SOUTH CENTRAL MONTANA 



65 



GALLATIN COUNTY 



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I 



Farm Areas 

 in North End 



N EARLY territorial day.s when gold was 

 the only iiidiui'inout for people to come to 

 .Montana, a few far-seeing immigrants 

 Miiprccialcd the value of the fertile soil 

 of the (iallatin valley and established farms 

 there instead of going on to the gold 

 camps. It (luickly became the banner crop 

 l)nidu('ing regi(m of ^Montana. Though 

 several other counties that by reason of 

 large wheat producing areas surpassed 

 it in 1922 in total crop production, it ranks 

 third in combined crop and livestock value, 

 in diversified farming and a stabilized sys- 

 tem of agriculture it is one of the fore- 

 most. In scenic and tourist attractions, it 

 is surpassed by no district. It has many 

 mineral resources of considerable indus- 

 trial value which have not received the 

 attention they deserve. 

 Situated in south central Montana, Gallatin county is 115 iniles long north and 

 south, and 20 to 40 miles wide. Over 100.000 acres along the eastern boundary 

 are included within the Yellowstone National Park. The con- 

 tinental divide of the Rocky Mountains marks the southern 

 boundary where Montana adjoins Idaho. More than a third 

 of the county's area is included within national forests. Most 

 of the farming areas are in the north half of the county, the largest and 

 best known of which is Gallatin valley. Mountain streams furnish abundant 

 water for irrigation purposes. A deep black loam soil predominates in the Gal- 

 latin valley. On the extensive encircling bench lands the soil is a rich clay 

 loam with some gravelly loam. 



Considering the prevailing type of farming and the large irrigated aci'eage, 

 the average Gallatin farm is large, containing about 200 acres. Non-irrigated 

 farming is followed on the benches. The valleys and some of the uplands are 

 under irrigation. Wheat, oats, peas, barley and hay crops are grown. Wheat Is 

 the chief crop, that raised on the benches usually bringing a premium. Oats 

 yield well and weigh heavy. Peas are an important crop, both for seed and 

 canning. Alfalfa, timothy and clover are the chief forage crops. The livestock 

 industry, both range and pure-bred herds, is well developed. Summer grazing is 

 found in the national forests. There are probably more pure-bred livestock^ 

 cattle, sheep and swine — in Gallatin than in any other county. Conditions in the 

 Gallatin valley are ideal for dairying, and the industry is growing. The oppor- 

 tunity for experienced dairymen is exceptionally good. 



Copper, gold and silver have been commercially produced. The county also 



has coal, oil shale, manganese, asbestos, corundum, brick clay, pottery clay, large 



deposits of onyx, cement materials, limestone and several 



Variety of kinds of building stone. 



Minerals A number of manufacturing establishments using the 



]»roducts and resources of the region have been established. 



These include flour and cereal mills, a cement plant at Trident, creameries and 



cheese factories, saw mills, a planing mill and a brick and clay plant. There is 



a cannery at Bozeman with a capacity of IfjO.OOO cases of peas. 



