Fort Jackson (Colorado) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Jackson
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Trading post and fort
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| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| County | Weld |
| Nearest town | Ione |
Fort Jackson was an important place for trading furs in the 1800s. It was located near where the town of Ione is today, in Weld County, Colorado. This fort was only open for a short time, from 1837 to 1838. It was one of several trading posts along the South Platte River. Other nearby trading posts included Fort Vasquez, Fort Lupton, and Fort Saint Vrain.
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Fort Jackson: A Short-Lived Trading Post
What Was a Trading Post?
A trading post was like a special store in the wilderness. People, often fur traders, would build these forts to trade goods with Native American tribes. They would exchange items like tools, blankets, and guns for valuable animal furs, especially buffalo robes. These furs were then sent to distant markets to be sold.
Building Fort Jackson
Fort Jackson was built in early 1837. It cost about $12,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then! Two men named Peter A. Sarpy and Henry Fraeb were in charge of building it. They also got some money from a big company called the Western Division of the American Fur Company.
The people who ran Fort Jackson wanted to be the best at trading in the Rocky Mountains. Sarpy once said that his goal was to cause trouble for their rivals without hurting their own business.
Trading with Native Americans
The Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes were important customers at Fort Jackson. They would often spend the winter in lodges near the fort. During their summer hunting season, they would gather buffalo furs. Then, they would bring these furs to the fort to trade.
To compete with other trading posts, Sarpy and Fraeb made sure their fort had plenty of good items to trade. They got these goods from another company in St. Louis. They also collected many buffalo robes, worth a lot of money.
Why Did Fort Jackson Close?
Fort Jackson's business was taken over in October 1838. Another company, Bent, St. Vrain & Company, took control. This company already ran a nearby fort called Fort Saint Vrain. After the inventory was moved, Fort Jackson was taken apart.
