Farland County was founded in the 1820s. The city now known as Colbertson became the county seat a half year later. In 1896, an earthquake occurred near the city of Jetsburg. Its magnitude was 3.8, and it occurred on June 12. No deaths were reported. During a period from 1946 to 1952, people were afraid to move to the county because of rumors and stories involving ghosts and monsters. On January 28, 1952, county resident John Tyrok proved that the stories were just stories. In 2006, after a series of threats made to destroy some residents, the county government passed some laws banning threats.