Paradise, Oregon facts for kids

Paradise is a small, unincorporated community located in Wallowa County, Oregon, in the United States. An unincorporated community means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Paradise is situated on a high flat area called a plateau, which offers amazing views of Joseph Canyon.

It's about three miles east of Oregon Route 3 and about six miles south of the border between Oregon and Washington. The closest cities are Enterprise, Oregon, which is about 40 miles away, and Asotin, Washington, about 45 miles away. Paradise sits at an elevation of 4,114 feet (1,254 meters) above sea level.

History of Paradise

Paradise got its name from a group of ranchers from the Wallowa Valley. In October 1878, three ranchers named Sam Wade, Pres Halley, and William Masterson were exploring the area. They were looking for good places for their cattle to graze during the winter.

When they returned, they told other settlers about the wonderful, rich grass they had found. They described the area as a "regular paradise." Because of this, the name stuck.

In November of that same year, settlers brought about a thousand cattle to this new grazing land. However, that winter turned out to be very harsh, and sadly, many cattle were lost.

Paradise Post Office

For many years, Paradise had its own post office. It first opened in 1889, helping the local community send and receive mail. The post office served the area for a long time, but it eventually closed down in 1942.

Roads and Location

In the past, Oregon Route 3 used to pass directly through the community of Paradise. This road connects different parts of Oregon. Today, the community is located a short distance east of the current route.