What was the first permanent settlement in Montana?
In 1850 Major John Owen arrived in the valley and set up camp north of St. Mary's. In time, Major Owen established a trading post and military strong point named Fort Owen, which served the Native people, settlers, and missionaries in the valley. The first permanent settlement in Montana was Fort Benton, established as a fur trading post in 1847.
When did Montana become the first state in the US?
The Montana State Genealogical Society issues First Families of Montana certificates to descendants of the very first residents who arrived before statehood on 8 November 1889. The Montana State Genealogical Society issues Early Settlers of Montana certificates to descendants who arrived between 9 November 1889 and 31 December 1929.
Why do miners settle in Montana?
Miners weren't the only early settlers in Montana. Cattle ranches began flourishing in western valleys during the 1860s as demand for beef in the new mining communities increased. After 1870 open-range cattle operations spread across the high plains, taking advantage of the free public-domain land.
What is the history of coal mining in Montana?
Major coal deposits were located near the southeastern Montana settlements of Birney and Decker, and mining soon replaced cattle ranching in the immediate area.
What was the first settlement in Montana?
Roman Catholic missionaries followed the fur traders and in 1841 established Saint Mary's Mission near present-day Stevensville, believed to be the first permanent settlement in Montana.
When did Montana get settled?
July 4, 1776Montana / Date settled
What ethnic groups settled Montana?
Italians and Germans settled in Fergus and Park counties, and many Germans came from North Dakota and Canada. The cattlemen of Montana were primarily English and Scottish, although they drove cattle owned by the Germans. The sheepmen were also from the British Isles.
Who was the first white man in Montana?
The first white man known to have explored this region is Sieur de la Varendry, who made his way up the Missouri River during the years 1730 to 1744, and reached the Rocky Mountains in January 1743.
What is the oldest town in Montana?
Stevensville is officially recognized as the first permanent settlement of non-indigenous peoples in the state of Montana. Forty-eight years before Montana became the nation's 41st state, Stevensville was settled by Jesuit Missionaries at the request of the Bitterroot Salish tribe.
What nationality are the settlers in 1883?
They are European, hailing from Germany, and Josef is established as one of the few amongst them that can speak English. This ultimately elevates his status amongst the group, as he is able to relay information between both parties.
Who immigrated to Montana?
The top countries of origin for immigrants were Canada (15 percent of immigrants), Mexico (15 percent), Germany (7 percent), China (5 percent), and Vietnam (5 percent). In 2018, 43,066 people in Montana (4 percent of the state's population) were native-born Americans who had at least one immigrant parent.
What is the largest Indian tribe in Montana?
The Crow Indian ReservationTRIBAL GOVERNMENT The Crow Indian Reservation, headquartered in Crow Agency, is the largest reservation in Montana encompassing approximately 2.2 million acres. The Crow Tribe has a membership of 11,000, of whom 7,900 reside on the Crow Indian Reservation.
What was Montana like in the 1920s?
Montana was the only state that lost population during the “roaring” 1920s. The extent of the disaster was staggering, and grim statistics tell the story. Between 1919 and 1925, roughly 2 million acres passed out of production, and 11,000 farms – about 20 percent of the state's total – were vacated.
How did settlers claim land in Montana?
The Homestead Act of 1862 enabled thousands to claim land in Montana. This act offered 160 acres of public land to US citizens on the condition that they live on, cultivate, and improve it. They could then "prove up" and obtain a deed after five years. The first homestead claim was made near present-day Helena in 1868.
What was Montana before it became a territory?
It also was part of Louisiana Territory until 1812, the Missouri Territory until 1821, a general Great Plains Indian Country until 1854 and Nebraska Territory until 1861, when it became the western sector of newly created Dakota Territory.
How old is Montana?
MontanaBefore statehoodMontana TerritoryAdmitted to the UnionNovember 8, 1889 (41st)CapitalHelenaLargest cityBillings47 more rows
What was the first permanent settlement in Montana?
Roman Catholic missionaries followed the trappers into Montana. They established Saint Mary's Mission in the Bitterroot Valley, thought to be the first permanent settlement in Montana. They also promoted agriculture and built a sawmill. The discovery of gold brought many prospectors into the area in the 1860s, and Montana became a territory in 1864.
When did Montana become a territory?
The discovery of gold brought many prospectors into the area in the 1860s, and Montana became a territory in 1864 . The rapid influx of people led to boomtowns that grew rapidly and declined just as quickly when the gold ran out.
What tribes were in Montana?
Tribes include the Crows in the south central region, the Cheyenne in the southeastern part of the state, the Blackfeet, Assiniboine, and Gros Ventres in the central and north-central areas, and the Kootenai and Salish in the western sector.
What was the homestead act?
Passage of the Enlarged Homestead Act in 1909 brought tens of thousands of homestead farmers into the state looking for inexpensive land. Wheat farming was popular until an extended drought, and a drop in market prices after World War I, ruined many farmers. The homestead "bust" forced many farmers to abandon Montana.
What was the homestead bust in Montana?
The homestead "bust" forced many farmers to abandon Montana. Montana's post-World War I depression extended through the 1920s and right into the Great Depression of the 1930s. Then President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal" brought relief to the state in the form of various projects and agencies: the building of Fort Peck Dam;
How did World War II affect Montana?
As across the nation, World War II broke the hold of the Great Depression on Montana. The war brought additional federal monies to the state, but drew young people into the service and into wartime industries on the West Coast. The resultant wartime dislocation changed Montana forever.
Why did the fur trade end in the 1840s?
The fur trade was mostly over by the 1840s due to dwindling supplies of beaver and the loss of popularity of the beaver hat. Roman Catholic missionaries followed the trappers into Montana.
How did the Homestead Act of 1862 affect the settlement of Montana?
The revised Homestead Act of the early 1900s greatly affected the settlement of Montana. This act expanded the land that was provided by the Homestead Act of 1862 from 160 acres to 320 (65 to 129 ha). When the latter act was signed by President William Taft, it also reduced the time necessary to prove up from five years to three years and permitted five months absence from the claim each year.
What tribes lived in Montana?
Several major tribal groups made their home in and around the land that later became Montana. The Scout in Winter, Crow, 1908 by Edward S. Curtis. The Crow, a Siouan -language people, also known as the Apsáalooke, were the first of the native nations currently living in Montana to arrive in the region.
What is the name of the tribe of the Flathead?
The Kootenai name is also spelled Kutenai or Ktunaxa / ˈkuːtəneɪ /. They are one of three tribes of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation in Montana, and they form the Ktunaxa Nation in British Columbia, Canada. There are also Kootenai populations in Idaho and Washington.
Why were timber resources important to Montana?
Timber resources were critical to both mines and railroads. Western Montana had ample timber but not always along the most natural railroad routes, and timber near mines was quickly depleted. Thus huge swaths of timber resources were made available to private railroad and mining interests, usually in a checkerboard pattern of ownership interspersed with sections of publicly held land. The communities of Libby, Kalispell and Missoula rose in part due to the demand for timber and their location along strategic waterways.
How many colleges are there in Montana?
It put Montana's 14 campuses in five categories: two state university systems ( University of Montana and Montana State University ), a community college system emphasizing technology, tribal colleges, and independent colleges not controlled by the state.
Where was the first human burial site in North America?
The oldest dated human burial site in North America was located in 1968 near Wilsall, Montana at what is now known as the Anzick site (named for the discoverers).
Where is the Crow Indian Reservation?
In the 19th century, Crow warriors were allies and scouts for the United States Army The modern Crow Indian Reservation is Montana's largest reservation, located in southeastern Montana along the Big Horn River, in the vicinity of Hardin, Montana .
What is the history of the first inhabitants of Montana?
First Early Inhabitants of Montana. Early history examines the archaeological record that tells the story of the first inhabitants of Montana. Learn about the prehistory and culture of the first early inhabitants, and what lessons it might teach us about the early history of Montana.
Where did the first people live in Montana?
Although some tribal people believe their ancestors have lived in the northern Rocky Mountain region since the world began, archaeologists believe the first inhabitants crossed the Bering Strait from Asia around 12,000 years ago. There is evidence of a thriving culture living west of the Rocky Mountains as early as 9,000 years ago.
What were the names of the Montana tribes?
The names of the Montana tribes included the Arapaho, Arikara, Assiniboine, Atsina, Cheyenne, Chippewa, Cree, Crow, Dakota, Hidatsa, Kalispel, Kiowa (see above picture), Kutenai, Mandan, Nez Perce, Piegan, Salish (Flathead), Tunahe and the Spokane.
What tribes lived in Montana?
Before the white settlers arrived, two groups of Indian tribes lived in the region that is now Montana. The Arapaho, Assiniboine, Atsina, Blackfeet, Cheyenne, and Crow tribes lived on the plains.
What year did the prehistoric people migrate to Montana?
8,000-6,500 B.C. - Prehistoric people develop communal hunting techniques in Montana. 6,500 BC-1,500 AD - Prehistoric people populate all areas of Montana.
What happened in Wyoming in the 2,000,000 BC?
The surface collapsed thousands of feet into a magma pool and marked the area later known as Yellowstone.
Where did the Cretaceous Lance Formation occur?
80Mil BC - Upper Cretaceous Lance Formation in Montana, Wyoming and S. Dakota has fossils of Pachycephalosaurus (thick-headed lizards). They stood on two feet and were herbivorous. They had a dome-like development on the skull made of solid bone, most likely used in combat as a battering ram.
When did Montana get settled?
In the spring and summer of 1864, a heavy tide of emigration coming from the east and the west, settled in Montana, attracted to the territory by the almost fabulous accounts of the discovery of gold and silver. Many persons who were disappointed in their efforts to secure gold, and others who were naturally disposed to other pursuits, found their way into the agricultural valleys of the territory, that had previously received little attention on account of the intense excitement of the mining prospects.
Who settled in Gallatin Valley?
Alderson, an early Gallatin Valley pioneer, and corroborated by other pioneers, it was in the fall of 1863, and the spring of 1864 that the first settlements were made in Gallatin Valley by a few mountaineers. Joe Wilson, Al Nichols, J. Gallaher, Lotzenheiser brothers, Dunbar brothers and others settled near the three forks of the Missouri River, where they started Gallatin City, and W. J. Beall, D. E. Rouse, Jacob Gum, W. O. P. Hays, George D. Thomas, M. W. Penwell, Oscar E. Penwell, W. H. Babcock, F. A. Meridith and others located on the East Gallatin River.
When was the first house built in Gallatin Valley?
The first house built in Gallatin Valley was that of Frank Dunbar in 1863, at Gallatin City, near the present town of Three Forks. Mr. Dunbar used this residence later as a hotel, and some of the early day meetings of county officers were held there when Gallatin City was the county seat of Gallatin County.
When did the first family of Montana arrive?
The Montana State Genealogical Society issues First Families of Montana certificates to descendants of the very first residents who arrived before statehood on 8 November 1889.
When did Montana become a state?
The Montana State Genealogical Society issues First Families of Montana certificates to descendants of the very first residents who arrived before statehood on 8 November 1889.
When will the first family of Montana be available for shipment?
MSGS is currently taking pre-orders for this Volume and it should be available for shipment in November 2021.
What is a family descendant certificate?
Family descendant certificates will also be issued to those who provide satisfactory proof that a sister or brother of a direct descendant meets the qualifications of either a First Family or Early Settler of Montana.