History

In 1816, the land that is now Edgar County and had been acquired through a treaty with the Kickapoo Indians was offered for sale by the federal government. The following year, settlers began arriving, many via an Indian trail that became the Chicago-Vincennes Road.

In 1822, Samuel Vance, a native Virginian, purchased 26 acres in the center of what was to become Edgar County. Two years later, Vance and his wife donated the 26 acres to the state for the purpose of establishing a new county and county seat.

In 1823, Edgar County was organized and for a time stretched all the way north to Chicago. Edgar County was named after Hon. John Edgar, one of the first judges of the Illinois territory. The town of Paris got its name from settlers coming from Paris, Kentucky.

Growth came naturally to the community. Not only was it situated on the Chicago-Vincennes Road, but also it was on the coach road to Springfield, and, in the 1850s, the railroads pushed their tracks through Paris. In 1870 Paris was served by three railroads.

On May 28, 1869, Paris received its charter as a city, with a population of 6,000 persons. By 1883, there were more than 150 businesses operating in Paris. In 1897, Edgar County invested $10,000 in the construction of the Children’s Home on Paris’ east side as a home for destitute children.

Shortly after the turn of the century, Paris growth

flattened. The census of 1915 even showed a population decline. Today, over 9,000 people live, work and play in Paris.