Built in 1913, the three-story Jackson County Courthouse in Walden is the most important building in the county. It was designed by the prominent early twentieth-century Denver architect William N. Bowman.

Incorporated in 1890, Walden is the only official town in sparsely populated North Park, a high-elevation basin near the Wyoming border. When Walden was founded, North Park was still part of Larimer County. In 1909 North Park became its own county, originally known as North Park County but soon renamed Jackson County. Walden became the county seat. The county courthouse was completed in 1913. In the few years before the courthouse opened, county records were kept at the Mosman Store.

The Classical Revival courthouse was designed by William N. Bowman, who had opened his own practice in Denver in 1910, and it is a good example of his early work in Colorado. It features a facade of large buff-colored sandstone blocks quarried near Mendenhall Creek, about ten miles northeast of town. Four Ionic columns frame the main entrance. The building occupies a parklike setting at the intersection of Fourth and Lafever Streets, on land donated by Walden resident Archie Hunter. The construction cost was $28,000.

Today the courthouse still does most county business. The basement serves as the sheriff’s office and county jail, including the original 1913 jail cells. County offices occupy the first floor, and the county court is located on the second and third floors. The building’s exterior remains largely unaltered. Much of the interior is also original, including the wood floors, paneling, plaster walls, ceilings, and doors.

The three-story Jackson County Courthouse in Walden was built in 1913. It was designed by the prominent early twentieth-century Denver architect William N. Bowman (1868–1944).

Incorporated in 1890, Walden is the only official town in sparsely populated North Park, a high-elevation basin near the Wyoming border. When Walden was founded, North Park was still part of Larimer County. In 1909 North Park became its own county. Originally known as North Park County, it was soon renamed Jackson County, and Walden became the county seat. The county courthouse was completed in 1913. In the few years before the courthouse opened, county records were kept at the Mosman Store.

The Classical Revival courthouse was designed by William N. Bowman, who had opened his own practice in Denver in 1910. It is a good example of his early work in Colorado. It features a facade of large buff-colored sandstone blocks quarried near Mendenhall Creek, about ten miles northeast of town. The construction cost was $28,000.

Today the courthouse still does most county business. The basement serves as the sheriff’s office and county jail, including the original 1913 jail cells. County offices occupy the first floor, and the county court is located on the second and third floors. The building’s exterior remains largely unchanged. Much of the interior is also original, including the wood floors, paneling, plaster walls, ceilings, and doors.

The Jackson County Courthouse in Walden was built in 1913. It is the most important building in the county. It was designed by Denver architect William N. Bowman (1868–1944).

Walden was incorporated (organized) as a town in 1890. It was the only town in the lightly populated North Park near the Wyoming border. When Walden was founded, North Park was still part of Larimer County. In 1909 North Park became its own county and changed its name to Jackson County. Walden became the county seat. The county courthouse was finished in 1913. County records were kept at the Mosman Store before the courthouse opened.

Today the courthouse still does most county business. The basement serves as the sheriff’s office and county jail. It still has the original 1913 jail cells. County offices are on the first floor. The county court is located on the second and third floors. The building’s outside remains unchanged since it opened in 1913. Much of the inside is also original.