Meagher County, Montana 1921
Meagher County, situated close to the
central part of Montana, is one of the oldest counties in the
state, having been created November 16, 1867. Its early
settlement was due to the discovery of gold in Madison County in
1863, an event which attracted miners and prospectors to the
state and resulted in the discovery of other various sources of
mineral wealth throughout the mountainous regions, including
Meagher County. The county has a land area of 2,369 square miles
and a general elevation of 5,000 feet above sea level, more than
half its surface being mountainous. The principal ranges of
mountains are found on the northern and southern boundaries, the
northern boundary being marked by the crest of the Little belt
range and the southern by that of the Big Belt range.
The drainage and water supply of
Meagher County are exceptionally good. The principal stream is
the Smith River, which, rising in the Castle mountains, flows
through the county in a northwesterly direction and is fed by
numerous smaller streams having their sources in the mountain
ranges to north and south. Its valley, some fifty miles long by
twelve to fifteen wide, is the chief farming district and is
practically all irrigated, the land being chiefly in the
possession of stockmen operating on a large scale and here
raising their forage for winter feed. The valley soil is
alluvial, while on the benches it is a chocolate loam. In the
eastern part of the county some non-irrigated farming is
practiced. Another important stream is Sixteen Mile Creek,
which, like Smith River, rises in the Castle Mountains and flows
west through a magnificent canyon, finally joining the Missouri
at Lombard.
The extensive stock industry includes
the raising both of cattle and sheep. Though hay is the chief
crop raised, the soil produces heavy yields of grain, samples of
which have proved prize winners in state exhibitions. Garden
vegetables also thrive well.
As already intimated, mining was
taken up at an early day, silver, lead, copper and gold being
the chief minerals found. For some years the industry
flourished, but after the surface deposits had been secured
interest declined and has been revived only recently. The
application of modern methods and improved machinery will
doubtless result in additional profit. In the northern end of
the county are some undeveloped coal deposits.
Meagher County's wealth in timber is
chiefly contained in the national forests included within its
borders, and aggregates 624,910 acres. Of this amount 77.722
acres are contained in the Absaroka Forest, 1,005 in the
Gallatin Forest, 133,489 in the Helena, and 413,634 in the
Jefferson Forest. Some lumbering is carried on, but the industry
has not yet realized its full possibilities. Like most
mountainous regions, Meagher County can boast of attractive
scenery and there is excellent fishing in many of the streams.
Meagher County is tapped by the main
line of the Milwaukee Railroad, which crosses the southern part
of the county east and west, a branch line running from Ringling
to White Sulphur Springs eighteen miles north. The Y-G-Bee Line
Trail between the Yellowstone and Glacier parks also runs
through the county, while the maintenance of good roads and
state highways has received careful attention.
White
Sulphur Springs
White Sulphur Springs, the county seat, is the chief
distributing point in the county and the only town of
importance. In 1920 it had a population of 574. Though small in
size it is one of the oldest towns in the state and one of the
richest per capita. It is well built and provided with good
modern improvements. Here are found thermal springs, owned by
John Ringling, the well-known circus proprietor, which are said
by physicians to have high curative properties. The town also
has a good high school accredited for the four years course.
Education is provided for in Meagher County by an adequate
number of rural and graded schools, in addition to the high
school above mentioned, and all are kept in a state of
satisfactory efficiency.
Montana Counties 1921
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Montana AHGP

Source: Montana its Story and Biography,
by Tom Strout, Volume 1, The American Historical Society, 1921
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