The district includes a collection of well-preserved residential, civic, and religious structures dating roughly from 1800 to 1860, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

The village extends for a short way along Lincoln and Tremont Streets; the total area of the district is about 250 acres (100 ha).

Arrayed around the common on Hannibal Hamlin Drive, these include a courthouse, brick office building, and stone jail, the latter now repurposed to house a library.

The most famous is Hannibal Hamlin (1809-1891), who served as United States Vice President during Abraham Lincoln's first term; he was born in Paris Hill.

Hamlin, along with Paris Hill residents Enoch Lincoln, Sidney Perham, and Albion Keith Parris, also served as Governor of Maine.