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RICHLAND COUNTY. 



Richland county is one of the eastern row of counties next to the North Dakota 

 line. The Missouri river and Sheridan county bound it on the north, North Dakota 

 on the east, Wibaux and Dawson counties on the south and Dawson county on the 

 west. It is approximately ninety miles long by fifty miles wide. It is one of the 

 newer counties in the state having been created from Dawson county in 1914. 



Located as it is on the lower Yellowstone Reclamation Project, it is con- 

 sidered one of the best and most productive counties in the state. The Yellowstone 

 river flows through the eastern part of the county, northward to its junction with 

 the Missouri near the Montana-North Dakota line. The valley of the Yellowstone 

 is from two to six miles wide all through the county. Back above the valley are 

 higher up-lands, rolling but rich and productive. It was this county that was 

 formerly regarded as one of the premier stock ranges of the great cattle country 

 of eastern Montana, when the cowboy ruled the plains. Cattle was shipped in train- 

 loads from this section only a few years ago. Many of the ranchers from this range 

 and northern Dawson county drove their stock north to the main line of the Great 

 Northern, swimming them across the Missouri river, near Culbertson and shipping 

 from that point to the eastern markets. 



The valley land is practically level; its soil is unusually rich and the valley 

 is irrigated by the lower Yellowstone project which was constructed by the govern- 

 ment in 1908. There is no stone, gumbo nor sage-brush except in small spots. 

 The principal crops under irrigation arc alfalfa, all small grains, corn, potatoes 

 and all vegetables including sugar beets of which there were about 1,000 acres 

 under cultivation this year. The present crop will be shipped to the sugar factory at 

 Billings but it is expected that Richland county will have its own beet sugar 

 factory at an early date. 



While the Lower Yellowstone valley has one of the best irrigation systems in 

 the United States, it is not necessary to irrigate to raise bumper crops on the 

 up-lands or "bench lands" as they are called here, although large crops are raised 

 by the proper use of water. 



Generally speaking, the bench lands are rolling but quite level in places 

 and then sometimes running off into rougher land along creeks and rivers. This 

 land is practically free from stone, chocolate loam in character and underlaid with 

 clay subsoil. Lignite coal is found in abundance almost everywhere and good 

 water in unlimited quantities can be obtained at depths varying from 20 to 60 feet 

 on an average. The average depth for the Sidney district is about 30 feet. 



This county is served by the Northern Pacific and Great Northern railways; 

 the former running up from Glendive and the latter, connects with its present main 

 line at Snowden. At this time the Great Northern is building its new main line 

 which will extend from New Rockford, North Dakota to Lewistown, Montana, and 

 this line runs through Richland county from east to west. This is considered one 

 of the most important new railroads in the state and will open up a rich territory 

 through this section. 



Sidney, the county seat, is the most important town in the county. It has had 

 a remarkable growth in the last few years. It is located at the junction of the 

 Northern Pacilic and Great Northern railroads, the former's branch line running 

 to Sidney from Glendive and the latter's branch running from Snowden on the main 

 line. Sidney has a population of about 1,S00 and is considered to be one of the 

 liveliest and cleanest little cities in the state. It has modem water works, sewerage 

 system, electric lights, hospital, flour mill, a fine high school and grade school 

 buildings, and some of the finest mercantile establishments, banks and residences 

 to be found anywhere. 



The other principal towns in the county are Fairview, Lambert, Savage and 

 Enid. These are all progressive towns with up-to-date business enterprises. There 

 are a number of smaller places with stores, elevators, etc. 



Owing to the fact that there has been a large influx of immigration the past 

 few years, what homestead land remains, is a considerable distance from the rail- 

 roads. The new line of the Great Northern, however, will tap a large area of good 

 farming land. There are about 8S.329 acres of unreserved and unappropriated 

 public land in the county open to homestead entry. In addition to this there are 

 92,481 acres of state land that can be purchased at a low price. The population 

 of the county is estimated to be about 15,000 in 1918. The assessed valuation of 

 the county in 1918 is $10,585,671. 



