Jackson County COGenWeb

Jackson County History

"Bull Pen"

"Bull Pen" has many connotations attached to it coming from many areas of life. To the Ute, it was what they named North Park because of the vast herds of buffalo once found here. 

Prior to 1820, North Park was a favorite summer hunting ground for a number of Native American tribes, especially the Utes and Arapaho. Other tribes included the Crow, Sioux, and Cheyenne. These early native people were drawn to North Park in large part by the abundance of big game like bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, and pronghorn antelope.

Please select your desired story:

A Brief History

The Race

Interesting Facts:

• Nellie Ridings born 7 September 1882, was the first white girl born in North Park. She was born on the Ridings ranch near Teller City.
• North Park was the summer hunting grounds for both the Ute and Arapaho. Both came by a different pass which today bear their names.

AI Overview (Feb 2026)

"Both Sides of the Bullpen: Navajo Trade and Posts" by Robert S. McPherson (published 2017) is a historical book detailing the interactions between Navajo/Ute families and white traders in the Four Corners region (southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado) during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Key details about the Ute and Navajo context in this region include:

• Trading Culture: The trading posts served as institutions that blended Navajo and Ute traditional practices with economic needs, where barter was a form of cultural expression.
• Historical Context: The book explores the era between 1880 and 1940, covering the lives of Native families and traders.
• Regional Focus: It focuses on the Four Corners region, specifically referencing Ute and Navajo interactions in areas like Montezuma Creek and other parts of southeastern Utah.
• Ute History: The Ute tribe, historically living in present-day Utah and Colorado, had hunting grounds reaching into New Mexico and Arizona, with specific bands in the Four Corners area, such as the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute.

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