{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Paron, Arkansas |settlement_type = Unincorporated community |nickname = |motto =
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<!-- Location --> |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = Arkansas |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Saline
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<!-- General information --> |timezone = Central (CST) |utc_offset = -6 |timezone_DST = CDT |utc_offset_DST = -5 |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = 492 |coordinates = {{coord|34|46|22|N|92|45|31|W|region:US-AR|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes & others --> |postal_code_type = ZIP code |postal_code = 72122 |area_code = 501 |blank_name = GNIS feature ID |blank_info = 73008<ref>{{gnis|73008}}</ref> |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |website = |footnotes = }}
'''Paron''' is an unincorporated community in Saline County, Arkansas, United States. Paron is located along Arkansas Highway 9, {{convert|17.5|mi|km}} northwest of Benton. Paron has a post office with ZIP code 72122.<ref>[http://www.zipinfo.com/cgi-local/zipsrch.exe?cnty=cnty&zip=72122&Go=Go ZIP Code Lookup]</ref>
In 2006 Jennifer Barnett-Reed and Max Brantley of the ''Arkansas Times'' stated that the only community institutions Paron had were area churches and the schools; the latter were in operation at the time,<ref name=ReedBrantley>{{cite news|author=Reed, Jennifer Barnett|author2=Max Brantley|url=https://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/parons-long-and-winding-road/Content?oid=867165|title=Paron’s long and winding road|newspaper=Arkansas Times|date=August 10, 2006|accessdate=May 24, 2018|archive-date=May 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524151325/https://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/parons-long-and-winding-road/Content?oid=867165|url-status=dead}}</ref> but have since closed, with students now assigned to schools in Bryant.<!--See article content below for sourcing-->
==Demographics== {{As of|2006}} some residents of Paron moved there from urban areas in Central Arkansas while others were born in families that owned land in the Paron area for multiple generations. In 2006 Jennifer Barnett-Reed and Max Brantley of the ''Arkansas Times'' stated that Paron, which "doesn’t seem" to have had an accurate population count from any organization or agency, "probably" had a population in the hundreds.<ref name=ReedBrantley/> The average age is 54. 97.65 percent of the Paron population was born in the United States.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
== Economy == Circa 2006 most residents work in Benton, Bryant, and Little Rock, while some have construction and farming jobs in Paron. Reed and Brantley stated "within probably" {{convert|15|mi|km}} to {{convert|20|mi|km}} there are no retail stores nor gas stations.<ref name=ReedBrantley/> 57.49% of Paron works white collar jobs. 6.12% of Paron is self employed, 73.39% works for private companies, 11.62% are governmental workers.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
== Education == Paron, a part of the Bryant School District,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st05_ar/schooldistrict_maps/c05125_saline/DC20SD_C05125.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Saline County, AR|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=October 16, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st05_ar/c05125_saline/DC10SD_C05125_001.pdf 2010 map] - For Paron's location compare to the highway map.</ref><ref name=SalineCoHwyMap>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/Counties/County%20PDFs/SalineCounty.pdf|title=General Highway Map Saline County, Arkansas|publisher=Arkansas Department of Transportation|accessdate=February 28, 2021|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126203424/https://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/Counties/County%20PDFs/SalineCounty.pdf|url-status=dead}} - See Paron on the map.</ref> is served by Salem Elementary School, in Bryant, about {{convert|21|mi|km}} from Paron,<ref name=ParonESclosed>{{cite news|url=http://www.bentoncourier.com/content/bryant-school-board-votes-close-paron-elementary|title=Bryant School Board votes to close Paron Elementary|newspaper=The Saline Courier|accessdate=May 24, 2018|archive-date=May 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524083011/http://www.bentoncourier.com/content/bryant-school-board-votes-close-paron-elementary|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Bryant High School, in Bryant. {{As of|2006}} Paron area students are eligible to attend public schools in other school districts.<ref name=ReedBrantley/>
The community was initially in the Paron School District, which operated Paron Elementary School and Paron High School. On July 1, 2004, the Paron School District merged into the Bryant School District.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20150912013154/http://www.arkansased.gov/public/userfiles/Legal/ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls]." Arkansas Department of Education. Retrieved on May 23, 2018.</ref> Paron High School initially remained open before closing in 2006 due to Paron being considered a rural area. Students that attended the school were transferred to Bryant High School.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=5052 |title=School Consolidation |work=Arkansas Encyclopedia of History & Culture|publisher=Central Arkansas Library System |accessdate=March 24, 2013}}</ref> In 2015, the Bryant district voted to close Paron Elementary School.<ref>{{cite web|author=Mershon, Matt|url=http://katv.com/archive/bryant-school-board-votes-to-cut-3-million-close-paron-elementary|title=Bryant school board votes to cut $3 million, close Paron Elementary|publisher=KATV|date=April 21, 2015|accessdate=May 24, 2018}}</ref> At the time it had about 75 students. Paron students were reassigned to Salem Elementary School.<ref name=ParonESclosed/>
In 2006 Reed and Brantley stated that since most residents can be admitted to state-operated universities and colleges without needing to take remedial courses and perform at the state average on standardized tests, "[t]he prevailing attitude seems to be that Paron students are doing fine [academically]".<ref name=ReedBrantley/>
In 2016 there was a proposal to establish a charter school in Paron in the former Paron public school as a result of the closure of the public elementary, due to safety concerns related to the commutes to Paron or to the Perryville School District facilities.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wright|first=Winnie|url=https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/paron-community-pushing-for-charter-school/91-279978590|title=Paron community pushing for charter school|publisher=KTHV|date=July 22, 2016|accessdate=October 16, 2022}}</ref> That year the Arkansas Department of Education panel overseeing such requests declined this proposal,<ref>{{cite web|last=Howell|first=Cynthia|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/aug/19/charter-panel-rejects-paron-school-s-re-1/|title=Charter panel rejects Paron school's return|newspaper=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette|date=August 19, 2016|accessdate=October 16, 2022}}</ref> mainly because of lack of expertise and support. But they were encouraged to polish up the application and apply again the next year. The community decided not to apply the immediate year after the rejection.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
In 2021 another community-backed effort to establish a charter school occurred.<ref>{{cite web|last=Howington|first=Jordan|url=https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/arkansas-teen-fights-small-town-school-back-community/91-80ec477d-9b07-40bc-bf97-56be3bbc7d19|title=Arkansas teen fights to get small-town school back in his community|publisher=THV 11|date=April 13, 2021|accessdate=October 16, 2022}}</ref> In 2022 the community submitted plans for a K-12 charter school in Paron to the state authorities.<ref>{{cite web|last=Howell|first=Cynthia|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/mar/21/charter-school-planners-submit-early-plans-for/|title=Charter school planners submit early plans for nine new campuses in Arkansas|newspaper=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette|date=March 21, 2022|accessdate=October 16, 2022}}</ref> As of now, the community is once again in the process of getting a school back in Paron. The community will be sending in their letter of intent in January 2022. This time things are looking like they have a good shot of getting a school back.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
==Climate== The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Paron has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=31030&cityname=Paron%2C+Arkansas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Paron, Arkansas]</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Saline County, Arkansas}}
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Category:Unincorporated communities in Saline County, Arkansas Category:Unincorporated communities in Arkansas Category:Central Arkansas