Jackson County was first claimed to be home to the Fremont Indians and then the hunting grounds of the Utes and Arapahoe. Most of Jackson County is known as North Park, a basin that covers over 1600 square miles. The Ute Indians used to call the area "Bull Pen" because of the large herds of buffalo that were found there.

Throughout history, the area has been claimed by Spain from 1540 until 1682 when it was claimed by France, calling it Louisiana. Spain claimed it again, but was then again claimed by France. It was eventually sold to the United States and became part of the Nebraska Territory until 1861 when the Colorado Territory was created.

As in many of the Colorado counties, valuable minerals were discovered. A dispute ensued between Grand and Larimer Counties as to the ownership of the land and the mineral rights. The dispute went on to the Supreme Court and in 1886, Larimer County won, but North Park residents pushed until they had their own county and Jackson County was formed.

Welcome to Jackson County

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written by Kathy Leigh
© 1999 by Mary Ann Hetrick