Editing Paradise, Kansas

{{Short description|City in Russell County, Kansas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Paradise, Kansas
|settlement_type          = [[City]]

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = paradiseks1.jpg
|image_caption            = Paradise watertower (2005)
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Russell_County_Kansas_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Paradise_Highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location within [[Russell County, Kansas|Russell County]] and [[Kansas]]
|image_map1               = Map of Russell Co, Ks, USA.png
|map_caption1             = [[Kansas Department of Transportation|KDOT]] map of [[Russell County, Kansas|Russell County]] ([[:File:Kansas official transportation map legend.png|legend]])

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|coordinates              = {{coord|39|6|56|N|98|55|3|W|region:US-KS_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Kansas]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Kansas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Russell County, Kansas|Russell]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Kansas|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        =

<!-- Established -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1887
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        =
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = 1924
|named_for                = [[paradise]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          = <!-- [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]] -->
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              =

<!-- Area -->
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_20.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.25
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.25
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_total_km2           = 0.64
|area_land_km2            = 0.64
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 1693

<!-- Population -->
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census-2020-Profile"/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 35
|pop_est_footnotes        =
|pop_est_as_of            =
|population_est           =
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|population_density_km2   = auto

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 67658
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 785|785]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 20-54325 
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 472527 <ref name="GNIS">{{cite gnis2|472527|Paradise, Kansas}}</ref>
|website                  =
}}

'''Paradise''' is a city in [[Russell County, Kansas|Russell County]], [[Kansas]], United States.<ref name="GNIS"/>  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the city was 35.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile of Paradise, Kansas in 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2054325 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321201455/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2054325 |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
In 1859, a hunting party explored the area, including a small tributary of the [[Saline River (Kansas)|Saline River]] which led them to a site abundant in water, timber, and [[American bison|bison]]. One of the hunters, [[James R. Mead (pioneer)|James R. Mead]], described the site as [[paradise]], and the tributary subsequently became known as Paradise Creek.<ref>{{cite book|title=Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science|url=https://archive.org/details/transactionsofka19kans|year=1903|publisher=W.Y. Morgan|page=[https://archive.org/details/transactionsofka19kans/page/216 216]}}</ref> The first [[post office]] in the area opened under the name Paradise in 1875. In 1887, the Union Townsite Company established a town on the north side of the creek northwest of the post office, naming it '''Ivamar''' after Iva Marr, the daughter of a local rancher. The Paradise post office relocated to Ivamar the next year, but kept its name. As a result, the town came to be known by both names; in 1891, the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] listed its rail stop there as Paradise with Ivamar in parentheses. The community grew through the 1890s to include a school, downtown businesses, and railroad facilities, reaching a population of 200 by 1910.<ref name=NRHP>{{cite web | title = Paradise Water Tower - Russell Co., Kansas | work = National Register of Historic Places Registration Form | publisher = [[National Park Service]] | date = 2006-06-15 | url = http://www.kshs.org/resource/national_register/nominationsNRDB/Russell_ParadiseWaterTowerNR.pdf | accessdate = 2011-08-05}}</ref> Ivamar [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] in 1924 and finally changed its name to Paradise.<ref>{{citation | author = United States Census Bureau | author-link = United States Census Bureau | title = Fifteenth Census of the United States - Population Volume I:  Number and Distribution of Inhabitants | publisher = [[United States Government Publishing Office|Government Printing Office]] | location = [[Washington, D.C.]] | year = 1931 | page = 418 | url = http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1.zip | accessdate = 2011-08-05}}</ref> The population of the community has gradually declined since the 1930s.<ref name=NRHP/>

==Geography==
Paradise is located in north-central Kansas {{convert|3.5|mi|km}} west of [[U.S. Route 281 in Kansas|U.S. Route 281]] on [[K-18 (Kansas highway)|Kansas Highway 18 (K-18)]], Paradise is {{convert|127|mi|km}} northwest of [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]], {{convert|233|mi|km}} west of [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]], and {{convert|15|mi|km}} north-northwest of [[Russell, Kansas|Russell]], the [[county seat]].<ref name=CountyMap/><ref>{{cite web | title = City Distance Tool | publisher = [[Geobytes]] | url = http://www.geobytes.com/citydistancetool.htm | accessdate = 2010-05-14 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101005175701/http://geobytes.com/CityDistanceTool.htm | archive-date = 2010-10-05 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Paradise sits on the north bank of Paradise Creek, a tributary of the [[Saline River (Kansas)|Saline River]], in the [[Smoky Hills]] region of the [[Great Plains]]. Eagle Creek, a tributary of Paradise Creek, flows south along the community's eastern side.<ref name=CountyMap>{{cite web | title = General Highway Map - Russell County, Kansas | publisher = [[Kansas Department of Transportation]] | date = 2010-10-01 | url = http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/county-pdf/russell.PDF | accessdate = 2010-12-12}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.25|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all  land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2012-07-06|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archivedate=2012-01-25}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1930= 178
|1940= 161
|1950= 145
|1960= 134
|1970= 145
|1980= 89
|1990= 66
|2000= 64
|2010= 49
|2020= 35
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 49 people, 22 households, and 13 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|163.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 27 housing units at an average density of {{convert|90.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 100.0% [[White American|White]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics and Latinos]] of any race were 0.0% of the population.<ref name=Census>{{cite web | title = U.S. Census website | url = https://www.census.gov | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]] | accessdate = 2011-08-05}}</ref>

There were 22 households, of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 0.0% had a male householder with no wife present, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.9% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 27.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23, and the average family size was 2.92.<ref name=Census/>

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 0.0% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80 males age 18 and over.<ref name=Census/>

The median income for a household in the city was $41,250, and the median income for a family was $49,167. Males had a median income of $19,167 versus $40,833 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,216. There were 7.1% of families and 4.0% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including 5.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census/>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 64 people, 28 households, and 16 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|251.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 36 housing units at an average density of {{convert|141.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.88% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.56% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], and 1.56% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.56% of the population.

There were 28 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.

==Economy==
As of 2012, 79.3% of the population over the age of 16 was in the labor force. 0.0% was in the armed forces, and 79.3% was in the civilian labor force with 75.9% being employed and 3.4% unemployed. The composition, by occupation, of the employed civilian labor force was:  50.0% in sales and office occupations; 18.2% in management, business, science, and arts; 13.6% in natural resources, construction, and maintenance; 9.1% in production, transportation, and material moving; and 9.1% in service occupations. The three industries employing the largest percentages of the working civilian labor force were:  public administration (45.5%); finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (27.3%); and other services, except public administration (18.2%).<ref name=Census/>

The cost of living in Paradise is relatively low; compared to a U.S. average of 100, the cost of living index for the community is 76.9.<ref name=CityData>{{cite web | title = Paradise, Kansas | publisher = City-Data.com | url = http://www.city-data.com/city/Paradise-Kansas.html | accessdate = 2014-09-16}}</ref> As of 2012, the median home value in the city was $16,900, and the median selected monthly owner cost was $510 for housing units without a mortgage.<ref name=Census/>

==Government==
Paradise is a [[Kansas#Important cities and towns|city of the third class]] with a [[mayor-council government|mayor-council]] form of government. The [[city council]] consists of five members, and it meets on the second Wednesday of each month.<ref name="gov1">{{cite web | title = Paradise | work = Directory of Kansas Public Officials | publisher = The League of Kansas Municipalities | url = http://www.lkm.org/directory/cities.php?ID=547 | accessdate = 2011-08-05}}</ref>

Paradise lies within [[Kansas's 1st congressional district|Kansas's 1st U.S. Congressional District]]. For the purposes of representation in the [[Kansas Legislature]], the city is located in the 36th district of the [[Kansas Senate]] and the 109th district of the [[Kansas House of Representatives]].<ref name="gov1"/>

==Education==
The community is served by [[Natoma–Paradise–Waldo USD 399]] public school district, which is located in [[Natoma, Kansas|Natoma]].<ref name=KSDE>{{cite web | title = Kansas Unified School Districts (map) | publisher = [[Kansas State Department of Education]] | url = http://www3.ksde.org/eddir/usd_map.pdf | accessdate = 2011-08-05 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110721071446/http://www3.ksde.org/eddir/usd_map.pdf | archivedate = 2011-07-21 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Paradise USD 399 | publisher = USD 399 | url = http://www.usd399.com/ | accessdate = 4 January 2017}}</ref>

Paradise High School closed in 1974 after Paradise and [[Waldo, Kansas|Waldo]] combined school districts with [[Natoma, Kansas|Natoma]]. The Paradise school mascot was Paradise Pirates.<ref>”Natoma USD-391 & Paradise-Waldo USD-399 School Patrons Favor Joining Districts”, Plainville Times, 14 February 1974, p.6.</ref><ref>"Lincoln Branch Tourney Tuesday at Russell Gym", The Salina Journal, 11 February 1951, p.18.</ref> The Paradise Pirates won the [[Kansas State High School Activities Association|Kansas State High School]] boys class 1A Track & Field championship in 1971.<ref>{{cite web | title = Track & Field | publisher = KSHSAA | url = http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Track/HistoryBoys.cfm | accessdate = 6 January 2017}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
[[K-18 (Kansas highway)|K-18]], an east-west route, approaches Paradise from the northwest, then turns east north of the city. Paradise Road, a paved county road, enters the city from the south.<ref name=CountyMap/>

===Utilities===
Western Electric provides electricity to local residents. Gorham Telephone provides landline telephone service and offers cable television and internet access.<ref name=Utilities>{{cite web | title = Utilities | publisher = Russell County, Kansas Economic Development & CVB | url = http://www.russellcoks.org/EconomicDevelopment/RussellCounty/Utilities/tabid/196/Default.aspx | accessdate = 2014-09-14 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150116130115/http://www.russellcoks.org/EconomicDevelopment/RussellCounty/Utilities/tabid/196/Default.aspx | archive-date = 2015-01-16 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Most residents use privately stored [[propane]] for heating fuel.<ref name=CityData/><ref name=Utilities/>

==Media==
Paradise is in the [[Media in Wichita, Kansas#Television|Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Kansas | work = TV Market Maps | publisher = EchoStar Knowledge Base | url = http://dishuser.org/TVMarkets/Maps/kansas.gif | accessdate = 2014-09-14 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110726000406/http://dishuser.org/TVMarkets/Maps/kansas.gif | archivedate = 2011-07-26 }}</ref>

==Culture==

===Architecture===
Paradise is home to several unique structures that were constructed from Post Rock [[Limestone]].  Early settlers to the area discovered that while there was a shortage of timber, limestone was plentiful, and therefore it was commonly used as a building material.  It was also commonly used for fence posts.  The watertower and the former Kennedy Hotel were recently added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] and featured in an article in the ''[[Salina Journal]]''.<ref name=Unruh>Unruh, Tim: [http://www.saljournal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=9937&format=html "At Home In Paradise"], ''The Salina Journal'' v. 147 #39</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="150px">
Image:paradiseks3.jpg|Businesses in downtown Paradise (2007)
Image:paradiseks2.jpg|Paradise United Methodist Church (2005)
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{See also|Russell County, Kansas#Further reading|l1=List of books about Russell County, Kansas}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Paradise, Kansas}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260958 Paradise - Directory of Public Officials]
* [https://www.usd399.com/ USD 399], local school district
* [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/city-pdf/paradise.pdf Paradise city map], KDOT

{{Russell County, Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Russell County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Kansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1887]]