A bright red cowboy hat sits atop the Eiffel Tower — the one in Paris, Texas, that is. "We're the second-largest Paris in the world," jokes Realtor and resident Brandon Bond of eXp Realty. "A while back, we had a friendly competition with Paris, Tennessee. They built their little Eiffel Tower bigger than ours, and we couldn't have that. So we put a red cowboy hat on top of ours to make it taller." With almost 25,000 residents, the seat of Lamar County is an economically resilient community continuing to develop its housing, infrastructure and parks, thanks in large part to new and established employers that have attracted buyers roughly 90 miles north of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Paris is such a lovely and charming little town in Texas.
The Eiffel Tower replica in Paris, Texas, attracts many visitors yearly.
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Campbell Soup, solar farms and other major employers
Jobs are the main pull to Paris, and new employers like Amazon are tapping into the area's healthy job market. "Fortunately for us, we're very well insulated with jobs. Namely, the Campbell Soup plant is here. If you look at your Pace Picante sauces, you'll see 'Made in Paris, Texas,' just like the commercial back in the ’90s," Bond says. "The northwest of the county also is home to some of the largest trailer manufacturers in the world." Paris Regional Medical Center is the city's largest employer, and numerous solar farms have popped up in the rural outskirts, creating even more jobs.
More than 100 miles of highway separate Paris from the DFW area, and the nearest interstate is roughly 30 miles south of Paris in Sulphur Springs. Although Paris has a municipal airport, locals south drive to Dallas Love Field for commercial flights. The 286 Loop provides a beltway to circumvent Paris and reach connector highways like U.S. Highways 82 and 271. "It's crazy to see the amount of traffic in town now," Bond says. "The state finally released funds for road projects that have been waiting for 20 years. That has helped because now we have four lanes of traffic in and out of Paris, north, south, east and west."
Paris Regional Health provides exceptional healthcare services to the community in Paris.
Paris enjoys economic growth due to the substantial presence of Campbells in the area.
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A bustling rental market and rising home prices
As Paris grows, so has its housing supply. Rentals are popular, and almost half of all residents are renters. "The solar projects have kept people in town for years. So they're buying houses and moving their families in because they know they're going to be here for so long. But we also get a lot of short-term rentals too," Bond says. The median price for a single-family home is around $225,000, less than half the median price in Dallas. But prices are rising, especially in denser communities. The median price for a townhouse, $228,000, now exceeds the median price for a single-family home.
Many historic homes in Paris reflect the city’s rich heritage.
Residents of Paris enjoy affordable housing prices compared to nearby cities.
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New cigar lounges and cocktail bars in historic downtown buildings
The Paris Main Street Program has helped attract new businesses to a revitalizing downtown with an emphasis on historic preservation. Many buildings on the National Register of Historic Places now house restaurants, boutiques, cigar lounges, cocktail bars and comedy clubs. Businesses continue east down Lamar Avenue, including national chains and locally owned restaurants, while several big box stores sit where U.S. 271 meets U.S. 82.
The historic architecture in Downtown Paris tells fascinating stories.
Visit Rigby’s to enjoy an unforgettable cigar experience in Paris.
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Annual bike rallies and comedy festivals
Downtown is the site of many popular events, like a weekly farmers market, group salsa dancing classes on the square and the annual Tower City Comedy Festival. Paris' biggest event is the Tour de Paris, a yearly tradition since 1984. The bicycle rally offers courses ranging from 14-mile off-road paths to 80-mile routes along quiet county roads.
The bicycle rally in Paris offers courses ranging from 14-mile off-road paths to 80-mile routes along quiet county roads.
Downtown Paris, is home to many popular events throughout the year.
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Pump tracks, trails and pickleball courts at the Love Civic Center
Paris is a burgeoning recreational hub with new features like an official Red Bull BMX pump track, pickleball courts and the 3-mile-long Trail de Paris bike path. "That's all located where the Civic Center is," Bond says. "That would be your one-stop shop with the family — skateboards, bikes, walking the dog, whatever the case would be." The city maintains over 240 acres of parkland, including playgrounds, swimming pools and disc golf courses. Surrounding Paris, reservoirs like Lake Crook are popular fishing and kayaking spots. "Our neighbor county just completed their reservoir, Bois D'Arc Lake, so we feel like that is about to really drive the leisurely crowd out this way," Bond says.
The Paris Love Civic Center hosts exciting community events regularly in Paris.
Families enjoy various activities at the Paris Sports Complex in Paris.
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New schools and other upgrades planned for North Lamar ISD
The North Lamar Independent School District, rated B by Niche, is a major employer for Paris. The growing district currently oversees 2,400 students across six schools. A 2021 bond approval created funds for numerous campus improvements to accommodate the enrollment growth, including a new campus for North Lamar Intermediate, the remodeling of Everett Elementary, and gymnasium upgrades at Stone Middle School and North Lamar High School.
North Lamar High School offers excellent educational programs for students in Paris.
Stone Middle School in Paris, TX sparks curiosity, inspires young minds, and builds lasting friendships.
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Tornado shelters and neighborhood crime watchers
Along with its temperate climate, which spells high summer temperatures, Paris sees some natural hazards, such as wildfires and tornadoes. Most homes and schools are built with storm shelters.
According to FBI data, Paris has violent and property crime rates marginally exceeding state and national figures. However, local crime rates have declined since 2020 due to police interventions and crime-prevention programs like Neighborhood Crime Watch.
Written By
Tom Jakob
Photography Contributed By
Adam Jebbeh
Video By
Kyle Keyes
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Dee Evans,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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