About Us

Founded in 1993, the North Forty News is a monthly newspaper and daily hyperlocal website (at NorthFortyNews.com).  The service covers interesting people, events, news, the outdoors, the arts, gardens & landscapes, historical topics and more.  The North Forty News Coverage area includes all towns and cities North of Longmont to the Wyoming state line, West to the continental divide, and East to Greeley.

“Striving to be a small, credible voice in a big, complicated world.” – North Forty News, March, 1995

NORTH FORTY NAME ROOTED IN HISTORY

The term “north forty” from which this paper takes its name, has agricultural roots tied to the Homestead Act of 1862. The Homestead Act allowed for the transfer of 160 acres (a quarter section) of unoccupied public land to each homesteader on payment of a nominal fee after five years of residence or a fee of $1.25 an acre after six months of residence.

Homesteads were generally laid out in four quarters on a north, south, east and west square of 40 acres each. “North forty” was a reference to the northernmost block of the homesteader’s property. Subsequently, rural people referred to the property as the “north forty,” the “south forty” or even the “back forty.” It does not always mean an actual 40 acres — it could be more, or it could be less. Hence, the North Forty News — reaching Northern Colorado.

NORTH FORTY NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

North Forty News is EXCLUSIVELY delivered digitally. Our weekly digital edition can be viewed from most pages on our website. A signup form in the Digital Edition offers our readers the opportunity to receive our Weekly Digest, FREE. The Weekly Digest is sent out to thousands of locals every week.

Our subscribers get perks. One of the perks is instant text message opt-in the moment the edition is released. Subscribers can join by signing up via our website at northfortynews.com/subscribe, or making a donation through the link provided at the end of any story on our website.