CE.NTlfAI. .MONTANA *)1 



Most of the western part is dcvoicd to calllc ami sheep raisini:. The steers 



from one raneh in the southwestern part have consistently, for the past ten years, 



been the top cattle from Montana on the Chicajro market. The 



Fariuiiig and bottom lands of the Musselshell river and of its trilmtaries are 



Livestock largely under irriuation . I'reliiiiiiiary steps for the reclamation of 



an additional I'M.OOO acres have hei-n tala'n. Non-irriy;ated farm- 

 ing is the pre\ailin.n- type in the eastern part of the county. Sprinir wheat is the 

 chief crop of the county, followed in order by tame hay, wild hay, winter wheat, 

 oats, corn and flax. Alfalfa is the chief crop in the irrigated districts, providing 

 winter forage for the livestock rjiised. On the non-irrigated bench lands sweet 

 clover has been found satisfactory as a forage crop and the acreage devoted to it 

 is expanding. Dairying is also growing in favor. 



Coal is the only mineral known to exist, but it is believed deposits of gyp.sum 

 occur near the Big Snowy Moinitains and there are several domes in the 

 central and eastern parts of the county that are being drilled for oil. 



At Harlowton is one of the largest flour mills in the state, which gives 

 the county fourth rank in total milling capacity. A creamery there draws from 

 a large territory. A small oil refinei'y is operated at Hedgesville. 



Transportation facilities are good. The main line of the Chicago, Milwaukee 

 & St. Paul follows the Musselshell Ri^•er through the middle of the county. Har- 

 lowton. in the geographical center of the county, is a division point where the 

 electrified portion of the road across the mountains begins. The Lewistown- 

 Great Falls branch runs north out of Harlowton across the county. The Billings- 

 Great Falls-Shelby line of the Great Northern quarters the northeastern district. 

 Highways give direct connection with points north and south and al.so east and 

 west. 



Harlowton is tlie county seat, and modern in all respects. Two Dot and 

 Shawmut are trade centers on the line of the Milwaukee, and Judith Gap and 

 Hedges on the Great Northern. 



Fishing and hunting are found in the mountains along the northern border 

 and in the southwestern district. 



WHEATLAND COUNTY — Ranks thirty-fourth in population (5,619); forty-fourth 

 in area (903.040 acres); thirty-third in combined 1922 crop and livestock value; twenty- 

 sixth in bank deposits, 1922: eighteenth in assessed valuation, 1922. Acres public land, 

 1,714; acres state land. 55.121; acres national forests, 58,512. 



WEALTH PRODUCTION — Estimated 1922 crop value, $1,021,000; estimated live- 

 stock value, .January, 1923, $1,974,000; 1921 lumber cut, 340 M feet; total bank deposits, 

 September 15. 1922, .$1,245,386. 



TAXATION 1922 — Total assessed valuation, $23,597,769; total taxable value, 

 $7,870,429. Total outstanding- county bond indebtedness, $295,000; total outstanding 

 county warrant indebtedness, $13,840; total outstanding- school bond indebtedness, 

 $114,820; other scliool debts, .$10,341. Total general and special county taxes, $160,431; 

 total general and district school taxes, $154,577; total municipal taxes, $39,278; total 

 state taxes. $36,407; total tax (inclusive municipal), per capita, $69.53. 



EDUCATIONAL — Number graded schools, 39; enrollment, 1,103. Number high 

 schools, 1; enrollment, 197. 



BUSINESS STATISTICS — Number of railroads, 2; railway mileage, exclusive spurs 

 and sidetracks. 93.86. Number of manufactures, 15; average number wage earners, 173; 

 value of products, $1,430,565. Number of banks. 8. Number general stores. 13; con- 

 fectionery, etc., 3; groceries and meats, 19: Unnber yards, 7; total number merchants, 

 140. Total assessed valuation 1922 merchandise, $396,108. Number grain elevators, 7; 

 total capacitj^ 215,000 bushels. Number creameries, 2. Number flour mills, 1. Number 

 saw mills, 3. Number of lawyers, 10. Number of physicians, 4. 



AGRICULTURE (1920 census) — Number farms, 688; farm acreage, 589,827; im- 

 proved farm acreage, 205,076; irrigated acreage, 14,478; average value all property, per 

 farm, $26,881. Livestock assessed 1922 — number cattle, 24,542; number sheep, 56,059; 

 number horses, 6,036; number swine (census), 2,486. 



CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA — At Harlowton. Rlevation, 4.160 feet. Average date 

 last killing fmst in spring, June 7; average date first killing frost in fall, September 4. 



An- 



Jan. Feb. Mar. April Mav .June .July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. nual 



Ave. Prec. .78 .68 .80 .95 2.22 2.31 1.51 .71 1.28 .77 .81 .61 13.43 



Ave. Temp. 19.4 21.9 29.9 40.8 49.0 57.9 62.8 61.3 50.8 44.9 30.8 23.6 41.1 



County Seat, Harlowton. Population County Seat, 1,856. 



County Agricultural Agent — No. 



