Editing Parma, Missouri

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Parma, Missouri
| settlement_type                 = [[City]]
| image_skyline                   = Parma_Aerial.jpg
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = Downtown Parma in 2016
| image_flag                      = 
| image_seal                      = <!-- Maps -->
| nickname                        = 
| motto                           = <!-- Images -->
| image_map                       = New_Madrid_County_Missouri_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Parma_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location of Parma, Missouri
| image_map1                      = 
| mapsize1                        = 
| map_caption1                    = <!-- Location -->
| coordinates                     = {{coord|36|36|48|N|89|49|3|W|region:US-MO|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = United States
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Missouri|County]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Missouri]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[New Madrid County, Missouri|New Madrid]]
| established_title               = 
| established_date                = <!-- Area -->
| government_footnotes            = 
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = Mayor<ref>{{cite news|last1=Twaits|first1=Allison|title=Officers, city officials resign after new mayor elected|url=http://www.kfvs12.com/story/28801129/officers-city-officials-resign-after-new-mayor-elected|access-date=19 April 2015|work=[[KFVS-TV|KFVS12]]|date=14 April 2015}}</ref>
| leader_name                     = Rufus Williamson, Jr.
| leader_title1                   = 
| leader_name1                    = 
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 28, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 1.65
| area_total_sq_mi                = 0.64
| area_land_km2                   = 1.65
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 0.64
| area_water_km2                  = 0.00
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.00
| elevation_footnotes             = <ref name="GR3"/>
| elevation_m                     = 
| elevation_ft                    = 282
| population_total                = 555
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_density_km2          = 335.82
| population_density_sq_mi        = 869.91
| population_est                  = 
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
| pop_est_footnotes               = 
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code                     = 63870
| area_code                       = [[Area code 573|573]]
| website                         = 
| footnotes                       = 
| timezone                        = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset                      = -6
| timezone_DST                    = CDT
| utc_offset_DST                  = -5
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 29-56342<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 0724048<ref name="GR3">{{GNIS|724048}}</ref>
| name                            = 
}}
'''Parma''' is a city in [[New Madrid County, Missouri|New Madrid County]], [[Missouri]], United States. The population was 713 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].

==History==
Parma was first incorporated as a village in 1900.

At the turn of the 20th century, Parma contained two saw mills.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/statemissouri00willgoog | title=The State of Missouri | author=Williams, Walter | year=1904 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/statemissouri00willgoog/page/n501 459]}}</ref>

In 1903, Parma, along with the neighboring community of Lotta, was incorporated as a village, retaining the name "Parma."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_new_madrid.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624071939/http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_new_madrid.html | archive-date=June 24, 2016 | url-status=dead | title=New Madrid County Place Names, 1928–1945 | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri | access-date=November 19, 2016 }}</ref>

It became a fourth class city in 1905.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.new-madrid.mo.us/index.aspx?NID=117|title=List of place names in New Madrid County|website=New Madrid County official website|access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref>

On April 14, 2015, Tyus Byrd was sworn in as the first African-American woman mayor of Parma. Byrd succeeded Randall Ramsey, who had been mayor of Parma for a total of 37 years. Shortly before Byrd was to be sworn in, four of the city's six police officers resigned, along with the city's clerk and the supervisor of water treatment.<ref name="Officers, city officials resign after new mayor elected">{{cite web|url=http://www.kfvs12.com/story/28801129/officers-city-officials-resign-after-new-mayor-elected|title=Officers, city officials resign after new mayor elected|website=KFVS Channel 12 News|access-date=20 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/us/resignations-after-election-of-black-mayor-put-missouri-hamlet-in-spotlight.html|title=Black Mayor Is Voted In and a Small Town's Staff Empties Out|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=23 April 2015 |access-date=24 April 2015|last1=Eligon |first1=John }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/resignations-in-tiny-parma-mo-baffle-town-s-first-black/article_94def193-962b-5cc4-9815-37387cd9d176.html|title=Resignations in tiny Parma, Mo., baffle town's first black mayor|website=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref>

In January 2019 the Missouri State Auditor opened an investigation into the city's finances based on a whistle-blower tip.  Her initial report indicated serious mismanagement and loss of funds.<ref name="Mervosh-2019">{{Cite news|last=Mervosh |first=Sarah |date=April 22, 2019 |title=The Mayor of Parma, Missouri, Left Office: Then Her House and City Hall Caught Fire |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/22/us/tyus-byrd-rufus-williamson-parma-missouri.html }}</ref> Her final report showed that official records had been falsified and more than $115,000 had been misappropriated.<ref name="Galloway-2022">{{Cite web|last=Galloway |first=Nicole |title=Former city clerk of Parma sentenced on stealing charge, ordered to pay restitution of $37,626; state audit found more than $115,000 misappropriated, official records falsified |date=December 6, 2022 |publisher=Missouri State Auditor's Office |url=https://auditor.mo.gov/news/item/former-city-clerk-of-parma-sentenced-on-stealing-charge-ordered-to-pay-restitution-of-37626-state-audit-found-more-than-115000-misappropriated-officia }}</ref>

In April 2019, Byrd lost her reelection campaign to Rufus Lee Williamson Jr.<ref name="Mervosh-2019" /><ref name="Farzan-2019">{{Cite news|last=Farzan|first=Antonia Noori|authorlink=Antonia Noori Farzan|date=April 22, 2019 |title=A small town swore in its new mayor. Then the fires started |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/04/22/small-town-swore-its-new-mayor-then-fires-started/ }}</ref>  Within hours of Williamson's swearing in, the city was shocked by arsons burning down Tyus Bird's house and setting fire to the records and other departments at city hall. The city's main computer and numerous financial documents were destroyed.<ref name="Mervosh-2019" /><ref name="Farzan-2019" />

On November 23, 2020, Tyus Byrd was arrested in Jonesboro, Arkansas on charges of stealing $25,000 or more and forgery,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kfvs12.com/2020/11/23/former-parma-mayor-former-city-employees-arrested-stealing-city-funds-forgery/ |last=Heller |first=Marsha | title=Former Parma mayor, 2 former city employees arrested for stealing city funds, forgery |publisher=KFVS-12 |location=Cape Girardeau, Missouri |date=November 23, 2020 }}</ref> and subsequently charged with two counts of forgery and two counts of receiving stolen property. Two other former employees of the city had also been arrested the former city clerk, Helen Jean Frye, and former city water supervisor David L. Thatch.<ref name="Galloway-2022" /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kfvs12.com/2021/05/04/charges-amended-former-parma-mo-city-leaders-galloway-releases-follow-up-audit/ |last=Ruch |first=Amber | title=Former Parma, Mo. City leaders charged; Galloway releases follow-up audit |publisher=KFVS-12 |location=Cape Girardeau, Missouri |date=May 4, 2021 }}</ref> Helen Frye received a sentence of seven years, 120 days of incarceration and then probation.<ref name="Galloway-2022" /> while Tyus Byrd received a ten-year suspended sentence.<ref name="Sikeston-Standard-Democrat-2023">{{Cite news|date=August 17, 2023 |title=Parma's ex-mayor sentenced to 10 years |newspaper=Standard Democrat |location=Sikeston, Missouri |url=https://standard-democrat.com/story/3006476.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822185114/https://standard-democrat.com/story/3006476.html |archive-date=August 22, 2024 |url-status=live }}</ref> David L. Thatch was to stand trial in 2024.<ref name="Sikeston-Standard-Democrat-2023" />

==Geography==
Parma is located on [[Missouri Route 153]] one mile south of the [[Stoddard County, Missouri|Stoddard]]-New Madrid county line. It is 6.5 miles northwest of [[Malden, Missouri|Malden]] and 15 miles west of [[New Madrid, Missouri|New Madrid]].<ref>''Parma, MO,'' 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1978</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.69|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2012-07-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1910= 905
|1920= 1241
|1930= 1051
|1940= 1187
|1950= 1163
|1960= 1060
|1970= 1051
|1980= 1081
|1990= 995
|2000= 852
|2010= 713
|2020= 555
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-07-08}}</ref> of 2010, there were 713 people, 283 households, and 196 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1033.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 342 housing units at an average density of {{convert|495.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 67.46% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 29.45% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.14% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.56% [[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.12% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.26% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.81% of the population.

There were 283 households, of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 22.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.7% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 39.8 years. 26.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.5% were from 25 to 44; 28.6% were from 45 to 64; and 15% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 852 people, 333 households, and 229 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,325.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 383 housing units at an average density of {{convert|595.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 57.39% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 41.55% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.12% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.94% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.82% of the population.

There were 333 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $18,804, and the median income for a family was $23,333. Males had a median income of $24,444 versus $15,804 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $11,031. About 29.5% of families and 34.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 53.8% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Climate==
Climate is characterized by relatively long, hot summers and cool winters with evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year.  The [[Köppen Climate Classification]] subtype for this climate is "[[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]" (Humid Subtropical Climate).<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=235632&cityname=Parma%2C+Missouri%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Parma, Missouri]</ref>

== Education ==
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2024}}

===Public schools===
Currently, Parma has no local school system. Students attend [[New Madrid County Central]] R-I School District in [[New Madrid, Missouri|New Madrid]].

===History===
After the founding of the community of Parma, rapid growth led to the formation of a school system.  From the late 1890s to 1910, various one room structures in the Parma area were utilized for education.  The first structure for strictly school purposes was erected in 1910.  By 1935, an increasing student population demanded the need for a larger high school building.  With 9.9 square feet per pupil, Amendment No. 3 or The School Bond was placed on the ballot.  After a summer of strong campaigning from the school district and other community leaders, Amendment No. 3 passed by a vote of 284-29 on October 19, 1935.  Construction commenced in the fall of 1936 and the first classes began in the fall of 1937.  The original 1933 gymnasium burned in 1944.  Once again, the citizens of Parma banded together to fund construction of a new gymnasium which was completed by fall of 1944.  The athletic teams, known as the Parma Pirates, were the pride of the school and surrounding community.  In 1980, the Parma Consolidated School District No. 5 was consolidated into the New Madrid County Central R-I School District.  Over the next several decades, the school complex fell into a state of disrepair.  A major fire in the fall of 2010 brought the entire high school complex to the ground.

===2017 Memorial===
[[File:2017 Memorial.jpg|thumb|150x150px|2017 Memorial]]
In the summer of 2016, several PHS alumni and former community leaders formed the Parma School Memorial Committee.  They were successful in their efforts to raise funds to construct a large monument on the grounds of the old high school building.  The memorial was dedicated on July 1, 2017.

===Public library===
Parma has a lending library, a branch of the New Madrid County Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newmadridcountylibrary.com/locations.php | title=Our Locations | publisher=New Madrid County Library | access-date=1 June 2019}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Christene Merick]], American philanthropist who was born in Parma

==References==
<references />

{{New Madrid County, Missouri}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in New Madrid County, Missouri]]
[[Category:1900 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1900]]
[[Category:Cities in Missouri]]