Jefferson

Jefferson is located in the northern end of South Park, along U.S. Route 285 (US 285), approximately 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Fairplay. According to one source, Jefferson has a population of 1683, and another source lists it at 956.

History

Jefferson, Colorado, is a small, unincorporated community located in Park County. Its history dates back to 1879 when the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad extended its tracks through the area. The town was laid out by Willard Head, a local rancher who donated land for the railroad. Jefferson quickly developed as a supply and service center for the surrounding ranches. By the early 1880s, it had a variety of businesses, including butcher shops, a blacksmith shop, a saloon, and a lumber mill. The town also had a cheese factory, which operated briefly in the 1890s. One of the most notable landmarks in Jefferson is the historic one-room schoolhouse, which still stands today. The town also features the Historic Jefferson Denver, South Park, and Pacific Railroad Depot, a reminder of its railroad heritage. Today, Jefferson remains a small but important community for the local ranching population and travelers passing through South Park.

Geography

Jefferson is located at 39°22′38″N 105°48′02″W at an elevation of 9502 feet

Comment

We stopped at a roadside hamburger stand that I had been to before, and in my previous visit, the burgers were great. This trip was in the midst of leaf peeping season, and at the rate the line was moving, we opted to continue our own leaf peeping adventure. Believing the population figures above, even the 956 seems like a high estimate!!