Sweet Grass County, Montana 1921
The County of Sweet Grass came into
existence as a political division of Montana early in the year
1895, having been organized from Meagher, Park and Yellowstone
counties. It was reduced to its present area and boundaries by
yielding portions of its original territory to Stillwater, in
1913, and to Wheatland County, in 1917.
The county derives its name from
Sweet Grass Creek, which flows from the eastern slope of the
Crazy Mountains to the Yellowstone River, and to the late Judge
William G. Strong belongs the honor of naming the county. The
creek received its name from the abundant and fragrant grass
which grows in its valley and which gives forth a peculiar odor
like vanilla. Once enjoyed, the fragrance is never forgotten and
brings a full appreciation of the significance of the name.
The County Develops
As the Yellowstone Valley divides
Sweet Grass County into two nearly equal portions, that portion
of the state is identified with many of its great historic
events, such as the Verendrye and Lewis and Clark expeditions,
the Crow Indian treaties and agencies, and the trailing's of the
emigrants under such leaders as John Bozeman and James Bridger
toward Utah, Oregon and the California coast. The first
settlements were made along Sweet Grass Creek in the late '70s,
the chief sources of supplies being then Bozeman and Miles City.
With the completion of the Northern Pacific late in 1882 came a
new order of things, the modern order. The old stage stations
that had done duty so long along the route from Bozeman to Miles
City were replaced by railroad towns. Dornix, later replaced by
Big Timber, became a center of population and, when Sweet Grass
County was created, in 1895, the seat of its government and
courts.
The legislative act which created it
provided that Big Timber should be the county seat until after
the general election of November, 1896, when the matter of its
location should be decided by the voters. In the meantime Sweet
Grass County was to form a part of the Sixth Judicial District.
The act also provided for the distribution of the indebtedness
of Park, Yellowstone and Meagher counties, from which Sweet
Grass was formed, the amounts of which were to be determined on
certain fixed dates in the succeeding March and June. Such
indebtedness was to be reckoned at the close of business March
I, 1895. These matters were accordingly adjusted; Sweet Grass
County commenced to function on the 9th of March, 1895, and at
the fall election of 1896 Big Timber was voted the permanent
seat of justice and government.
Sweet Grass County of Today
Sweet Grass County, lies in the south
central part of Montana. It has the shape of an inverted right
angle, the apex pointing south. The county is divided naturally
into two portions, a northern and a southern, by the valley of
the Yellowstone River, having a length through the county of
fifty-five miles and a width of from two to five miles. South of
the east-flowing river the land rises gradually to a high range
of mountains, in which the Boulder and Stillwater rivers have
their source. The rise north of the Yellowstone culminates in
the Crazy Mountains, where are found the head waters of Big
Timber, Sweet Grass and Otter creeks.
Some timber is found in this region,
in the northwestern part of the county, but the chief timbered
area is in the southern end, where 200,273 acres of the county
are included in the Beartooth National Forest. Minerals of
various kinds, including coal, have been found in the southern
portion, but have not yet been commercially developed to a
sufficient extent to determine their value.
At present the most important
industries are cattle and sheep raising, but dairying, swine
raising and bee keeping have been started and are making
satisfactory progress. General farming is also followed to some
extent, the principal crops raised being wild hay and alfalfa,
all kinds of small grain, and garden produce, together with some
fruit. The chief agricultural districts lie in the valleys of
the Yellowstone River and Boulder, Big Timber, Sweet Grass,
American Fork and Otter creeks.
There is a large Carey irrigation
project in the county and much additional land in the valleys is
irrigated from private ditches. The soil varies from a deep
black loam to a light soil with a gravel subsoil. There are
considerable areas of good grazing land in the county. The price
of irrigated lands varies from $60 to $150 an acre, depending
upon location and degree of improvement; non-irrigated farming
lands cost from $15 to $30, and grazing land from $7 to $12 an
acre. Tourists seeking rest and diversion amid the beauties of
nature may find magnificent scenery and fine hunting and fishing
in the southern part of the county.
Along the course of the Yellowstone
River the county is traversed by the main line of the Northern
Pacific Railway, and also by all the main transcontinental
highways. Surveys have been made for branch railroad lines
through the northern part of the county, though construction
work has not yet been started. The county presents wide
opportunities for the further development of irrigated land, the
water for which is now available.
In 1920 Sweet Grass County had a
population of 4,926. More than one-quarter of the inhabitants,
or a total of 1,282, were residing in the county seat, Big
Timber, an attractive place with fine business establishments
and residences. It is situated at an altitude of 4,072 feet
above sea level and is the center of a rich region. It is
supplied with adequate water works and an efficient electric
system and its business interests include hotels, elevators, a
creamery and a newspaper. There is estimated to be about 20,000
horse-power available from the Yellowstone River at this place.
Besides the graded schools, the Sweet Grass County High School,
accredited for a four-year course, is located at Big Timber.
Other towns of importance in the county are Melville in the
northern, and McLeod in the southern part. The rural and other
schools are 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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