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Learn all about Hawks Haven in our special video tour, hosted by Hawks Haven owners.
Small Town Living in Paonia, Colorado
Paonia is a vibrant mix of coal miners and artists, ranchers and retirees, organic farmers and small business owners. Although small, Paonia's flourishing cultural scene offers fine art, world-class music and live theatre.
Mother Earth News named Paonia one of "8 Great Places You've Never Heard Of" in 2007. "With nearby national parks and wilderness areas," the magazine said, "there's no limit to the ways you can enjoy the fresh mountain air in Paonia. This great place is small, but the quality of life experienced by its residents is huge."
Paonia's quaint downtown includes:
- banks
- brewery
- churches
- community art center
- grocery store
- drug and variety store
- flower shop
- hardware stores
- meat market
- post office
- restaurants
- movie theatre
- new library
- video rental store
- yoga studio
Most everything you need you'll find downtown; otherwise Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs and Montrose are all within a 70-mile drive.
Paonia by the Numbers
| Elevation | 5,645 feet |
| Population | 1,640 in town 4,500+ outside of town |
| Median Age | 41 years old |
| Education Level | 80% graduated from high school 17% graduated from college 4% graduated from graduate school |
| Median Household Income | $43,367/year |
| Primary Industries | coal mining, agriculture, construction, education |
| Retail Sales | $19.7 million annually |
| Crime Index | 38% of national average |
The North Fork Valley's Agricultural Focus
Dubbed the "Golden Triangle" by Forbes Magazine (March 13, 2006), the North Fork Valley is home to Paonia, Hotchkiss and Crawford. The Valley's climate allows for all kinds of agriculture, and fruits such as cherries, peaches and apples grow especially well.
In fact, the majority of the state's apples and pears are grown in Delta County, and the county boasts the highest concentration of organic farmers in Colorado. We also enjoy locally grown grass-fed beef and elk, milk, eggs, and best of all... WINE!
Tons of Outdoor Activities
With the fifth largest wilderness area in the state as our backyard, the North Fork Valley offers:
- aspen viewing
- biking & hiking
- birding & wildlife photography
- camping
- cross-country skiing
- bait & world-class fly fishing
- four-wheeling
- hunting
- kayaking & rafting
- snowmobiling
If you're willing to drive just a short distance, you can also visit several state and national parks, including:
And if you're a downhill skier, here are the two nearest ski resorts:
Educational Opportunities in the North Fork Valley
Paonia schools are part of the Delta County School District 50J:
| Grades | # Students Enrolled in 2007 |
|---|---|
| Paonia K-6 | 251 |
| Paonia 7-12 | 264 |
| Vision Home & Community Program K-12 |
41 (770 countywide) |
If you're a life-long learner, there are several educational opportunities for adults as well:
Paonia's Comfortable Climate
Hawks Haven sits at 6,000 feet elevation. Our semi-arid, high desert climate makes those cold days feel not as chilly and the hot ones not as steamy. In the summer, evenings often pull cooler air down out of the mountains and temperatures drop as much as 30 or 40 degrees.
Our temperatures range from a low of 14 degrees in January to a high of 89 degrees in July. We receive almost 16 inches of rainfall each year, and nearly 50 inches of snow.
Year-round Fun at Paonia's Annual Festivals
Paonia hosts three major festivals each year:
Health Care & Medical Services on the Western Slope
The nearest hospital is Delta County Memorial Hospital, which is 30 miles away in Delta. However, we have several medical clinics and family physicians in town. If you ever did need to get to the hospital in an emergency, the North Fork Ambulance Association will take good care of you.
Some people travel to Grand Junction for treatment and surgery at St. Mary's Hospital. As the largest medical center between Denver and Salt Lake City, it serves patients in Western Colorado and eastern Utah.
We're fortunate to have two dentists in Paonia, and an optometrist is just 12 miles away in Hotchkiss.
Delta County & North Fork Media
- The Delta County Independent covers local news weekly, as does the Mountain Valley News.
- The North Fork Merchant Herald is a monthly publication that keeps us updated on town council meetings and our local business communities.
- We read the High Country Shopper to find out what's happening around the county and to place classifieds for events, real estate, garage sales, and other happenings.
- KVNF Public Radio serves up diverse music, a community calendar, local and national news, and other public radio programs such as Car Talk and Democracy Now.
Learn More about Paonia & Delta County
To find out more about Paonia, visit the Paonia Chamber. To learn more about Delta County, visit the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce or the Delta County government site. For information about the county's economy, see the Delta Area Development site.