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.
What was the first group of white explorers in Montana?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806 was the first group of white explorers to cross Montana. Hard on the heels of the expedition arrived the fur trappers and traders.
Why did Montana become a territory in 1864?
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. As more white people came into the area, Indians lost access to their traditional hunting grounds, and conflicts grew.
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
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 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.
Can you still claim land in Montana?
Is Homesteading in Montana Legal? The good news is that homesteading is legal in Montana. Homesteading in the state dates back to the Homestead Act of 1862, enabling US citizens to claim land provided that they lived on it, cultivated it, and improved it.
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 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.
Who owned Montana before the US?
On November 8, 1889, Montana was admitted as the 41st state. 1700s - French fur traders enter the region. 1803 - The United States buys much of Montana from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase. 1804 - Lewis and Clark travel through Montana on their way to the Pacific Ocean.
What was Montana called before it was a state?
Montana territoryMontana territory was organized from the existing Idaho Territory by Act of Congress and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 28, 1864.
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.
Are there alot of Germans in Montana?
An estimated 8 million Germans arrived in the 19th century. Another 7.5 million arrived between 1820 and 1870, drawn to the United States in hopes of finding religious freedom, economic opportunity and land. Today, about 27 percent of Montana residents are of German descent – the seventh highest percent in the nation.
What did Montana used to be called?
Before the creation of Montana Territory (1864–1889), areas within present-day Montana were part of the Oregon Territory (1848–1859), Washington Territory (1853–1863), Idaho Territory (1863–1864), and Dakota Territory (1861–1864).
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.
How old is Montana?
MontanaBefore statehoodMontana TerritoryAdmitted to the UnionNovember 8, 1889 (41st)CapitalHelenaLargest cityBillings47 more rows
What was Montana called before it was a state?
This is a Timeline of pre-statehood Montana history comprising substantial events in the history of the area that would become the State of Montana prior to November 8, 1889. This area existed as Montana Territory from May 28, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Montana.
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 was the first permanent settlement in Montana?
1841 - In 1841 missionaries built St. Mary's Mission, the first attempt at a permanent settlement. 1847 - In 1847, the American Fur Company built Fort Benton on the Missouri River. This town is now Montana's oldest continuously populated town. 1862 - Gold was discovered in Grasshopper Creek in 1862.
When was gold discovered in Montana?
1862 - Gold was discovered in Grasshopper Creek in 1862. Thousands of prospectors built mining camps throughout Montana as gold strikes were discovered. 1863 - Virginia City was founded in 1863 and is considered to be the most complete original town of its kind in the United States.
What was the name of the battle that the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians took place in 1876?
1876 - In 1876, the U.S. Army arrived at the Little Bighorn River to place all Native Americans on reservations. In the famous battle known as "Custer's Last Stand ,"Sioux and Cheyenne Indians killed Lieutenant George A. Custer and more than 200 of his men in less than 20 minutes.
What is the density of Montana?
The density of the state is six people per square mile. 1969 -. Montana agate was adopted as Montana official gem stone. The Saphire Gem stone was adopted as Montana Official State Gem stone. The Montana Yogo Sapphire is the only North American gem to be included in the Crown Jewels of England.
How many mammals are there in Montana?
No state has as many different species of mammals as Montana. The average square mile of land contains 1.4 elk, 1.4 pronghorn antelope, and 3.3 deer. 46 out of Montana's 56 counties are considered "frontier counties" with an average population of 6 or fewer people per square mile.
When did moose go extinct?
1900 - The moose, now numbering over 8,000 in Montana, was thought to be extinct in the Rockies south of Canada in the 1900s. 1905 - Montana State Flag Find out more...
Who built the first jail in Montana?
The notorious outlaw, Henry Plummer, built the first jail constructed in the state. Flathead Lake in northwest Montana contains over 200 square miles of water and 185 miles of shoreline. It is considered the largest natural freshwater lake in the west. Miles City is known as the Cowboy Capitol.
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 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.
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.
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.
Overview
Military history
The first permanent settlement in Montana was Fort Benton, established as a fur trading post in 1847. It was named in honor of Senator Thomas Hart Benton, who encouraged settlement of the West. The U.S. Army took over the commercial fort in 1869 and a detachment of the 7th Infantry remained in the town until 1881. Its location on the Missouri River marked the farthest practical point upriver that steamboats could navigate. With the arrival of the first steamboats in 1860, th…
Indigenous peoples
Archeological evidence has shown indigenous peoples lived in the area for more than 12,000 years. 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). The human remains of a male infant, found at the Anzick site along with Clovis culture artifacts, establish the earliest known huma…
Louisiana Purchase
On April 30, 1803, the Louisiana Purchase Treaty was signed by representatives of the U.S. at Paris, France. The United States Senate ratified the treaty on October 20 and President Thomas Jefferson announced the treaty to the American people on July 4, 1803. The area covered by the purchase included much of the present-day United States between the Continental Divide and the …
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Louisiana Purchase sparked interest in knowing the character of the lands the nation had purchased, including their flora and fauna and the peoples who inhabited them. President Thomas Jefferson, an advocate of exploration and scientific inquiry, had the Congress appropriate $2,500 for an expedition up the Missouri River and down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. He had envisioned an expedition of this nature since at least the early 1790s, due to his driving interest t…
First settlements
St. Mary's Mission was the first permanent European settlement in Montana. Through interactions with Iroquois between 1812 and 1820, the Salish people learned about Christianity and the Jesuit missionaries (known as "blackrobes"), who worked with Native tribes teaching about agriculture, medicine, and religion. Interest in these "blackrobes" grew among the Salish. In 1831, four young Salish men were dispatched to St. Louis, Missouri to request a "blackrobe" to return with them t…
Montana Territory
After the discovery of gold in the region, Montana was designated as a United States territory (Montana Territory) on May 26, 1864 and, with rapid population growth, as the 41st state on November 8, 1889.
Montana territory was organized from the existing Idaho Territory by Act of Congress and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 28, 1864. …
Indian Wars
The Battle of the Little Bighorn—also called Custer's Last Stand and the Battle of the Greasy Grass—was an armed engagement between a Lakota (Sioux)-Northern Cheyenne-Arapaho combined force and the 7th Cavalry of the United States Army. It occurred June 25–June 26, 1876, near the Little Bighorn River in eastern Montana Territory near present-day Hardin, Montana, on land that tod…