Paonia, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paonia, Colorado
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Paonia's Grand Avenue, looking south
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Location of Paonia in Delta County, Colorado.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | Delta |
| Settled | 1880 |
| Incorporated (town) | September 3, 1902 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutory Town |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.82 sq mi (2.13 km2) |
| • Land | 0.82 sq mi (2.13 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,676 ft (1,730 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,447 |
| • Density | 1,765/sq mi (679.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
81428
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| Area code(s) | 970 |
| FIPS code | 08-57300 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413109 |
Paonia is a small town in Delta County, Colorado, USA. In 2020, about 1,447 people lived there. It is known for its beautiful valley, fruit orchards, and local festivals.
Contents
History of Paonia
Early Explorers and Settlers
In 1853, Captain John W. Gunnison explored this area. He was part of the U.S. Army and looked for a good path through the Rocky Mountains.
The Ute people lived in the North Fork Valley for a long time. In 1880, the Ute Indian Reservation was closed. This happened after an event called the Meeker Massacre.
How Paonia Got Its Name
After the reservation closed, Samuel Wade and William Clark settled the area in 1880. The town officially became a town in 1902. Its first election was held in July of that year.
Samuel Wade brought peony flower roots with him to Colorado in 1881. He wanted to name the town Paeonia, which is the Latin name for peony. However, the post office would not allow the extra vowel. So, "Paeonia" became "Paonia". The full name of the flower is Paeonia mascula.
Geography of Paonia
Location and Surroundings
Paonia is located in eastern Delta County. It sits on the North Fork Gunnison River, also called the "North Fork River." It is about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Hotchkiss.
The town is near the start of the North Fork Valley. This valley is about 150 miles (241 km) southwest of Denver by air. The valley is at the foot of Mount Lamborn, which is 11,396 feet (3,474 m) tall, and the Grand Mesa.
Transportation and Size
Colorado State Highway 133 runs along the edge of Paonia. This highway goes southwest 9 miles (14 km) to Hotchkiss. It also goes northeast 58 miles (93 km) over McClure Pass to Carbondale.
The town of Paonia covers about 0.82 square miles (2.13 km2) of land. There is no water area within the town limits.
Population Changes in Paonia
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,007 | — | |
| 1920 | 925 | −8.1% | |
| 1930 | 958 | 3.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,117 | 16.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,257 | 12.5% | |
| 1960 | 1,083 | −13.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,161 | 7.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,425 | 22.7% | |
| 1990 | 1,403 | −1.5% | |
| 2000 | 1,497 | 6.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,451 | −3.1% | |
| 2020 | 1,447 | −0.3% | |
Paonia's population has changed over the years. In 1910, about 1,007 people lived there. The population grew to 1,497 in 2000. By 2020, the number of residents was 1,447.
Economy and Industries
Coal Mining in the Valley
In the past, coal mining was a big part of the valley's economy. Most of the main coal mines are now closed. Only Arch Coal's West Elk Mine is still open.
Bucyrus International has a small warehouse in Paonia. They supply equipment for underground coal mining. Union Pacific provides train service to the mine.
Farming and Wineries
The area around Paonia is famous for its orchards. They grow delicious peaches, apples, cherries, pears, and plums. Many vineyards and wineries have also started in the area. Some of these wineries are very high up in North America.
Popular wineries include Alfred Eames Winery and Black Bridge Winery. This region is one of the few in Colorado that successfully grows and bottles pinot noir wine. The Paonia wineries are part of the West Elk Wineries Trail. They hold an annual tour in June.
The region also produces some of Colorado's best livestock. This includes cattle, sheep, chickens, and pigs.
Local Schools
In February 2021, the Delta County School District decided to close the separate high schools in Paonia and Hotchkiss, Colorado. They built a new joint high school called North Fork High School in Hotchkiss. This change happened because both schools were losing students as coal mines closed. Younger students (Kindergarten to 8th grade) will still have schools in both communities.
Local Media
The well-known Western newspaper, High Country News, is based in Paonia. This newspaper reports on the western United States. It focuses on the environment, land use, and public lands.
The community radio station KVNF started in Paonia. It still has studios in downtown Paonia. KVNF now serves many towns in western Colorado.
Paonia does not have its own local newspaper. It is served by The North Fork Times, which is now a section in the Delta County Independent. The monthly North Fork Merchant Herald is published in nearby Hotchkiss.
Climate in Paonia
Paonia has a climate with warm summers and cold winters. On average, Paonia gets 246 sunny days each year. The town receives about 14 inches (36 cm) of rain and 53 inches (135 cm) of snow per year.
The average high temperature in July is 89°F (32°C). The average low temperature in January is 14°F (-10°C).
| Climate data for Paonia, Colorado (1930–1957) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 38.6 (3.7) |
42.4 (5.8) |
50.4 (10.2) |
60.9 (16.1) |
70.8 (21.6) |
81.5 (27.5) |
88.9 (31.6) |
86.7 (30.4) |
78.8 (26.0) |
67.0 (19.4) |
51.1 (10.6) |
41.0 (5.0) |
63.2 (17.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 14.4 (−9.8) |
17.9 (−7.8) |
24.9 (−3.9) |
33.4 (0.8) |
40.6 (4.8) |
47.0 (8.3) |
53.4 (11.9) |
51.7 (10.9) |
44.9 (7.2) |
35.5 (1.9) |
23.7 (−4.6) |
16.6 (−8.6) |
33.7 (0.9) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.33 (34) |
1.30 (33) |
1.13 (29) |
1.56 (40) |
0.99 (25) |
0.71 (18) |
0.86 (22) |
1.21 (31) |
1.16 (29) |
1.36 (35) |
1.08 (27) |
1.32 (34) |
14.02 (356) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 13.7 (35) |
11.3 (29) |
7.6 (19) |
3.2 (8.1) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.5 (1.3) |
5.5 (14) |
10.8 (27) |
52.8 (134) |
| Source: WRCC | |||||||||||||
Fun Festivals and Events
Paonia Cherry Days Festival
Paonia celebrates its "Cherry Days" festival every year around July 4th. This festival includes parades, family and class reunions, games, and arts and crafts. There are also many musical performances.
Paonia Cherry Days is one of Colorado's oldest outdoor festivals. The Paonia Lions Club started it in 1946. Community volunteers still help run the festival today.
Mountain Harvest Festival
The Mountain Harvest Festival is a three-day event in downtown Paonia. It happens during the last weekend of September. The festival features over 20 musical acts, poetry readings, and an art show. There is also a chili cook-off, a street dance, and craft vendors. You can also enjoy wine tasting and attend classes on canning or raising livestock.
Paonia Film Festival
The Paradise Theater in downtown Paonia hosts a film festival every two years. The Paonia Film Festival celebrates the beauty of Western Colorado. It also shares the interesting stories of the people who live there.
In 2021, the festival focused on filmmakers from Western Colorado and the Western United States. The event took place on November 6–7, 2021.
Pickin' in the Park
The town has live music in the park every Thursday evening in August. It's a great way to enjoy music outdoors.
Notable People from Paonia
- Robert E. Huyser — a four-star general in the United States Air Force
- Thurman "Fum" McGraw — a college football All-American and Super Bowl Champion
- Dennis McKenna — a scientist who studies plants and medicines, a lecturer, and an author
- Terence McKenna — a plant expert, lecturer, and author
- Paolo Bacigalupi — an American science fiction and fantasy writer
- Theo Colborn — a scientist and author who founded The Endocrine Disruption Exchange
See also
In Spanish: Paonia para niños
