South Paris, Maine
Encyclopedia
South Paris is a census-designated place
(CDP) located within the town of Paris
in Oxford County
, Maine
, in the United States
. The population was 2,237 at the 2000 census
. While the CDP refers only to the densely settled area in the southern part of the town of Paris, the entire town is located within the South Paris ZIP code, resulting in many residents referring to the entire town as South Paris.
provided water power to operate mills in South Paris, and the village grew up around them.
The opening of the St. Lawrence Railroad and Atlantic 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 Grand Trunk Railway
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. Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School
, the regional high school, was founded in South Paris in 1961.
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
.
The town is crossed by 26
, 117
, 118
and 119.
of 2008, 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.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) located within the town of Paris
Paris, Maine
Paris is a town in and the county seat of Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,793 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of South Paris is located within the town. Because the U.S. Post Office refers to the entire town as South Paris, the town as a whole is commonly...
in Oxford County
Oxford County, Maine
Oxford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine with a population of 57,833 as of the 2010 U.S. census. Its county seat is Paris.Part of Oxford County is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, metropolitan New England City and Town Area while a different part of Oxford County is...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,237 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...
. While the CDP refers only to the densely settled area in the southern part of the town of Paris, the entire town is located within the South Paris ZIP code, resulting in many residents referring to the entire town as South Paris.
History
During the 19th-century, the Little Androscoggin RiverLittle Androscoggin River
The Little Androscoggin River is a river in Maine. It flows from Bryant Pond in Woodstock to its confluence with the Androscoggin River in Auburn...
provided water power to operate mills in South Paris, and the village grew up around them.
The opening of the St. Lawrence Railroad and Atlantic on June 8, 1850 further spurred development of the small mill town
Mill town
A mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
.
In the 1890s, the Oxford County Courthouse moved from Paris Hill to be near the Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
station. Much of the manufacturing and industry faded with the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, but South Paris remains the commercial section of Paris, and retains much of its Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
era architecture. Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School
Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School
Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School is a public high school in South Paris, Oxford County, Maine. Part of Maine School Administrative District 17, the school serves Oxford, South Paris, Norway, West Paris, Waterford, Hebron, Harrison and Otisfield.-History:...
, the regional high school, was founded in South Paris in 1961.
Geography
South Paris is located at 44°13′18"N 70°30′53"W (44.221609, -70.514603).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 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
Little Androscoggin River
The Little Androscoggin River is a river in Maine. It flows from Bryant Pond in Woodstock to its confluence with the Androscoggin River in Auburn...
.
The town is crossed by 26
Maine State Route 26
State Route 26 is a 96.7 mile-long state highway in southwestern Maine. It was first commissioned in 1925, as part of the New England road marking system. Route 26 in Maine, as well as New Hampshire and the short stub in Vermont, covers the route of the old New England Interstate Route 26...
, 117
Maine State Route 117
State Route 117 is part of Maine's system of numbered state highways, running from Route 112 in Saco to Route 219 in Turner.- Route description :...
, 118
Maine State Route 118
State Route 118 is a long state highway in southern Maine. It runs east–west between the towns of Waterford and Norway.-Route description:...
and 119.
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 2008, there were 2,237 people, 972 households, and 536 families residing in the CDP. 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 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
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...
, 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
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, 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
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 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.