The city of Fort Lupton is located in Weld County, Colorado, but it should not be confused with Fort Lupton, a historical site that is located northwest of the city. The historical fort is part of the South Platte Valley Historical Park, which was recreated by the South Platte Valley Historical Society (the park and the society both take their name from the South Platte River). The historical fort, first named Fort Lawrence, was established by Lawrence Lupton, a West Point graduate, and lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Built in 1836, it served as a trading post before being abandoned in 1844; it remained abandoned until 1859 when it was used as a stagecoach station for the Gold Rush. Following the Gold Rush, it was claimed by the Ewing family and used as a residence for a time, before finally falling into disrepair. By the time it was reclaimed by the South Platte Valley Historical Society, only a single wall of the original adobe building remained. Today the city's motto is “Where tradition meets the future”.