Constructed in 1903, the depot is one of three maintained along the Butte County Railroad, a 31 mile line from Chico to Stirling City completed by Diamond Match Co. in 1904. The railroad was later acquired by Southern Pacific and operated as a spur until the rails were removed in 1979. Before the depot was built, “Old” Paradise was located near Leonard’s Mill at the intersection of Clark and Elliot Rds. With the coming of iron rails, the “New Town” of Paradise began to grow and today is one of Butte County’s three largest cities.