03 Prelim. Official Statement - Laserfiche WebLink

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History Few American cities have been able to preserve their built environment and st the same time expand as modem communities. The City is among those fortunate few, not only surviving but preserving its civic character through fires, tornadoes, the Depression of the '30s and the urban movement of the '40s and '50s - any of which could have closed the books on its municipal vitality. Paris is what it is today because of the Red River. Although traveling on the Red was uncertain and risky, it was done with regularity. This land, some 894 square miles in area, would soon become Lamar County. The land held permanent residents by 1837, when Claiborne Chisum bought a large tract, which today lies in West Paris. Unlike Dallas and Fort Worth, for instance, the men who conceived and planned the original town had lived in the vicinity for years. Early leaders such as the Wright family, the Chisum family, and Epps Gibson, knew about the soils, the surroundings, and even the weather. The Red River was the border between the Republic of Texas and the United States, and it also formed the boundary between the Anglo colony in Texas and the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. From its outset Paris benefited from the commerce, which flowed across the river and the services the indian Nations required. This huge market at its front door made the early progress of Paris easier, it didn't have to struggle to survive. Within a decade of its founding Paris had outstripped the older, more firmly entrenched Clarksville, to the east; and for a ten-year period after 1889, Paris was also the legal headquarters with the U.S. District Court for the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations and westward in non-Indian Oklahoma. The U.S. courthouse in Paris was not only one of the most imposing structures in North Texas, [t was among the busiest in the Southwest, handling all Indian trials and lawsuits which were not based on tribal law. Nine men were hanged in its courtyard during that decade. With agriculture leading the way, the City and County prospered through the 1920s, and survived the 1930s. World War II shrank the County's population in the 1940s as many went to war, and a lot of those that returned settled near the larger Texas cities. The 1950s saw the industrialization of Texas jump into high gear, and many more Lamar County residents staked their claims in Dallas, Houston and other cities that had industry jobs aplenty. However, industry was also beginning to look at Paris. Westinghouse opened a plant in 1951. One year later, Babcock & Wilcox started up their facility. 1954 found the establishment of Hollywood-Vassarette, as well as UARCO, which began printing two years later. The 1960s found things booming. 1962 found Superior Switchboard entering the production lines as well as Campbell Soup, the country's largest employer, beginning operation in 1964. The 1970s noted the establishment of Southwestern Foundry, a subsidiary of Stockham Valves & Fittings; and two operating divisions of Merico Inc., a subsidiary of the baking conglomerate, Campbell Taggart and now Anheuser-Busch. In the 1980s Kimberly-Clark and Paris Industries, a division of General Foam Plastics Corporation, chose Paris for new plant s, In 1988, Kimberly-Clark chose Paris for a 300,000 square foot expansion and in 1992 added an additional 60,000 square feet. Also in 1988 TENASKA chose Paris for a co-generating power plant. During 1989, Campbell Soup added a 75,000 square foot distribution center and constructed a 225,000 square foot manufacturing expansion to their facility, which was completed and on line in February 1991. During 1992-1993 Rogers-Wade, a commercial display cabinet company expanded over 60,000 square. Paris is a city that has never tried to be another Dallas, or St. Louis, the cultural meccas of other days. It hasn't tried to imitate other places. Because of its location, it was and still is a self-contained city, with its own markets and patterns of economic growth. Paris, today, is generally recognized around the Southwest as being a unique city, a city with its own personality. Economy: The total retail marketing area served by Paris merchants is an approximate 50-mile radius around the City. As residents of this region come to Paris for much of their employment, medical, governmental, and educational needs, they are also attracted to Paris for retail merchandise and servicas. J.C. Penney, Sears, Wa[mart, K-mart, Balk, and Beall's are several of the nation's top retailers with stores in Paris. Other major food supermarkets, along with a wide selection of local and chain retailers and food outlets, combine to offer Paris shoppers good selection in merchandise and gifts. Six shopping areas are located throughout Paris, with easy access provided by Loop 286 around Paris and numerous major thoroughfares within the City. The Paris Economic Development Corporation is working hand in hand with the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce to recruit new bus[ness to the area as well as to support existing businesses. Business development during fiscal year 2000 included Kimberly-Clark distribution center expansion, Earthgrans' 35,000 square foot expansion, the beginning of Florida Power and Light power plant operations and a new Lansing Grain transloading facility. B-2