Paonia History

Paonia was named by its founder, Samuel Wade, for the peony roots which he brought with him by covered wagon in 1881. He submitted the Latin name for the flower, Paeonia as the official town name but the Post Office Department wouldn't allow the extra vowel, thus: Paonia. Original stock from Samuel's peonies still grow in the Town Park.

Samuel's son, Ezra, was the first to come to the North Fork Valley in 1881. He wrote, "The larger part of the valley was covered with cottonwood timber, willows, buffalo brush, skunk brush, and sagebrush...On the outskirts of this timber on each side of the river grew large sagebrush...so thick in some places one could hardly penetrate it on foot. The river was very crooked which lessened it's fall; therefore, it did not cut its banks, but spread over a large portion of the valley during high-water, depositing sand and rich soil from the high country, making the valley soil, in places, very rich."

Upon arriving in the Paonia area, Samuel began to survey the land for the settlers'. Will Clarke and Samuel agreed on the line, which later became Grand Avenue, as the division between their land, Wade's property extending about a half mile to the West, while Clarke's ranch included most of the present Paonia. Ezra located just below Samuel's claim. Joseph, Samuel's brother first broke sod a mile northeast of Paonia. read more

Every year since 1947, Paonians have celebrated Cherry Days on the Fourth of July. The events include, a parade featuring local school bands, the Lions' Club Clown Band, Shriners, antique cars, floats, horseback riders and the Cherry Days Queen and her retinue. Also included in the parade are flatbed trucks carrying those gathered for class reunions. Before the parade the volunteer firemen cook up a pancake breakfast as a fundraiser for the fireworks display.

With the sound of the traveling carnival in the background activities at the Town Park have included, karate demonstrations, barbershop music, folk music, softball, coal shoveling, backhoe rodeo, and at night a dance after the fireworks. Homemade ice cream and cherry pie are part of the food fare at the Park events.

Oddly enough the first Cherry Day was planned by the Paonia Lion's Club in 1947 as a fundraiser to secure lights for the football field. The celebration met with such success that it was continued to the present day.

Paonia, a mountain town on the North Fork of the Gunnison River, was founded in 1882 by Samuel Wade. He brought the first fruit trees into the valley on horseback. He named the town after the Latin spelling for the peony flower. Original stock from Samuel's peonies still grow in the Town Park.

Paonia boasts a two block main street with no traffic jams and about 1500 residents. Mount Lamborn, 11,395 feet, provides a stunning backdrop for Paonia and the surrounding mesas. Some 5,000 people live on the eight mesas near Paonia. The mesas are named Stewart, Bone, Garvin, Pitkin, Stucker, Wakefield, Lamborn and Sunshine. Orchards, small ranches, homes and horse farms cover the mesas, and a drive up any one of them guarantees spectacular views of the Ragged Mountains, Mount Lamborn and the valley below.
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