Place Name

County

Description

Aber Mountain

Missoula

A mountain named for Professor Aber of the University of Montana

Alberton

Mineral

A town named for Albert J. Earling at one time president of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway - One reference states "The Milwaukee Road: Its First Hundred Years" by August Derleth, New York, Creative Age Press 1948, page 270 wherein it is stated:  Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company 2/11/1874 Deeded 12/31/1927 to Chicago, Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Company, incorporated 3/31/1927.  Thus on 1/1/1928, CMStP&P became operational.  The name change came about as a result of the reorganization of the bankrupt CM&StP in 1925.

Aldridge

Park

A Town named for Mr. Aldridge, director of the Montana Coal & Coke company

Allendale

Yellowstone

A town named for Dr. W.A. Allen, who laid out the townsite

Alzada

Carter

A town named for Mrs. Alzada Sheldon, who came to that section in 1883.  Was first known as Stoneville for Lew Stone, who settled there in 1877.  Name changed in 1890

Anaconda

Deer Lodge

County Seat, named for the Anaconda Mine at Butte. Name chosen by Michael Hickey (mine owner) from a remark by Horace Greeley, that McClellan's army would surrender Lee's like a giant anaconda

Arlee

Lake

Named for Flathead Indian chief, Arlee

Armstead

Beaverhead

A Town named for Harry Armstead, a mining man who developed the Silver Fissure mine at Polaire

Ashley

Petroleum

A town named for Eben L. Ashley, who homesteaded there in early days

Assiniboine

Hill

Indian Tribe, old fort, & military reservation. 1) Name means "stone boilers" Indians boiled meat by dropping heated stones into the water. 2) Name refers to stony nature of this Indian land

Augusta

Lewis & Clark

A town named for a daughter of D. J. Hogan, a prominent rancher of the vicinity.  Info received from Joseph Ford of Missoula, formerly a resident of the Sun River section

Aznoe

Chouteau

A town named for Walter & Myron Aznoe, the former having the post office on his homestead from 1913-1915.  Info from Mrs. Elizabeth Shiell

Babb

Glacier

A Town named for C.C. Babb, the district engineer in charge of the St. Mary's irrigation project

Bainville

Roosevelt

A town named for C. M. Bainville a local resident of that section

Baker

Fallon

County Seat. Named for A.G. Baker, engineer with Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway. Original Name of station was Lorraine

Banna[o]ck

Beaverhead

Named for tribe of Indians who inhabited the area. Term meant either "southern people" or "root diggers"

Barker

Judith Basin

A town named for "Buck" Barker, who with Pat Hughes, discovered a mine in this section, October 23, 1879

Battrick

Fergus

A town named for a post master, a local resident

Bay Horse

Powder River

A town named for a creek of that name, which in turn derived its name from a bay stallion, the leader of a band of wild horses that ranged there in early days

Bear Paw Mountains

Hill, Blaine, Chouteau

Named for the various ridges that resemble a bear's paw

Beaverhead

Beaverhead

a County & river; river named for a rock in the Twin Bridges area similar in shape to a beaver's head. The county's name was passed on from the Indians to Lewis & Clark

Belgrade

Gallatin

A town named in honor of a capitalist from Belgrade, Serbia, who traveled through town on a Northern Pacific special train en route to the driving of the golden spike completing the road

Belltower

Carter

A town named for a butte in the neighborhood, resembling a bell in shape

Bennett Creek

Carbon

A creek named for Captain Bennett of the United States Army, who was killed by Indians in 1878

Bernice

Jefferson

A town named for Miss Bernice Cannon, daughter of Charles W. Cannon of Helena, vice president of the old Montana Central Railroad

Big Horn

Big Horn

County & river; named for Rocky Mountain sheep, frequently called "big horn"

Big Swamp Creek

Beaverhead

A creek named from large amount of swamp land caused by beaver dams

Big Timber

Sweet Grass

A town who's name is a misnomer as there is not natural timber on the townsite or near it.  Named for the old Big Timber stage station at mouth of Big Timber creek

Billings

Yellowstone

County Seat. Named from member of Billings family; 1)Fredrick Billings, an early president of the Northern Pacific Railway or 2) his son Parmley

Billmar Creek

Park

A town named for Andrew Billmar, an early settler

Birdseye

Lewis & Clark

A town probably named for Charles G. Birdseye, a prominent resident of this section in early days

Birdtail Divide

Cascade

A spur of hills, one peak of which has a remarkable resemblance to a bird's tail spread

Birney

Rosebud

A town named by Joe Brown for his partner in the cattle business

Bitterroot

?

Mountains & Valley; named after the bitterroot plant. Indians called the northern end of the valley "Place of the Bitterroot" Lewis & Clark applied the name to the whole valley

Blackfoot

Glacier

Named for the Blackfoot [Blackfeet] Indians. Legend goes this way; a chief so unsuccessful in the chase that his father blackened his feet with charcoal & named him "Satsiaqua" "blackfeet"

Blackwood

Gallatin

A town named for Edward L. Blackwood &  A. B. Blackwood who settled there in 1880 & whose farms adjoin the townsite

Blaine

Blaine

Named for James G. Blaine, United States Senator from Maine

Blair

Roosevelt

A town named for Sidney D. Blair, a local resident

Bloody Dick Creek

Beaverhead

A creek named for an Englishman living there in the "60's" who was known by that nickname.                      (Noyes,  Anaconda Standard, February 20,1916)

Bonner

Missoula

A town named fro E.L. Bonner, an early settler in Missoula and first president of the Missoula and Bitterroot Valley Railroad

Boulder

Jefferson

County Seat.  Named for nearby stream along which there are numerous boulders

Boyes

Carter

A town named for a Mr. Boyes, a resident of the vicinity

Bozeman

Gallatin

County Seat. Named for John M. Bozeman, pioneer, who led the first settlers into the Gallatin valley in 1864.  He was killed by Indians in 1867

Bridger

Carbon

A town named for Jim Bridger, scout, fur trader and guide.  Its original name was Stringtown

Broadus

Powder River

County Seat. Named for the Broaddus family, early settlers on the Powder River.  One of the "D"s was left out by mistake in Washington D.C.

Broadwater

Broadwater

A County named for Colonel Charles A. Broadwater, a pioneer

Brockway

McCone

A town named for a James Brockway, an early settler in that section

Browning

Glacier

A town named for Commissioner Browning of the Bureau of Indian Affairs

Brown's Gulch

Silver Bow

A gulch named for Peter Brown, who with his father, John Brown, located a claim there in the "60's"

Bruffey's

Park

A town named for George, an early settler in the vicinity

Burtonville

Teton

A town named for Z.T. Burton, founder of the settlement

Butte

Silver Bow

Named for a prominent butte overlooking the city

Bynum

Teton

A town named for the Bynum family, early settlers in the region

Cable

Deer Lodge

A town named for the Atlantic Cable mine, discovered in 1866 (Lesson's History of Montana, pg 581))

Calvin

Jefferson

A town named for Amos Calvin, old time resident of this section

Camas

Sanders

A town named for the Indian term for a small onion which grows wild in the state

Canton

Broadwater

A town named for Canton, New York, in St Lawrence county, as some of the early settlers of this region came from that town

Canyon Creek

Lewis & Clark

A town named for canyon creek which flows through the valley to the Missouri river

Carbon

Carbon

A county named because of the presence of coal deposits in the county

Careless Creek

Wheatland

A creek named by Wilham Berkin on a trip through here in 1865 from an incident of careless nature which occurred at the time

Carleton

Missoula

A town named for Mrs. Robert Carleton, an early settler in the vicinity

Carter

Carter

A county named for  former United States Senator Thomas H. Carter

Cascade

Cascade

County named because it contains the Great Falls of the Missouri River

Chance

Carbon

A town named for Nathan Chance, a stockman & early settler

Charlo

Lake

A town named for Charlot, a chief of the Flathead Indians

Chester

Liberty

County Seat. A town named by a railroad telegrapher after his home town, Chester, Pennsylvania

Chief Mountain

Glacier

"Steven's Report of a Survey", Vol. 1 pg. 549 says the mountain was named for John Rowand, chief factor of the Hudson Bay company, at Fort Edmonton

Chinook

Blaine

County Seat.  A town named for the chinook winds which blow over the area.  Its original name was Dawes

Chouteau

Chouteau

A county & town spelled [Chouteau]: for the Chouteau family.  Pierre Chouteau Sr. was the founder of the Missouri River Fur Company, and his son Pierre, Jr. was for many years associated with the American Fur Co. company

Cinnabar

Park

A town named for a mountain exposing a vertical reef formation, one of which is an intense red color which was formerly supposed to be cinnabar, red oxide of mercury

Circle

McCone

A town & county seat named after the brand used by an early day outfit, which was owned by two men named Cross & Twiggly

Clancy

Jefferson

A town named for Clancy Creek, which in turn was named for an old timer, known as "Judge" Clancy who died in Las Angeles in October 1882

Clark Fork

??

Two rivers: Clark Fork of the Columbia and Clark Fork of the Yellowstone.  Both were named in honor of Captain William Clark of the Lewis & Clark expedition

Clyde Park

Park

A town who's name origin has two version; 1) Name stems from raising Clydesdale horses in the Shields River Valley in the early days. 2) Named for Clyde DuRand, an early rancher

Cohagen

Garfield

A town named for a Mr. Cohagen, a resident of the vicinity

Colstrip

Rosebud

Town with a composite name, Coal Strip.  Home of the largest single coal mine in Montana. The coal bed is nearly flat with a small amount of rock on top. The rock is stripped off & the coal is mined by steam shovels.

Columbia Falls

Flathead

A town so named, since the townsite was to be located close to the falls on Flathead River, which is part of the headwaters of the Columbia River

Columbus

Stillwater

City & county seat, 1) named for Christopher Columbus 2) named for Columbus, Minnesota

Comanche

Stillwater

Stream & town.  The village was named after the stream, & the stream was named after a horse, the sole survivor of the battle along the Little Big Horn in 1876  The horse was named after the Comanche Indians

Comertown

Sheridan

A town named for W.W. Comer, a local resident

Conrad

Pondera

A town named in honor of Mr. W. G. Conrad, the moving figure, in the Conrad Investment company, which owned a large part of the territory in this vicinity

Cooke City

Park

A town named for Hay Cooke Jr., who was interested in mining claims in the district

Coombs

Stillwater

A town near Big Lake & on the Rapalje branch line of the Northern Pacific Railway. The name is after a family of that name who were farmers living in this vicinity.

Corwin Springs

Park

A station near Yellowstone Park, named fro Dr. Corwin who built & operated a hotel there

Coulson

Yellowstone

An old town named for the Coulson firm of steamboat builders & owned the Coulson line of boats.  The townsite lies near the present site of Billings

Covallis

Ravalli

A town named from & settled by people from Corvallis, Oregon.

Craig

Cascade

A town named for Mr. Warren Craig, a pioneer resident of the place

Crandall Creek

Carbon

A creek named for of that name who was killed near there by Indians in 1876

Crane

Gallatin

A town later changed name to Cardinal

Crane

Richland

Town still known by that name, & is named after the owner of Crane's ranch at this place, as shown on a map dated 1881

Craver

Stillwater

Named for J.C. Craver, superintendent for Northern Pacific Railroad

Cruse

Lewis & Clark

A town named after Thomas Cruse of Helena, a banker & discoverer of the Drum Lummon mine

Culbertson

Roosevelt

A town named in honor of Alexander Culbertson, chief factor of the American Fur Company at Fort Union, who established a number of trading posts on the Upper Missouri & Marias Rivers

Curry

Dawson

A town named after Howard Curry mechanical superintendent at one time of the Northern Pacific Railroad

Cushman

Golden Valley

A town on the old Billings Northern railway, named for Mr. Cushman, a local ranch owner & old settler, a cowboy & a conductor on the Montana railway

Custer

Treasure

A town named for Lieut. Col. G. A. Custer, afterwards General Custer was killed by Indians in 1876

Cut Bank

Glacier

County seat.  A town & river named from deep gorge near the city made by Cut Bank Creek

Cyanide

Lewis & Clark

A town named for the cyanide treatment of ore, as a large plant was operated there for years

Cyr

Mineral

A station named for A. Cyr & E. Cyr from whom right of way for Northern Pacific railway was acquired.

Dalley

Park

A station on the Livingston-Gardiner-Yellowstone Park line of the Northern pacific railroad. Named for Ebenezer & Samuel Dalley, property owners there.

Daniels

Daniels

A county named after Mansfield A. Daniels, a pioneer, rancher & storekeeper

Danmor

Jefferson

A station on the Northern Pacific Railroad in Jefferson Canyon, near Lewis & Clark Cavern.  Named after Dan Morrison, discoverer of the cave

Danvers

Fergus

A station on the Milwaukee railroad between Lewistown & Great Falls.  Named by C.A. Goodnow after an old Massachusetts town

Darby

Ravalli

A town named in honor of the first postmaster, James R. Darby

Darby

Ravalli

A town named after James Darby, a pioneer farmer near there

D'Aste

Lake

A station on the Dixon to Polson branch line of the Northern Pacific railroad.  Named for the Jesuit Indian missionary

Dawson

Dawson

A county named for Maj. Andrew Dawson of the American Fur company.

Dawson

Silver Bow

A station west of Butte

De Borgia

Mineral

Town & church derived their name from the St Regis or St. Regis de Borgia River.  St. Regis de Borgia was given to the river by father De Smet in 1841 whom belonged to the St. Francis de Borgia order of Jesuits

De Smet

Missoula

A station named after a Jesuit Indian missionary, father Pierre Jean De Smet.  His mission at Stevensville was established in 1841

Dearborn

Lewis & Clark

River named by Lewis & Clark on July 16, 1805, in honor of Henry Dearborn, then secretary of state

Deer Lodge

Powell

County seat situated in the Deer Lodge valley.  Called by Indians "Lodge of the White-Tailed Deer" Also said to be named from a salt-lick where deer came in droves.

Deer Park

Gallatin

A town named because of an Indian tradition that deer use to come here in large numbers every winter to a small lake in the vicinity

Deever

Park

A station near Gardiner named after Mr. Deevers, owner of a stockyard at this point

Dehart

Sweet Grass

A station west of Big Timber, named after H.A. Dehart of Big Timber, former rancher & father of Jake Dehart, former fish & game commissioner & stock shipper.

Dempsey

Powell

A station named from Dempsey Creek, which was named from Robert Dempsey, a Montana pioneer who had a ranch on the creek in 1862

Denton

Fergus

A town named after two brothers by the name of Dent who were stockmen and who owned the land on which the original town of Denton was located. They considered Dent too short so lengthened name to Denton

Dewey

Beaverhead

A town named for D.S. Dewey, an early-day rancher in the vicinity

Dillon

Beaverhead

A city named fro Sidney Dillon, president of the Union Pacific Railroad, who directed completion of the railroad from Utah to Butte

Dodson

Phillips

A town named for an old-timer, who had a store and saloon there prior to the building of the railroad or just as it was built through.  The post office was first named for Mr. Dodson

Donald

Madison

A post office named for Donald A. McIntosh, one of the McIntosh brothers general contractors for the construction of the C. M.& St. Paul line east of Butte

Donlan

Sanders

A station named after Ed Donlan, lumberman & state senator from Missoula, Montana

Dooley

Sheridan

A town named for W.D. Dooley, a local merchant

Doolittle Creek

Beaverhead

A creek named for an early settler (Anaconda Standard, February 20, 1916)

Dowd

Roosevelt

A town named for a man of that name

Dowlin

Rosebud

A station on the Colstrip branch line, named after Charles Dowlin, at one time state senator

Dracut

Cascade

A station on the Great Falls-Agawam branch line of the Milwaukee railroad.  Named for Dracut, Massachusetts

Drummond

Granite

Town named after a trapper by the name of Drummond, who operated a line of traps in this territory  Originally known as Drummond Camp, but later changed to Drummond

Duffy

Lewis & Clark

A town named for John Duffy, an old-time settler in the vicinity

Dupuyer

Teton

A town named from Dupuyer Creek, which took its name from the French word "depouilles" for the "back fat of a buffalo"

Durant

Silver Bow

Station named by Mr. M.S. Dean, now traffic manager for the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. at Chicago.  He had a friend in NY by the name of Durant and named the station in his honor

Dwyer

Roosevelt

A town named in honor for Jack Dwyer, a resident of the vicinity

East Portal

Mineral

Station so named because the station is at the east end of the St. Paul pass.  East Portal Tunnel at summit of the Coeur d'Alene mountains

Eastham

Teton

A station named for Eastham, Massachusetts

Edgar

Carbon

Poet office & station near Fromberg, named for Henry Edgar, who in 1863 named Alder Creek, & who was with "Bill" Fairweather & others in Alder Gulch when gold was discovered there in 1863

Edilou

Gallatin

Station on the Bozeman-Mineral branch line, named for the son, Edward & daughter, Louise of C.F. Allen, resident engineer engaged in construction of the C. M. & St. Paul railway.

Edwards

Garfield

A town named for john E. Edwards, a prominent citizen of the state and a resident of the section.

Ekalaka

Carter

County seat named after a Sioux Indian girl born on the Powder River, & wife of David Harrison Russell, an intrepid scout, hunter & all round frontiersman.

Electric

Park

A station named from Electric Peak, so named because of the electricity felt by a party during a storm in 1872

Elizabeth Lake

Missoula

A lake and falls named for Mrs. Tom Francis Meagher, supposedly by her husband.

Ennis

Madison

A town named fro William Enis, who came to Bannock in 1863 and who was a farmer and resident of this town.

Erlice

Gallatin

A station named for the daughter of Taylor Hamilton, a farmer who settled here in 1885

Evans

Cascade

A town named for Capt. John H. Evans, an early resident of the vicinity

Evaro

Missoula

A station named in honor of a French count, who journeyed through this territory in the early days

Fairview

Richland

A town named by L. E. Newlon, who  homesteaded where Fairview now stands.  He had the first store & was the first postmaster & named the town Fairview because of his Fairview of the lower Yellowstone valley

Fallon

Prairie

A town & county in Eastern Montana, named for Benjamin O'Fallon, United States Indian Agent

Falls Yard

Cascade

A terminal named because of its location near Great Falls

Farmington

Teton

A station on the Great Falls-Agawam branch line.  The name was given to this locality by the early settlers, on account of the character of the land or farming region

Feeley

Silver bow

A town named for J. Feeley, an early settler in the vicinity

Ferdig

Toole

A town named for an oil man who owned property in that section

Fergus

Fergus

Station & county.  The station was named for Andrew Fergus, one of the first settlers of Fergus county & a rancher in the vicinity.  Fergus county was named after his father

Finch

Rosebud

A station named for F. N. Finch, at one time superintendent of a division of the Northern Pacific Railway

Findon

Meagher

A town named for Findon, Scotland, by Mrs. Mary C. Grant, who settled there in 1881

Finn

Powell

A post office named for a family of that name

Finn

Jefferson

A station named for J.D. Finn, superintendent of Northern Pacific Railway

Fisher Creek

Lincoln

A town named for Jack Fisher, an early-day trapper & hunter (info from F.B. Lindermann)

Fishtrap

Deer Lodge

A town was so named since Lee Marsh built a trap for fish on the creek there and peddled his catch in the mining camps

Flathead

Flathead

A lake, county & river, named after an Indian Tribe

Fleshner

Lewis & Clark

A town named for an early settler of the locality

Florence

Lewis & Clark

A town named for Florence, a daughter of Ed Lippincott & wife T. P. Fuller (Info from Joseph Ford of Missoula, formerly of Sun River)

Florence

Ravalli

A town named for Florence Abbot Hammond, wife of A. P. Hammond formerly of Missoula

Flume

Teton

A station named for a large irrigation flume which crosses the Great Northern line here

Flynn

Rosebud

A station near Forsyth, named for T. M. Flynn, superintendent of Northern Pacific railway

Foraker

Mineral

A station on the Milwaukee railroad, named for United State Senator, Foraker

Forsyth

Rosebud

A town & county seat, named after Gen. James W. Forsyth, the first United States army officer to land by steamer at the site of the present town.

Fort Benton

Chouteau

A town on the site of an old post established in 1850, named for Thomas H. Benton of Missouri & at one time United States senator from that state

Fort Keo[u]gh

Custer

Near Miles City, was a United States army post in 1877, named for Capt. Keogh, and built by Nelson A. Miles Now a bird refuge.

Fort Logan

Meagher

A town named for Capt. Logan, killed in battle of the  Big Hole

Fort Piegan

Glacier

A station that was formerly called Carlow.  The new name was given to revive the memory of old Fort Piegan, the first trading post established among the Blackfoot Indians by the American Fur Company

Fort Shaw

Cascade

A town on the Vaughn-August branch line of the Great Northern Railroad.  Established in 1867 as Camp Reynolds, name changed to Fort Shaw in memory of Col. Robert G. Shaw,  killed at Fort Wagner in 1863.

Fort Union

Roosevelt

A town whose name was formerly Mondak.  Name changed to Fort Union in 1925 in memory of the important post of the American Fur Co. by the name which stood at this location nearly a century ago.

Foster

Big Horn

A post office named after a son of Mr. J.M. Hannaford

Fox

Carbon

A town near Red Lodge, named after J.M. Fox, prominent citizen of Red Lodge, MT & father of Judge Sidney Fox

Frenchtown

Missoula

The early inhabitants were largely French Canadian, hence the name

Fridley

Park

A town named for a man who founded the town & settled in the region early in its history

Froid

Roosevelt

The name was suggested by Division Engineer, Charles A. Walker, who got it from an old map of Nebraska

Fromberg

Carbon

A town formerly called Gebo after a man by that name who operated coal mines at that point, but later was changed to Fromberg, a Slovenian name, There are a number of Slovenians in this territory

Fullerton

Fergus

A town named for Mr. Fuller, a rancher in that section

Galen

Deer Lodge

A town named after Dr. Galen, a noted doctor & physician on tuberculosis.  Home of Montana tuberculosis sanitarium

Gallagher

Yellowstone

A town north of Billings, named after the engineer who worked on the B& C. M. branch & was depot master at Missoula at one time

Gallatin

Gallatin

A station, county & river. The river was named by Capt. Louis July 27, 1805, in honor of Albert Gallatin, then Secretary of the Treasury.

Gardiner

Park

A town named for the Gardiner River which was so called for Johnson Gardiner, a fur trapper in early days.

Garfield

Garfield

A county in east & central Montana, probably named after President James Garfield.

Garneill

Fergus

A town named after a local resident Mr. Garneill and his wife Garnet.

Garrison

Powell

A town & railroad center, named for William Lloyd Garrison, antislavery advocate.

Garryowen

Big Horn

A siding about six miles south of Crow Agency, named for the band piece of the same name which the old Seventh Calvary band used to play.

Gaspard

Missoula

A station so named because right of way was acquired from Gaspard Deschamps.

Gearing

Lewis & Clark

A town named for a family of that name who lived near by.

Gehard

Fergus

A town named for an early settler of that section.

Georgetown

Deer Lodge

A town named for George Cameron, an early miner of that section. (Leeson's history of Montana, page 581)

Geraldine

Chouteau

A town named after Mrs. Geraldine Rockefeller, wife of William Rockefeller, a director of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway.

Gibbons

Beaverhead

A town named for Gen. John Gibbon

Gilbert

Powell

A station named for F. W. Gilbert, general superintendent of Northern Pacific Railroad.

Gilman

Lewis & Clark

A town named for L.C. Gilman, vice-president of Great Northern Railway.

Gird's Creek

Ravalli

A creek named for A. K. Gird, a deserter from Johnson's army who took a claim & settled on the creek in 1857-8 (Info from Frank Woody)

Glacier

Glacier

A county named after Glacier Park, next to which it lies.

Glasgow

Valley

A city & county seat, named from the city in Scotland by the Great northern Railway.

Glendive

Dawson

A city & county seat.  Glendive Creek originally was named by Sir George Core, an Irish sportsman who visited this vicinity on a hunting trip in 1856. Topography reminded him of a stream in Ireland by that name.

Gold Creek

Powell

A town & creek at which gold was first discovered in Montana.

Golden Valley

Golden Valley

A county so named since its soil is rich & there are plenty of streams for irrigation. 85% is plow land, also the name would advertise this section to settlers.

Gorus

Ravalli

A station near Darby, named after Mr. G. D. Gorus, one of the successful raisers of McIntosh apples in carload lots in the upper Bitter Root valley.

Gould

Lewis & Clark

A town named for the Jay Gould mine here, which was named for the well known financier.

Grace

Silver Bow

A station, named for Mrs. Grace Penfield, wife of W. H. Penfield, engineer maintenance of way, C. M.& St. Paul railway.

Granite

Granite

A county named from a mountain which contained the celebrated Granite Mountain silver mines.  The mountain was named from the rock granite.

Grannis/Granis Crossing

Park

A station named for Mrs. Thirza Grannis from whom the right of way of the Northern Pacific was acquired.

Grant's Creek

Missoula

A creek named for Capt Richard Grant who built a home here in the early days.

Grantsdale

Ravalli

A town named for H. H. Grant, land owner who built the first flour mill & kept the first store in this county.

Grass Range

Fergus

A town that existed as a village, post office & trading center before the location of the railway.  The name probably was intended as a description of the location in a stock range country.

Great Falls

Cascade

A city named because it is near the Great Falls of the Missouri River.

Greenwood

??

Named for a farmer of that name, who lived in that area.

Grey Cliff

Sweet Grass

A town & station, named after a cliff there, miles east, which is of gray tinted conglomerate.

Grizzley

Glacier

A station in Glacier National Park, a name suggestive of the wild life of the Glacier Park mountain region.  This station was formerly called Egan.

Grundy Gulch

Lewis & Clark

A gulch named for David Grundy, discoverer of the gulch.

Gunsight

Glacier

A station named Admus, Was named for Gunsight mountain & pass in Glacier Park.

Gypsum

Fergus

A station east of Lewistown, named after Gypsum mine & plant owned by Ray Calkins & located there.

Hall

Granite

Town & station so named because right of way was acquired from Henry Hall

Hamen

Meagher

A station named for John Meagher, a rancher who settled here in 1880

Hamilton

Ravalli

A city & county, 1) named for J. W. Hamilton, from whom right of way for Northern Pacific was acquired 2) Named after J. T. Hamilton, who surveyed the townsite.

Hanck

Judith Basin

A station & stream, named for ranch owner by that name who lived near.

Hann Creek

???

A creek named for Peter Hann, a forest ranger

Hanover

Fergus

A station , named after an old Massachusetts town by C.A. Goodnow, assistant to the president of C. M.&St. Paul railway.  Station was opened after construction of the railway about 1915.

Hardin

Big Horn

A town & county seat, named by Mr. C. H. Morrill, president of the Lincoln Land Co., of Lincoln, Neb. purchasers & platters of the present town site, in honor of Mr. Samuel Hardin, his personal friend.

Harlem

Blaine

Named for Haarlem in the Netherlands by the Great Northern Railway officials

Harlowton

Wheatland

A city & county seat, named for Mr. Harlow of Helena, who was instrumental in building the 1st railroad from Lombard eventually to Lewistown by way of Harlowton.  Formerly called Merino

Harrison

Madison

A station named for Henry C. Harrison, property owner here

Hathaway

Rosebud

A station named after Major Hathaway of the United States army

Haugan

Mineral

A small town where a large federal forest nursery is located, was named for H. G. Haugan, land commissioner of C. M.& St Paul railway. Established & maintained as a pusher station for ascending trains.

Havre

Hill

City & county seat, named for the French seaport Le Havre by the Great Northern Railway officials. Formerly known as Havre de Grace.

Hawarden

Chouteau

A town named for the Iowa town, by settlers from Iowa

Hawk's home

Carter

A town named for a large hawks nest in the vicinity

Hayes

Missoula

An old station so named because right of way for Northern Pacific was acquired from Elizabeth Hayes.

Heckman

Wibaux

A station named for Frank Heckman, dispatcher on the Yellowstone division

Hedges

Wheatland

Post office named after ranch owner & old settler

Helena

Lewis & Clark

City, county seat & capitol of Montana.  Named in 1864 after Helena Scott County, Minnesota, by John Somerville, a former resident of that place.

Hellgate

Granite

Station, canyon & one time name of river.  Named by French traders "porte de Renfer" meaning "gate of hell" because by way of the river the Blackfeet Indians reached the Selish or Flathead Indians

Helmville

Powell

A town named for Henry Helm, a pioneer settler

Henderson

Mineral

Town named for Benjamin Henderson, owner of the townsite, who was a sawmill operator & influential in the lumber industry

Hesper

Yellowstone

Town adjoining the Hesper ranch & also the name of the school district.  The name is from Hesper or Hesperus, the evening star, & according to old mythology, the king of the western land.

Hibbard

Treasure

A station named for George W. Hibbard, general passenger agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway in Seattle

Hidden Lake

Glacier

Station in Glacier National Park.  Near this place which was formerly called Garry is a hidden lake of superlative charm, which suggested the new name for the station.

Highview

Silver Bow

A station, named from its location at the summit of the continental divide, 61 miles from Logan

Highwood

Cascade

Town, creek & mountain, probably named because of the fact that in the plains district trees grew high upon the old volcanic mountain

Hilger

Fergus

A town named for David J. Hilger, old resident & prominent citizen of Lewistown.  Was known for a time as Kendall, the name of a mining camp a few miles west

Hill

Hill

A county, probably named after James J. Hill, famous  builder of the Great Northern Railway from St. Paul, Minn.

Hillman

Gallatin

Station on the Bozeman-Menard branch, named for A. J. Hillman, commercial agent of Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, now located in Seattle

Hobson

Judith Basin

A town named after landowner & Lewistown banker by that name

Hodges

Dawson

Station named after Leonard H. Hodges, superintendent of tree planting for Northern Pacific railroad 1882-1883

Hoffmanville

Richland

Town which came into existence in 1917 when Great Western Sugar Co. was located there. Then known as Midway, but changed to Hoffmanville that same year after Albert Hoffman who donated his land to the NP

Holland

Gallatin

A town named for a settlement of Dutch colonists

Holland Lake

Powell

A lake, named for the first settler, B. B. Holland

Holter

Lewis & Clark

A town named for A.M. Holter, prominent pioneer & resident of Helena, MT

Hoosac

Fergus

A station named by C.A. Goodnow.  The nearby tunnel called Hoosac Tunnel was named after the Hoosac Tunnel in the Berkshire mountains

Hoppers

Park

A station named after John Hopper, who settled in this vicinity in 1877

Hopsonville

Rosebud

A town named for a rancher who lived in the vicinity

Horr

Park

A town named for either Harry or Maj. Jos. L. Horr, of the coal mines near there.

Hot Springs

Sanders

A town named for the hot springs located there

Howard

Rosebud

Town named after Gen. O. O. Howard, United States army.  Also claimed to have been named after Hon. William A. Howard. Land commissioner for the northern Pacific Railway Company in 1872.

Hoyt

Dawson

A station named after Colgate Hoyt, director of the Northern Pacific Railway, 1887-1893

Huffine

Gallatin

Station on the Bozeman-Mernard branch line, named for Francis M. Huffine, a farmer who settled here in 1890

Hughes

Judith Basin

A town named for P. H. Hughes of Meagher county, co-discoverer with "Buck" Barker of the Barker mining district.

Hunter's Hot Springs

Park

A town named for Dr. A. J. Hunter, the first white man to discover the qualities of the springs.  He reached the spot in July, 1864

Huntley

Yellowstone

A town & center of Huntley federal irrigation project. Named for S.S. Huntley, a pioneer stockman.

Huson

Missoula

A post office & store named after H. S. Huson, principal assistant engineer on construction for the Northern Pacific Railroad

Hutton

Big Horn

A town named for J. W. Hutton, old time rancher

Hysham

Treasure

A town & county seat, named after Charles Hysham, a ranchman in that vicinity, who made this point his headquarters.

Intake

Dawson

A town named from the intake of the irrigation system located there.

Iron Mountain

Mineral

Station named after the Iron Mountain mine, a lead & zinc mine.  The mine was discovered in 1888 by J. K. Pardee. The station was renamed Superior in Jan. 1929 to agree with the county seat name, across the river.

Ismay

Custer

A town named for Isabelle & Mary Peck, daughters of George W. Peck, general counsel for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Jackson

Beaverhead

A town named for Anton Jackson, the first postmaster. (Anaconda Standard, Feb. 20, 1916)

Jardine

Park

A town named for A. C. Jardine, secretary of the Bear Gulch Mining Company

Jeffers

Madison

A town named for Myers D. Jeffers, an early settler

Jefferson

Jefferson

A river & county named for President Thomas Jefferson. The river was named by Lewis & Clark July 28, 1805 in honor of then President Jefferson

Jefferson Island

Jefferson

A small village & station, which gets its name from an island formed by sloughs or channels of the Jefferson River, near which it is located.

Jenks

Richland

A station named in compliment to C.O. Jenks, vice president of the Great Northern Railway

Jens

Powell

A town named for a resident of that section, whose Christian name was Jens

John Long Mountains

Granite

A range of mountains named in honor of John Long, a pioneer minor in those mountains

Johns

Lewis & Clark

A town named for William Johns, who had a ranch there for years

Jones

Fergus

A town named for William Jones, an early settler there

Jordon

Garfield

A town & county seat named for; 1) Arthur J. Jordon, the first settler & the first postmaster, 2) the Jordon family of Glendive, 3) W. B. Jordon of Miles City.

Josephine

Gallatin

A station named for a member of the family of R. A. Harlow, president of the old Montana railroad

Judith

Judith Basin

River, basin & mountains.  The river was named by Lewis & Clark in May 1805 in honor of Miss Judith Hancock of Faircastle, VA

Judith Gap

Wheatland

A town located between the Little Belt & Snowy mountains gave the place its name

Jumbo Mountain

Missoula

A mountain, so named since from a certain angle it looks like a huge elephant, such as the famous Garum circus elephant

Kalispell

Flathead

A city & county seat, named for the Kalispell Indians

Kendall

Fergus

A town named for Harry T. Kendall, developer & owner of the Kendall Gold Mining Company

Kenspur

Ravalli

A station given a composite word name, Kendall's spur, named for William J. Kendall

Kessler

Lewis & Clark

A town named for Nicholas Kessler, an honored and well known pioneer of Helena

Kevin

Toole

A town named for the dispatcher on the A. R. & I. A company railroad which ran from Lethbridge to Verdon

Kingmont

Fallon

A station so named because it is at the summit of the climb out of the little Missouri valley

Kingston

Fergus

Post office named in compliment to Joseph King, president of the King Brothers Land & Livestock Company

Kohr

Powell

A station named after Conrad Kohrs, from whom the right of way for the Northern Pacific was acquired.

La Marsh Creek

Deer Lodge

A creek named for a man who built a fishtrap there in early days

La Vallie Creek

Missoula

A creek named for an old French Canadian who took up land on the west bank of the creek

Lake

Lake

County named on account of the large Flathead Lake comprising the northern part of the county

Lake Delmo

Jefferson

A lake named after A. Delmo, an  early settler in the vicinity

Lakes Inez & Alma

???

Named for two daughters of E. L. Wooley, who was a civil engineer & surveyed a line of railway past these two lakes

Lander's Fork

Lewis & Clark

Named for Frederick West Lander of the Stevens survey of 1853-1855

Landusky

Phillips

A town named for Powell "Pike" Landusky, reputed to be one of the toughest rough-and-tumble fighters of the west, who met a violent death in 1894.

Lantry

Rosebud

Station named for T. H. Lantry, general superintendent of Northern Pacific Railway

Largent

Cascade

Changed to Sun River

Laurin

Madison

Station named after Mr. Laurin, a settler there in 1863

Lavina

Golden Valley

A small settlement of this name was located a short distance west of the present town prior to the location of the C. M.& St. Paul.  Origin of name not known

Leader

Meagher

Changed to Ringling

Lee

Rosebud

A town named for Lee Austin, nephew of Orson Merritt, first postmaster

Lennep

Meagher

A town named for J. J. Lane, United States Representative

Lewis & Clark

Lewis & Clark

A county named after the explorers, Lewis & Clark, formerly Edgerton County

Lewistown

Fergus

In the spring of 1874 a company of the seventh infantry was stationed near present site of this town, on Big Spring Creek. The camp was named for Lieut. Col. Williams H. Lewis of that infantry-Helena Weekly Herald

Libby

Lincoln

A town named for the daughter of George Davis, old settler. (Info from F. B. Linderman)

Liberty

Liberty

A county named from the sentiment of the inhabitants.  This was the first county to be named after World war I.

Lincoln

Lincoln

A county in northwestern Montana, probably named in honor of President Lincoln

Lindbergh Lake

Missoula

Lake name changed from Elbow Lake in honor of Col. C.A. Lindbergh in 1927

Lindsay

Dawson

A post office, named after Hon. William Lindsay, sheep rancher & United States Marshall, who settled in Dawson county in 1883, 70 miles north of Glendive

Lindville

Roosevelt

A town named for E. A. Lund of this section

Livingston

Park

A city & county seat, originally called Clarks City. Said to be named in honor of Charles Livingston of NY, one of the directors of the N P railway. Also claimed to be named for Johnston Livingston, director of NP 1875-93

Lodge Grass

Big Horn

Named after the Lodge Grass Creek, which empties into the Little Big Horn River. The Crow Indians named the stream Greasy Grass but the name was so nearly alike the interpreter misnamed it. (Intentional or not?)

Logan

Gallatin

A town formerly called Cannon house, the name was changed in 1889.  The right of way here was acquired from Odelia Logan in 1885

Lohman

Blaine

A town named for A.S. Lohman, founder of the town

Lolo

Missoula

In Nez Perce language Lolo means "muddy water". According to Judge Woody Lolo is an Indian rendition of the word Lawrence, name of an old trapper. Maybe a corruption of La Louis, name given the creek by trappers.

Lombard

Broadwater

Station & small town at one time the westerly terminus of the Montana railroad.  Named for A. C. Lombard, chief engineer of the Montana railroad during its construction.

Lookout

Mineral

Station named for its location at the summit of the Coeur d' Alene mountains, 38 miles from St. Regis

Lorraine

Fallon

Changed to Baker

Lothrop

Missoula

Station and at one time a small town, named for I. R. Lothrop, engineer on construction of Northern Pacific

Loweth

Meagher

Station named for C.F. Loweth, chief engineer of the system.  This station is at the summit between the Castle & the Crazy mountains & was first named Summit

Lump Gulch

Jefferson

A gulch named by Fred Jones & William M. Sprague in 1864 for the single lumps of gold found on a prospecting trip in that vicinity.

Lupher

Flathead

Station west of Whitefish, named for an engineer in charge of construction of the Great Northern Railway

Lusk

Missoula

Station named after F. S. Lusk, of Missoula

Lux

Gallatin

Station named for John T. Lux, a farmer who settled there in 1896

Lyman Creek

Gallatin

Named by J.B. Lyman, who settled in the Gallatin valley in 1864

MacLees

Gallatin

A station, named because right of way for Northern pacific was acquired from I. S. MacLees

Madison

Madison

A county & river, named for President James Madison.  The river was named by Lewis & Clark July 28, 1805, in honor of James Madison, who was then secretary of state, but later became president of the United States

Malta

Phillips

City & county seat probably named from the island in the Mediterranean Sea by the Great Northern Railway.

Manhattan

Gallatin

A town named by a company of New York people who bought much land there & operated under the name of the Manhattan Company.  The original name was Morehead.

Marco

Dawson

A town named for an early settler in the vicinity

Marent Gulch

Missoula

A gulch named after Joseph Marent, an early settler

Marias

Toole

River in northwestern Montana, named by Captain Lewis June 8, 1805. His journal