Paradise River: The community of Paradise River is located on the east side of the Paradise River, that flows from the interior into Sandwich Bay and eventually out to the Labrador Sea.

The Paradise River, along with the White Bear and Eagle rivers have a long history of being important waterways by which native peoples were able to access the interior of Labrador.

The community of Paradise River was established, and named by Captain George Cartwright in 1775, at the same time that he established his other trading operation for fur trapping and for the salmon fishery at the nearby community of Cartwright.

According to ENL contributors, by 1820 the English firm of Hunt and Henley had established a salmon cannery on the Eagle River and probably on the Paradise River as well.

Many of the inhabitants were or English origin, being "tinsmiths and fishing servants brought to Labrador by firms canning salmon at the mouths of the rivers flowing into Sandwich Bay''.

Paradise River first appeared in the 1901 Census: at that time there were 74 settlers; unfortunately, in 1918 an influenza epidemic the community was ravaged. The Rev. Henry Gordon of Cartwright is reported to have written that "Paradise, once the largest settlement in the Bay, is a veritable city of the dead".

In 1921, the census recorded the population to be only 16. Given its location it slowly rebuilt and by 1945 there were 112 residents and by 1961 there were 161.

Today, with Cartwright only being 31 km (19 miles) away, the population has declined to less than twenty residents, most having opted to live in the larger community. According to the Southern Labrador website "today, Paradise River is known as a very scenic community with an abundance of wildlife, fish, and forestry potential".

Used with permission from "Uncovering the Origin of 1001 Unique Place Names in Newfoundland and Labrador" 2021 Jennifer Leigh Hill

Address of this page: http://nl.ruralroutes.com/ParadiseRiver