 Weston County, located in northeast Wyoming, was founded in 1890. It was named for John B. Weston, who was a geologist. John Weston in 1887 found coal deposits north of Newcastle, which is now the county seat. This brought people and the railroad to the area. Agriculture cattle and sheep ranching became popular in Weston County in the mid to late 1800s, as cattle were trailed from Texas to Wyoming on the Texas Trail. Because of a devastating winter and the difficulty to break into the cattle industry, many locals began raising sheep near Upton, and a town was founded where sheep and cowmen could get supplies. Today, Weston County ranks 20th in 23 Wyoming counties for livestock production. Weston County is known for its wide expanses of land, including a portion of the Thunder Basin National Grassland in the southwest corner of the county, and a portion of the Black Hills on the eastern side of the county. It is home to an abundance of wildlife and natural resources that all visitors and locals alike. Early in this county's history, American Indians worked hard to preserve their way of life, and this area remained in tribal hands for longer than any part of the state. From the University of Wyoming Extension, I'm Ashley Garles, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.