Paris, Ontario

This article is about the city in Canada. For the capital of the French Republic, see Paris.
Paris
Unincorporated community
Paris
Coordinates: 43°12′00″N 80°23′00″W / 43.20000°N 80.38333°W / 43.20000; -80.38333Coordinates: 43°12′00″N 80°23′00″W / 43.20000°N 80.38333°W / 43.20000; -80.38333
Country Canada
Province Ontario
County Brant
Area
 • Total 14.35 km2 (5.54 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 11,763
 • Density 819.7/km2 (2,123/sq mi)
Corner of William and Grand River
A house in Paris
Turn of the century family gathering on the banks of the Grand River near Paris

Paris, Ontario (2011 population, 11,763) is a community on the Grand River in Ontario, Canada. The town was established in 1850. In 1999, its town government was amalgamated into that of the County of Brant, thus ending 149 years as a separate incorporated municipality.

History

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

The town was first settled on May 7, 1829, when its founder, Hiram Capron, bought the land for $10,000[1] and built a mill on the present townsite. The town of Paris was officially established in 1856. Since the late 1990s, Paris has experienced substantial population growth, which may be in part attributed to the rising popularity of rural communities among GTA bound commuters (see bedroom community) and the completion of Highway 403 between Hamilton and Woodstock.

Paris was named for the nearby deposits of gypsum, used to make plaster of Paris. Paris is referred to as "the cobblestone capital of Canada" (in reference to a number of aged cobblestone houses[2]). Paris, Ontario is located at 43°12′N 80°23′W / 43.200°N 80.383°W / 43.200; -80.383.

Paris is also the transmitter site for a number of broadcast radio and TV stations serving the Brantford and Kitchener-Waterloo areas. The actual tower site is 475 Ayr Road, just south of the town of Ayr, and it was erected and owned by Global Television Network in 1973 for CIII-TV. It was officially the main transmitter for the southern Ontario Global network until 2009, when its Toronto rebroadcaster (which had been the de facto main transmitter, given that the station was and still is based in Toronto) was redesignated as the main transmitter.[3] Global leases space on the Ayr tower for broadcast clients including Conestoga College's campus radio station CJIQ-FM as well as local rebroadcasters of the CBC's Toronto-based outlets.

The town hosts an annual Fall Fair which takes place over the Labour Day weekend. The Fair features over 100,000 rural lifestyle exhibits, a midway complete with carnival games, rides and great food. Canada's #1 demolition derby attracts drivers from across Ontario. The Fair is also host to country music nights and have included big name acts such as Montgomery Gentry, Gord Bamford, Emerson Drive, Chad Brownlee, Deric Ruttan and Kira Isabella.

Paris is also the northernmost community to participate in Southern Ontario's Green Energy Hub.

Sights and attractions

Education

In film

Notable natives and residents

(ordered by last names)

Service clubs

Buildings and structures

See also

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Donald A. At the forks of the Grand : 20 historical essays on Paris, Ontario. p. 15.
  2. ↑ http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2013/08/30/cobblestone-houses-in-brant-something-to-treasure
  3. ↑ CRTC Decision 2009-409
  4. ↑ Ashbury, Morgan. "Author". http://www.bookstrand.com/morgan-ashbury. Siren Publishing. Retrieved 5 July 2014. External link in |website= (help)
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