Founded in 1880, Hartsel is close to the geographic center of the state and is often referred to as “The Heart of Colorado”.
The namesake of the community is Samuel Hartsel, a local cattle rancher who came to Park County in 1860 and left in 1908. He also raised pigs and sheep and grew oats, wheat, barley, rye, and hay on fifteen thousand acres. He developed the Hartsel hot springs and built a sawmill, blacksmith shop, and a trading post to lay the groundwork for the town.