Jackson Hole History THE LAND OF THE RUGGED ADVENTURERS AND STOIC SETTLERS

he name Jackson Hole refers to an entire valley in the northwest corner of Wyoming, surrounded by mountains. Originally named after an 1820s fur trapper, Davey Jackson, it’s 48 miles long and between 8 and 15 miles wide. The northern end of the valley serves as the southern gateway to Yellowstone National Park and is about 6,779 feet above sea level. The town of Jackson (whose name is often confused with the valley, Jackson Hole) sits at the southern end of the valley, at an elevation of about 6,069 feet.

Although Native Americans passed through this valley thousands of years ago, the long, harsh winters discouraged any permanent settlement until the late 1800s. After the town of Jackson was established in 1894, homesteaders began to trickle in, lured by the prospect of open land for the taking. They faced a hard existence and eked out a living through a combination of cattle ranching, farming and big-game hunting. Descendants of some of those early settlers still ranch or reside within the valley today.