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PARADISE,
TEXASWise County,
North Central Texas
Highway 114
6 miles SW of Decatur
Population 450 (estimate)
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A
stone silo and garage in Paradise is typical of the rockwork found
throughout North Texas
Photo by John Troesser, February 2004 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Originally called Eldorado when it was settled in the 1870s,
the name was rejected by postal authorities. Paradise Prairie was
suggested - accepted - and then shortened to its current name. A post
office branch started operation in 1876. Like most towns of its era,
nothing much happened until the railroad arrived. In this case it
was the Rock Island line and the date was 1893. And like most towns
of its era - it moved to be near the railroad. In this case it was
only a mile NE.
The town prospered despite its proximity to the county seat of Decatur.
Paradise in 1900 had two cotton gins, two hotels and a newspaper -
the Paradise Echo - plus the normal quota of churches and schools
for a town its size.
Populations rose and fell, but never went over 500 Paradisians. People
started commuting to Fort
Worth after WWII and the population dropped - it was estimated
at 275 in the 1980s and has since increased to the current (2005)
figure of 450.
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Paradise,
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to share photos, stories, or memories of Paradise, Texas, please contact
us.
© John Troesser
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