Sublette County encompasses much of the upper Green River Valley, a stunningly beautiful area encased on three sides by rugged mountain ranges. The county is named in honor of fur trapper and trader William Sublette, who attended several Rocky Mountain Fur Trade Rendezvous in the early 19th century. The short-lived fur trade era had a lasting impact when the mountain men, with Native American assistance, passed on the knowledge of the area’s geography, including migration routes used by the next group to travel to the area, the homesteaders. Permanent settlement started in the 1870s by stubborn, hardy settlers who maintained cattle and sheep herds despite the high altitude and harsh climate. Sublette County was Wyoming’s last county created when it was officially organized in 1923. The county’s economic base also included tourism and energy extraction. Supporting the small population over the vast landscape were only three incorporated towns, making post offices, trading posts, and schools scattered throughout the county important for the isolated communities.Ann Chambers Noble has authored several award-winning histories of Sublette County in Arcadia’s Images of America series, including Pinedale and Big Piney and Marbleton. The photographs in this book are new to the series and are provided by the county’s museums and Sublette County family albums.
