Paris, U.S.A

Sur les grilles de l'Hôtel de Ville

We've all heard of Paris, Texas, the small town northeast of Dallas made famous by Wim Wenders' film. What's less known is that about a dozen other American towns bear the name of the City of Light. Victor d'Allant, a Franco-American ethno-photographer living between Paris and San Francisco, recently visited seven of them as part of his project PARIS, USA. Armed with his digital Leica, he brought back unique accounts. With nearly 25,000 inhabitants, Paris, Texas is proud to be "the second largest Paris in the world." And while the Paris Music Company hasn't sold records there for a long time, its Eiffel Tower is topped with a red cowboy hat! The one in Paris, Kentucky is only three meters tall, but it remains a symbol of Bourbon County nonetheless. But in Paris, Idaho (barely 500 inhabitants), the Mormon temple has become too large for the small, emptying town. And in Paris, Illinois (8,300 inhabitants), the closure of the broom factory left a gaping hole in the local economy. While these small towns face undeniable economic decline, a certain pride remains in being associated with "the other Paris." For these towns were born in the 19th century and carry in their names the memory of an era when America was passionate about the storming of the Bastille and the marquis de La Fayette, the French hero of American independence. These small towns continue to carry the symbol of Franco-American friendship. Welcome to Paris, Paris, USA.

Source: Paris Open Data ↗