A Legacy of Learning: The History of Park County Schools

The following section traces the rich history of Park County’s one-room and early multi-grade schoolhouses—centers of both education and community life. From the foundational efforts in towns like Como, Fairplay, Hayman, Jefferson, Shawnee, and Tarryall, these schools reflect the resilience, resourcefulness, and values of generations who prioritized learning despite remote settings and limited resources. Though many were closed or consolidated by the mid-20th century, their buildings have been preserved, repurposed, and commemorated—standing today as symbols of a shared commitment to education and community legacy in rural Colorado.