Montana Department of Labor & Industry

The Blackfeet Indians were the first inhabitants of what is now defined as Glacier County, moving into the area from Saskatchewan around 1730. Though Lewis and Clark passed through in 1806, very few pioneers ventured into the territory due to conflicts with the Blackfeet Tribe. Only a few trappers and fur traders were willing to endure the territory’s hardships in order to survive.

As with many Montana communities, the railroad played a major role in the development of Glacier County. Great Northern Railroad crews reached the area in 1890 and established a small station at Cut Bank. The arrival of the railroad helped expand the growing mining and livestock industries. Today the railroad still plays a big role in farming operations, with grain shipped to the west coast for the Asian markets.

In this issue of Main Street Montana, our focus is on the new opportunities on the horizon for Glacier County. We’ll talk about the latest wind farm and how the Montana Alberta Transmission Line will benefit the county and the rest of the state, the history behind a couple of the area’s well known local businesses, and training opportunities the Incumbent Worker Training Program will open up for small businesses.