Jamestown Wildlife Area in northern Kansas is a protected refuge of wetlands and uplands spanning 3,239 acres in Republic County and partly in Cloud County. Often called Jamestown Lake, it has been under state management since 1932. The site was once a shallow salty marshland where dry seasons exposed salt and wetter times attracted abundant wildlife, making it significant to Native Americans, early settlers, migrating bison, and large flocks of waterfowl. In the early 20th century, local residents dammed the two main marshes to create a steadier water supply for recreation. Today it remains a popular place for hunting and fishing.