A Brief History of Paonia
Paonia grew from the orchards and irrigation works established in the North Fork Valley during the early 1880s. Samuel Wade planted fruit trees on his ranch in 1882 and operated an early post office from his home. The town’s name reflects his interest in peonies. Growers initially hauled fruit to Delta by horse-drawn wagon; the arrival of the Denver & Rio Grande railroad in 1902 opened additional markets. Paonia incorporated that same year. Fruit growing remained central to local life, and the annual Cherry Days celebration began in 1947.