Paradise, California

Paradise, California
Town
Country	United States
County	Butte County
County	Butte
Government
• Mayor	Woody Culleton
• State Senate	Sam Aanestad (R)
• State Assembly	Rick Keene (R)
• U. S. Congress	Wally Herger (R)
Area
• Total	18.2 sq mi (47.3 km2)
• Land	18.2 sq mi (47.3 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	1,778 ft (542 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	26,408
• Density	1,447.1/sq mi (558.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	95967, 95969
Area code	530
FIPS code	06-55520
GNIS feature ID	0277573
Website	www.townofparadise.com

Paradise is an incorporated town in Butte County, in the northwest foothills of California's Central Valley, in the Sierra. The town is considered part of the Chico Metropolitan Area. The population was 26,408 at the 2000 census. Paradise is some 8 miles (13 km) east of Chico and 100 miles (160 km) north-northeast of Sacramento.

Geography

The town of Paradise is spread out on a wide ridge which rises between deep canyons on either side. These canyons are formed by the west branch of the Feather River to the east, and Butte Creek to the west. The Paradise area extends northwards from Paradise to include the unincorporated town of Magalia and smaller communities such as Stirling City to the far north. Elevations in the town range from around 1500 to 2300 feet (450 to 700 m), steadily increasing as one travels northwards. The town is approximately 8 miles (13 km) east of the city of Chico, and 10 miles (16 km) north of the Oroville area.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.2 square miles (47.3 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 26,408 people, 11,591 households, and 7,244 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,447.1 people per square mile (558.7/km²). There were 12,374 housing units at an average density of 678.1/sq mi (261.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.73% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 1.07% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races, and 2.64% from two or more races. 4.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,591 households out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the town the population was spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 27.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,863, and the median income for a family was $41,228. Males had a median income of $35,419 versus $25,231 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,267. About 9.7% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Health care

The State of California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development defines Feather River Hospital as a General Acute Care Hospital in Paradise with Basic emergency care as of August 22, 2006. The facility is located at (NAD83) latitude/longitude 39°45′25″N 121°34′16″W.

Education

Paradise is served by Paradise Adventist Academy, Paradise Elementary School, Ponderosa Elementary School, Cedarwood Elementary School, Pine Ridge (K-8)School, Children's Community Charter School, Paradise Intermediate School, Paradise Charter Middle School, Evergreen Sixth Grade Academy, Paradise High School, and Ridgeview High School.

Transportation

There are not many options for transportation within Paradise other than driving an automobile. One notable exception is the Paradise Memorial Trail, which is a paved pedestrian and bicycle path which runs through town on the path of the former railroad tracks leading up the ridge. However, aside from points along this path, the very hilly terrain of the town, coupled with the large spacing of commercial areas and large land area make Paradise difficult to navigate on foot or on a bicycle, in addition to the lack of sidewalks.

The main road through town, and Paradise's link with Chico is known as The Skyway, or simply "Skyway". Skyway begins in the Valley, at the Highway 99 Freeway in Chico, and runs up the ridge as a 4-lane divided highway until it reaches Paradise. Through the town it is a four-lane undivided highway, and it becomes a two-lane road as it continues up the Ridge to Magalia and numerous smaller communities to the north. Paradise is connected to Oroville via Highway 191, otherwise known as Clark Road upon entering the town.

Paradise is also served by the "B Line", Butte County's regional bus service.

Paradise Skypark, (FAA identifier: Q88), is located parallel to State Route 191 and south of the town at 39°42′38″N 121°36′59″W.

Humboldt and Camp Fires

In June 2008, a wildfire, named the "Humboldt Fire" for its point of origin, swept over 22,800 acres of land between Chico and Paradise. As many as 9300 people were forced to evacuate southwestern Paradise until the fire could be brought under control. [1]. Also in July of 2008 another fire, the Camp Fire, burned on the northern side of Paradise in the canyon where the Feather River is located. Again, thousands were evacuated from their homes, but the fire failed to cross the river.

Notable residents

• Actor and painter Gary Burghoff of M.A.S.H. resides in Magalia.
• Olympian Jack Yerman, winner of the 1600 meter relay in 1960 (Rome, Italy), also resides in Paradise with his wife Margo.
• Nobel Prize-winning physicist Arthur Leonard Schawlow lived in Paradise a number of years.
• Actor Tom Selleck has a residence in De Sabla, just above Magalia.
• Blues legend Lazy Lester is currently living in Paradise.
• Child actress Tiffany Brissette, best known for her role as VICI on the 1980s sitcom Small Wonder was born in Paradise.
• Norton Buffalo, regarded as one of the most versatile and talented harmonica players in the music business, currently resides in Paradise.
• Steven Laub.. Humanitarian and Leader/Dictator of the small town known only to a few as Awesome town USA. He was appointed Dictator by King Justin of Unicornia in 2007. From there this newly founded Dictator changed policy and laws to create what some have said to be the greatest place on this planet called Awesome town USA. Dictator Laub has a lovely wife called Heather Queen of Awesomeness. The dictator also promoted Aron Kerzic to the Secretary of Amazing. This up and coming town on the newly found land will soon make history with the first Unicorn powered neon generator.

References

Scenes from Gone With The Wind were filmed in Paradise off of Stark Lane.

See also

Paradise is home to Radio Paradise, a listener-supported internet radio station and community web site.

Media

Newspapers
Paradise Post

Butte County Safety Scanner
thenet411.net

External links

• Town of Paradise web site
• Town history, geography, etc.
• Paradise Post
• Butte County Air Quality Management District