Jackson County, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jackson County
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Jackson County courthouse in Walden
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Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
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 Colorado's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| Founded | May 5, 1909 |
| Named for | Andrew Jackson |
| Seat | Walden |
| Largest town | Walden |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,621 sq mi (4,200 km2) |
| • Land | 1,614 sq mi (4,180 km2) |
| • Water | 7.2 sq mi (19 km2) 0.4%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,379 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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1,309  |
| • Density | 0.8507/sq mi (0.32846/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, about 1,379 people lived here. This made it the fourth least populated county in Colorado. The county is named after Andrew Jackson, a former President of the United States. The main town and county seat is Walden.
Contents
History of Jackson County
Most of Jackson County is a large, high valley called North Park. This valley covers about 1,613 square miles (4,178 square kilometers). It is surrounded by mountains like the Park Range and the Medicine Bow Mountains. The land here ranges from 7,800 to 12,953 feet (2,377 to 3,948 meters) above sea level. The North Platte River starts its journey in this area.
The name "park" comes from the French word parc, which means "game preserve." Long ago, North Park was full of wild animals. There were so many buffalo that the Ute Tribe called North Park the "Bull Pen." Today, you can still find deer, elk, and cattle grazing in the same areas.
In November 1861, Colorado created 17 counties. Jackson County was later formed from part of Larimer County in 1909. Before that, both Grand County and Larimer County claimed the North Park area. At first, not many settlers paid attention to North Park. This was because the Ute and Arapaho Native Americans used it as hunting grounds. They protected their lands fiercely, and white settlers were often afraid to enter.
When valuable minerals were found in North Park, Grand County claimed the area. They wanted the money that mining would bring. The people living in North Park preferred Grand County's claim. Its county seat was closer than Larimer County's, and all official business had to be done at the county seat. However, Larimer County also claimed the area. This disagreement went all the way to the Colorado Supreme Court. In 1886, the court decided that North Park belonged to Larimer County. This made the North Park residents unhappy. They kept pushing for their own county until Jackson County was finally created in 1909.
Geography of Jackson County
The U.S. Census Bureau states that Jackson County has a total area of 1,621 square miles (4,198 square kilometers). Of this, 1,614 square miles (4,180 square kilometers) is land. The remaining 7.2 square miles (19 square kilometers) is water.
Jackson County is home to the Colorado State Forest. This large forest covers about 71,000 acres (287 square kilometers).
Neighboring Counties
- Albany County, Wyoming - northeast
- Larimer County - east
- Grand County - south
- Routt County - west
- Carbon County, Wyoming - northwest
Main Roads
U.S. Highway 40
State Highway 14
State Highway 125
State Highway 127
Airport
The main airport in the area is Jackson County Airport.
Transportation
- Bustang's Outrider Service offers bus travel to Muddy Pass.
Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,013 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,340 | 32.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,386 | 3.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,798 | 29.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,976 | 9.9% | |
| 1960 | 1,758 | −11.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,811 | 3.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,863 | 2.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,605 | −13.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,577 | −1.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,394 | −11.6% | |
| 2020 | 1,379 | −1.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 1,309 | −6.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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In 2000, there were 1,577 people living in Jackson County. About 29% of households had children under 18. The average age of people in the county was 40 years old.
Fun Things to Do
Jackson County offers many outdoor activities.
State Forests and Parks
- Colorado State Forest
- State Forest State Park
National Wildlife Refuge
National Forests and Wilderness Areas
- Routt National Forest
- Mount Zirkel Wilderness
- Never Summer Wilderness
- Platte River Wilderness
National Trails
- Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
Bicycle Routes
- Great Parks Bicycle Route
- TransAmerica Trail Bicycle Route
Scenic Drives
- Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway
Towns and Communities
Town
Other Communities
Former Towns
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Jackson (Colorado) para niños
