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STILLWATER COUNTY. 



Stillwater county, while not large in area, is still one of the best and richest 

 of agricultural counties of the state. It was created in 1913 from parts of Yellow- 

 stone, Sweet Grass and Carbon counties and so is bounded by these counties on 

 three of its sides. On the north it adjoins Musselshell county. The county is in the 

 southern part of the state, in about the center east and west. This is one of the 

 finest sections of Montana. 



The county has enjoyed an exceptionally rapid growth since its creation. The 

 fact that it is located in the heart of the agricultural section of southern Montana 

 has added to its fame and has attracted settlers until now it is well filled up. It is 

 one of the oldest farming communities in the state. 



The chief industries of the county are farming, stockraising and fruit growing. 

 These have been developed by the thoroughly progressive people to an extent found 

 in few of the communities in the state. 



The farming is both by irrigated and non-irrigated methods. Around Absarokee 

 there are many irrigated farms where intensive farming is practiced and a good 

 deal of fruit grown. The water is taken from the Stillwater river, which supplies 

 the southern part of the county and flows north, emptying into the Yellowstone at 

 Columbus. The dry farming region of the northern part of the county embraces a 

 portion of what is known as the Lake Basin country, one of the best developed and 

 most productive dry land farming sections in the state. The yields on these non- 

 Irrigated lands are very good. 



Stock raising is carried on in connection with the farming principally, in small 

 well kept herds. Many of these are of high grade. Cattle, horses, sheep and hogs 

 are all raised in the county. 



The Yellowstone river flows through the county from west to east. The 

 Northern Pacific railway follows this river. A branch of this road is to be con- 

 structed in the Lake Basin country to the north, which will open up a rich region 

 and assure better markets. 



The price of land in the county is low, considering the quality of the soil and 

 the development of the farms. Improved farm land may be had at $30 an acre and 

 unimproved land at $20 or less. There is very little homestead land left in the 

 county that is desirable and close to the railroad. 



Dairying is rapidly becoming an established industry. Conditions are very 

 good and point to success in this line. Creameries and cheese factories are being 

 built in the various towns to handle the produce. There are good markets for all 

 forms of dairy and poultry products. 



Columbus is the county seat and principal town. It is said to be the best 

 lighted town of its size in the state and is a thoroughly modern little city in every 

 way. It now has a population of about 1,000 according to estimates. This means that 

 It has doubled in size since the census of 1910. The banks have a total deposit 

 of close to $750,000, there are a dozen or more retail stores, two newspapers, two 

 elevators, two lumber yards, a flour mill, schools and churches. Near Columbus 

 is quarried the famous Columbus sandstone which was used in the erection of the 

 State Capitol at Helena. A power plant is being considered on the Yellowstone 

 river which will have an estimated horse power of 15,000. 



An effort is being made to secure the construction of an electric or steam road 

 up the Stillwater valley. Such a road would not only furnish much needed trans- 

 portation for an agricultural population of 4,000 but would also tap extensive timber 

 lands and coal and mineral deposits. The Rosebud Lakes, easily reached from 

 Columbus, offer fine scenic attractions and the East Rosebud Lake colony is one of 

 the popular summer places of the state. 



There are 1.CS4 square miles in the area of the county. The land is all sur- 

 veyed and there are still 21,127 acres unreserved and unappropriated public land 

 available under the homestead laws. There are also 41,230 acres of state land 

 which may be obtained at a reasonable figure. 



The main crops of the county are wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, sugar beets 

 and hay. 



The estimated population of the county in 1918 is nearly 10,000. The assessed 

 valuation in 1918 is $7,589,560. 



