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Paonia, Colorado
Known for its world class fruit, Paonia has a perfect temperate climate for plants, animals and humans as well. Beautiful views in every direction, close to hiking, mountain sports and scenic drives. Captain John W. Gunnison first explored the region in 1853 while on an expedition to locate a suitable pass through the Rocky Mountains for the Topographical Engineers. The Ute Indians inhabited the North Fork Valley until 1880, when the Ute Reservation was closed following the Meeker Massacre. The site itself was settled in 1880 by Samuel Wade and William Clark, who had accompanied Enos Hotchkiss to the area. The name of the town comes from Wade's use of a Spanish derivative for "peony," the flower and was officially incorporated in 1902. Today Paonia is beautiful like a patchwork quilt displaying a wide variety of neighborhoods with quaint farms, extensive ranches, orchards from small to large, and an interesting downtown. The Blue Sage Arts Center has many events and exhibitions to entertain and bring the community together. Festivals and concerts are sprinkled throughout the year offering plenty of options for family and fun. Small, but adequate, Paonia offers a little bit of everything from high speed internet, a garden center & hardware store combo, a large health food market to a Radio Shack and everything in-between. The restaurants in Paonia are also above average. 
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