scottish, English, and Irish) was thriving. Manufacturing had already begun, with industries powered by the river. A great deal of plaster was being exported and there were three mills, a tannery, a woolen factory, a foundry, and numerous tradesmen. Five churches had been built; the post office was receiving mail three times a week.[5]
The village was incorporated in 1850 with Hiram "Boss" Capron as the first Reeve. It was incorporated as a town in 1856 with H. Finlayson as the first mayor. By 1869, the population was about 3,200.[6]
While the telephone was invented atBrantford, Ontario, in 1874,Alexander Graham Bell reminded people in the area about a Paris connection. "Brantford is right in claiming the invention of the telephone" and "the first transmission to a distance was made between Brantford and Paris" (on 3 August 1876).[7][8]
The use of cobblestones to construct buildings had been introduced to the area by Levi Boughton when he erected St. James Church in 1839; this was the first cobblestone structure in Paris. Two churches and ten homes, all in current use, are made of numerous such stones taken from the rivers.[9] Other architectural styles that are visible in the downtown area include Edwardian, Gothic, and Post Modern.[10]
Paris is also the transmitter site for a number of broadcast radio and TV stations serving theBrantford andKitchener-Waterloo areas. The actual tower site is 475 Ayr Road, just south of the town ofAyr, and it was erected and owned byGlobal Television Network in 1974 forCIII-TV.[11] It was officially the main transmitter for the southern Ontario Global network until 2009, when its Torontorebroadcaster (which had been thede facto main transmitter, given that the station was and still is based in Toronto) was redesignated as the main transmitter.[12] Global leases space on the Ayr tower for broadcast clients includingConestoga College'scampus radio stationCJIQ-FM as well as local rebroadcasters of the CBC's Toronto-based outlets.
The town hosts an annual Fall Fair which takes place over theLabour Day weekend. The Fair has rural lifestyle exhibits, a midway complete with carnival games, rides, and a demolition derby. The Fair is also host to country music nights which have included big-name acts such asMontgomery Gentry,Gord Bamford,Emerson Drive,Chad Brownlee,Deric Ruttan,Kira Isabella, andJames Barker Band.
Paris is also the northernmost community to participate in Southern Ontario'sGreen Energy Hub.
Since the late 1990s, Paris has experienced population growth, which may be in part attributed to the rising popularity of rural communities amongGTA boundcommuters (seebedroom community) and the completion ofHighway 403 between Hamilton and Woodstock.
The County is divided into five wards, each with two elected Councillors. The Mayor from 1999 to 2018 wasRon Eddy. David Bailey became the new mayor in October 2018.[13] The County provides fire and ambulance services but contracts with theOntario Provincial Police to provide police services, overseen by the Police Services Board. The administrative offices are located in Burford, Ontario.[14]
Media related toParis, Ontario at Wikimedia Commons
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
