The Changes

Land Use

In the early 1900’s Jim Hill brought thousands of homesteaders to the area on his newly built railroad. The Blackfeet Reservation was shrunk again (without asking or recompensing) and the area was broken by the plow of whites.

The area also saw the advent of beef cattle driven north from Texas. These early cow operations have given birth to a strong cattle industry. Today’s herds no longer feature the Texas Longhorn, but reflect more recent immigrants like Angus, Charolais, Simmental, and Herefords.

Shortly after the turn of the century the eyes of the world shifted to the wind-swept plains of Northern Montana when oil was discovered. Today, even though the boom days are gone, there is still an active oil extraction industry in the area.

Additional pictures courtesy of Apex Angus, Glacier County Historical Museum, and the Agricultural Museum at Fort Benton.

Referencing the Changes in Montana Population, please concentrate on the area known as the High Line or top central part of Montana. This was also the northern most area traveled by Lewis

In 1900 the population was low, probably due to the fact that agriculture dominated the economic activity of the area.

In 1940 the population grows slightly and in 1960 the population is at it's height as the oil industry becomes one of the greatest employers of the region.

The map in 1990 show a decline in the population as the oil runs out in the area and rural residents are forced to move out of state or to the more urban areas of Montana.