Paris is a city located in Paris Township, Edgar County, in east-central Illinois, United States. Situated approximately 165 miles south of Chicago and 90 miles west of Indianapolis, it serves as the county seat for the region. The city covers an area of roughly 6 square miles and sits at an elevation of approximately 720 feet above sea level.
The settlement was established in the early 19th century following a treaty with the Kickapoo Indians, with land donated by Samuel Vance for the county seat in 1824. It was incorporated as a village in 1849 and is believed to have been named after the word "Paris" carved into an old jack-oak tree used as a survey reference point. The city features several historical landmarks, including the Romanesque Revival Edgar County Courthouse completed in 1893 and the Milton K. Alexander Home, one of the oldest surviving buildings in the area.
The local economy is supported by over 200 locally-owned businesses and a diverse labor force. The city also holds cultural significance as the birthplace of child actor Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer and a location where author Mark Twain stayed in 1871. Notable transportation links include U.S. Route 150, Illinois State Route 1, and a CSX Transportation railroad line connecting Danville, Illinois, to Terre Haute, Indiana.