HARLOWTON, MONTANA |
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 Harlowton, Montana!
Harlowton is about twenty miles from US Forest Service access to mountain ranges for fishing, hiking, and hunting. Yellowstone National Park is only a few hours away for Glacier National Park is within a day's drive. The agriculture heritage continues to dominate the area's economy. Herds of cattle and sheep are spread over the valley, and fields of wheat, oats, barley and hay add color to the country throughout the growing season. Harlowton prides itself in being a full-service community with a small town friendliness.
County Population: 2068 - Area: 1,423 square miles
Area Code(s): 406 - Time Zone: MST |
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Wheatland County, Montana!
Harlowton is the county seat of Wheatland County, Montana. Harlowton's business district is convenient, whether you care to walk downtown or make a quick run in the car. Main street still boasts the native sandstone of a frontier town. Store owners are much more than businessman-they are neighbors-eager to work a little extra for their customers or to take time to chat with customers over a cup of coffee. Whether it's an industry looking to re-locate, a business wishing to expand, or if your dreaming of a shop you've always wanted-Harlowton is ready to do business!
Harlowton boasts a history filled with the movements of cowboys and settlers of the West, mining endeavors in the area mountains, Richard Harlow and the Jawbone Railroad, and the historic Milwaukee Road with its electric trains.
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Harlowton, Montana (a short history)
Richard A. Harlow organized the Montana Railroad on May 26, 1895 to run originally from Lombard on the Missouri River where it connected with the Northern Pacific running approximately 56 miles to Leadboro in the Castle Mountains which was in the throes of a silver boom. The Depression of 1893 caused the demise of profitable mining in the Castle area and Richard Harlow came up “a day late and a dollar short” when he entered into transportation of ores from the Castles.
The Montana Railroad in its early years rarely if ever made a profit so when Mr. Harlow decided in 1899 to extend his rails into the Musselshell Valley and eventually to Lewistown, he had to use much persuasion or “jawboning” to achieve financing. Hence, the moniker “The Jawbone” came to be associated with the Montana Railroad.
Tracks reached Merino in June of 1900. A new town was formed here and rail yards were constructed which were renamed Harlow after the Montana Railroad’s builder but the United States Post Office required the name be changed as it appeared to close to “Harlem” a town and railway station on the Great Northern Railway in northern Montana. So, to comply, the name was amended to Harlowton, which is what it is today. In its final configuration, the Montana Railroad operated over 157 miles of tracks which was incorporated into the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway system in 1908.
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Harlowton, Montana (new industries)
The Judith Gap Energy Center straddles Highway 191 in central Montana between Harlowton and Judith Gap. Located on state school trust land and private land, this project consists of 90, 1.5 megawatt wind turbines, 13 of which are on school trust lands.
Wheatland County is currently home to the top-producing wind farm in the country: the Judith Gap Energy Center. The Judith Gap wind farm has benefited everybody in Wheatland County. $2.3 million in impact fees are literally blowing into the county. Property taxes on the project will generate $1 million this year and $1.4 million every year after.
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Harlowton, Montana (recreation)
Harlowton is famous for its annual 4th of July rodeo. It's a highly entertaining event. The setting for the rodeo, with the beautiful Crazy Mountains in the background.
This NRA-sanctioned rodeo includes a full range of events including barrel racing, bull riding, calf roping and bucking horses. Wild steer riding and wild cow milking add fun and laughter to the program. Kids, youth and ladies events round out the rodeo. Concessions feature hamburgers, hot dogs, beer and pop. Reserve and general admission are available. The rodeos on the 3rd and 4th are preceded by sidewalk sales, children activities, and parades celebrating Independence Day on Central Avenue. Live music and dances are held each night at area establishments. A grand fireworks display tops off the festival. Downtown Harlowton, with its old stone hotel, resembles a scene from out of the movie "Shane." Antelope are a common sight grazing along U.S. Highway 191 north of Harlowton.
Of special interest are the E-57B Electric Train Park commemorating the longest stretch of electric railway in North America, and a pioneer bronze sculpture entitled ‘And They Called the Land Montana.’ The Upper Mussellshell Museum includes a general store, Indian artifacts, pioneer home, and Avaceratops lammersi dinosaur display. Nez Perce Trail and Chief Joseph Park, off U.S. Highway 12, offers camping, scenic walkways, a fishing pond and playground. Elevation: 4,167 feet.
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News From Yesteryear!
Roundup Record
February 26, 1909
For the past week, social circles in the hospitable town of Twodot have been taxed to the limit to pay homage to Mrs. and Mrs. Gillette Wells, an eloping couple, just arrived from Corning, New York. The romantic pair are the guests of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Baxter, who are old friends of the families of both the bride and the groom back in the Empire State. Parties, receptions, and balls have been run off in a rapid and endless succession, and it has been many years since the town has been so stirred with social pleasure.
The story of the courtship, elopement, and marriage of the young couple is truly romantic. The home of the bride, who is about 18 years of age, is in Corning, near the east end of Lake Erie. Her father is a wealthy glass merchant. The groom, 20 years of age, also lives near Corning; his father is a well-known banker and financier. For several years, young Wells has been attending college and, during his studies, he has been able to save about $5,000 out of his school allowances. Strict economy has enabled the bride also to lay aside a snug sum.
The young people were invited out one evening to a party given at a neighbor's house. But the couple never arrived. Wells informed his friends that his sweetheart had taken ill suddenly.
Late that same night, the happy pair hied themselves to Buffalo and from there into Canada, where they were married. They left on the next train for the west and arrived in Twodot the first of the week. They were looking for a small town in which to hide while spending their honeymoon, at the same time enjoying the hospitality that their station demanded. Twodot has proven to be the ideal spot.
The parents of the elopers are ignorant of the couple's whereabouts, and it is believed that the state of New York is being searched for the missing pair. Mr. Wells will leave for Helena shortly, and it is likely he will pitch his tent in Montana and try his lot in the land of the cowboy.
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  Two Dot, Montana
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