California's Fastest Growing City: Paradise

Paradise, California—devastated by the deadly Camp Fire of 2018—is attracting new and returning residents as the city rebuilds its housing stock.

2 minute read

May 11, 2021, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Butte County, California

Sharon Hahn Darlin / Flickr

California’s latest population estimates show that Paradise—the Northern California town ravaged by the Camp Fire in 2018, which destroyed 10,000 buildings and killed 85 people—has seen the fastest population growth in the state in the last year.

According to estimates from the California Department of Finance, "the population of Paradise rose from 4,608 people as of Jan. 1, 2020, up to 6,046 a year later," reports Vincent Moleski.

"The town’s 31.2% leap in population outpaces the rest of the state, much of which reflected a decrease in population amid low birth rates and slower immigration," adds Moleski. The figure are even more of any outlier compared next to the totals for the entire state, which dropped in 2020 for the first time in recorded state history, as documented in an article yesterday by Planetizen correspondent Irvin Dawid.

Moleski takes the additional step of naming the cause of Paradise's influx or population: new housing construction rising from the ashes of the Camp Fire. In addition to outpacing the rest of the state in population growth, Paradise has also been outpacing the state on housing construction. "Department of Finance data show that the town increased its total housing by 32.1% in 2020, the fastest rate in the state. Much of this construction has been in single-family homes. The town’s number of single-family homes rose by nearly 40.7%, while its multi-family homes increased by 11.5%."

As documented in an article by Natalie Hanson for the Chico Enterprise-Record in December 2020, the bulk of the city's building permits have been issued to residents looking to rebuild homes lost in the Camp Fire.

Saturday, May 8, 2021 in Sacramento Bee via SFGate

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

7 hours ago - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

April 30 - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

April 30 - Next City