Montana History: Difference between revisions

'''1803-1850s<nowiki>:</nowiki>''''''''<nowiki>&nbsp;</nowiki>'''''<nowiki>The United States acquired from France the area of Montana east of the mountains.&nbsp;Britain relinquished its claims to the western section in 1846.&nbsp;Until the 1850s</nowiki>, Montana was the domain of Indians, explorers, fur traders, trappers, and missionaries.

'''1841'''<nowiki>: &nbsp;Jesuit priests founded St. Mary's mission.&nbsp;In the 1850's this mission became the center of ranching activity in the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana.</nowiki>

'''1846'''<nowiki>: &nbsp;Fort Benton, the only Montana trading post to become a permanent settlement, was established on the Missouri River.</nowiki>

'''1859'''<nowiki>: &nbsp;Steamboats first reached Fort Benton.</nowiki>

'''1860s'''<nowiki>: &nbsp;Montana west of the continental divide was designated Missoula County, Washington Territory, in 1860.&nbsp;In 1861 the unsettled eastern portion was attached to Dakota Territory.&nbsp;In 1863 and 1864 all of Montana was included in Idaho Territory.</nowiki>

'''1862-1864'''<nowiki>: &nbsp;The discovery of gold in western Montana brought an influx of miners to Bannack, Virginia City, and Helena.&nbsp;Many of the miners began farming and set up supply centers—such as Missoula, Deer Lodge, and Bozeman.</nowiki>

'''1864'''<nowiki>: &nbsp;Montana Territory was established with nine counties.</nowiki>

'''1880s'''<nowiki>: &nbsp;Railroads first crossed Montana. The population of the territory was about 40,000.</nowiki>

'''1889'''<nowiki>: &nbsp;Montana became a state.</nowiki>

'''1910-1925'''<nowiki>: &nbsp;The number of counties doubled from 28 to the present 56 as homesteaders moved into eastern Montana.&nbsp;By 1930 a cycle of drought years had driven many of the settlers from the state.</nowiki>