McCONE COUNTY
SEE BELOW FOR DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF COUNTY DURING NEW DEAL ERA
FSA PHOTOS OF MCONE COUNTY
THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE COUNTY
McCone County’s cultural landscape reflects more than a century of ranching, dryland agriculture, homestead‑era settlement, and federal land management layered onto far older Indigenous homelands, travel corridors, and stewardship practices. Across the Missouri River breaks, the Redwater Creek basin, the Wolf Creek uplands, and the prairie benches south of Circle, settlement clusters around water, forage, and shelter in patterns that echo long‑standing Aaniiih (Gros Ventre), Assiniboine (Nakoda), Apsáalooke (Crow), Lakȟóta/Dakota (Sioux), and Shoshone seasonal rounds, hunting grounds, and plant‑gathering sites. Ranch headquarters, hayfields, wells, and windmills line the creek bottoms and upland divides, while grazing allotments, stock reservoirs, two‑track roads, and fencelines extend the working footprint deep into the prairie. Across the county, reservoirs, dugouts, shelterbelts, drift fences, and SCS‑era erosion‑control structures form a subtle but extensive infrastructure that supports a resilient ranching economy.
A Working Prairie Landscape
Much of McCone County is mixed‑grass prairie and sagebrush steppe, stretching across rolling uplands where western wheatgrass, green needlegrass, blue grama, needle‑and‑thread, and big sagebrush dominate. The Missouri River breaks add a rugged ecological dimension—badlands carved from Cretaceous shale, steep coulees, and isolated buttes supporting juniper, sagebrush, and adapted grassland species. Riparian corridors along the Missouri River, Redwater Creek, and Wolf Creek support cottonwoods, willows, chokecherry, and wet‑meadow vegetation, creating some of the county’s most productive grazing lands.
These land‑use patterns are not simply economic; they are cultural, ecological, and historical expressions of how people have adapted to McCone County’s sharp gradients in precipitation, soil type, and water availability. The distribution of ranch headquarters, hayfields, and grazing units mirrors older Indigenous patterns of movement between river bottoms, upland benches, and sheltered coulees.
Ecological Transformation Across the Prairie
McCone County has undergone repeated ecological transformations over the past 150 years:
Native grasslands were converted into hayfields and dryland grain fields during the homestead era.
Riparian zones narrowed or expanded depending on beaver activity, channel migration, and stock‑water development.
Prairie drainages were reshaped by the construction of thousands of stock reservoirs, many built or surveyed during the New Deal era.
Grazing pressure and fire suppression altered sagebrush distribution, shrub encroachment, and grassland composition.
Wind erosion and drought cycles reshaped soils and vegetation patterns across the uplands.
The stock reservoirs and dugouts built in the 1930s—often placed in small ephemeral drainages—created new wetlands for amphibians, waterfowl, and livestock. These systems, expanded through federal programs, still define the county’s ranching geography and water availability.
The Missouri River Breaks: A Distinct Cultural and Ecological Zone
The Missouri River breaks form one of McCone County’s most distinctive landscapes. Their steep coulees, shale badlands, and cottonwood bottoms support:
pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, and raptors
beaver, muskrat, and riparian bird species
sagebrush and mixed‑grass communities adapted to extreme conditions
For Indigenous nations, the Missouri River corridor was a major travel route, trade artery, and cultural landscape. Campsites, gathering areas, and hunting grounds lined the river long before Euro‑American settlement. Today, the breaks remain a mosaic of USFWS refuge lands, BLM rangelands, and ranching operations, each shaping vegetation, wildlife, and access.
Upland Prairie Systems & Cultural Use
Unlike Carter County’s forested uplands, McCone County’s upland systems are defined by:
rolling prairie benches
isolated buttes
ephemeral wetlands
sagebrush flats
loess‑covered divides
These uplands were historically used by Indigenous nations for hunting, plant gathering, and seasonal movement. Springs, seeps, and wet meadows—rare but culturally significant—became sites of stock ponds, windmills, and grazing infrastructure during the homestead and New Deal eras.
New Deal Conservation & Landscape Engineering
New Deal conservation programs—CCC, SCS, WPA, USACE, and RA—entered this dynamic system in the 1930s, reshaping erosion patterns, grazing systems, and watershed management.
CCC crews worked along the Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir, building shoreline stabilization structures, access roads, and erosion‑control features tied to the Fort Peck Dam project.
SCS technicians introduced contour plowing, gully stabilization, stock‑water development, and grazing‑rotation plans in response to drought, soil loss, and homestead failure.
WPA crews improved roads, schools, and public buildings in Circle and rural districts, providing essential employment during the Depression.
RA land purchases consolidated abandoned homesteads into grazing units and watershed protection areas.
USACE engineering reshaped the Missouri River hydrology, creating the reservoir system that defines the county’s northern boundary.
These interventions left a lasting imprint on McCone County’s ecological and cultural landscape, embedding federal conservation philosophies into local practices and shaping land‑management debates for decades.
A Landscape of Interwoven Histories
The result is a landscape where Indigenous stewardship, ranching traditions, homestead‑era settlement, federal intervention, and ecological change are inseparable. Cottonwood corridors, sagebrush benches, reservoir shorelines, and prairie uplands all bear the marks of shifting land use, water management, and cultural continuity.
The Missouri River corridor remains the county’s agricultural, ecological, and cultural heart.
The prairie benches support the county’s ranching economy and reflect a century of adaptation to drought and soil variability.
The breaks and coulees preserve ecological diversity and deep Indigenous histories.
The New Deal infrastructure—reservoirs, terraces, roads, and range improvements—continues to shape hydrology and land use.
Across McCone County, the living legacy of Indigenous nations—their land stewardship, cultural geography, and ecological knowledge—remains central to how the county is understood, inhabited, and managed today.
NEW DEAL TRANSFORMATIONS TO THE LANDSCAPE (McCone County)
Resettlement Administration (RA) & Submarginal Lands Program
McCone County was one of northeastern Montana’s most significant landscapes for RA submarginal land purchases, especially in areas where homestead‑era dryland farming had failed. The RA acquired exhausted or abandoned farms across the:
Redwater Creek drainage
Wolf Creek basin
Dry Creek and Willow Creek uplands
prairie benches south of Circle
These lands were consolidated into:
cooperative grazing units
watershed protection areas
erosion‑control demonstration sites
federal and county grazing districts
RA acquisitions helped stabilize families displaced by drought, grasshopper infestations, and crop failure, while reducing pressure on fragile prairie soils. These purchases directly shaped later SCS and BLM grazing‑management planning, ensuring that key tracts were available for coordinated rangeland rehabilitation and long‑term conservation.
Farm Security Administration (FSA)
The FSA operated on two major fronts in McCone County:
1. Rehabilitation & Farm Stabilization
The FSA provided:
low‑interest loans for livestock, feed, and equipment
cooperative machinery pools for small ranchers and farmers
farm‑management training for families transitioning from failed dryland farming
assistance for ranchers adopting improved grazing and water‑management practices
These programs helped stabilize the county’s ranching economy during the Depression and supported the shift toward more sustainable land use across the prairie.
2. Photography & Documentation
Although McCone County was not photographed as intensively as the Hi‑Line or reservation counties, FSA and RA photographers documented:
drought‑damaged fields and abandoned homesteads
ranch families adapting to New Deal programs
SCS conservation work in the Redwater Creek basin
small‑town life in Circle
stock‑water developments and erosion‑control structures
These images form an important visual record of McCone County’s 1930s cultural landscape.
Soil Conservation Service (SCS)
The SCS reshaped McCone County’s land use through:
contour plowing on vulnerable dryland fields
strip cropping to reduce wind erosion
gully stabilization in Redwater Creek and Missouri River tributaries
shelterbelt planting across homestead districts
stock‑water development in upland grazing areas
rotational grazing plans for ranchers across the prairie benches
SCS technicians worked closely with ranchers to address soil loss, improve water efficiency, and stabilize degraded watersheds. Many of the county’s stock reservoirs, shelterbelts, and contour terraces date to this period.
Rural Electrification Administration (REA)
The REA transformed rural life in McCone County by bringing electricity to:
isolated ranches across the prairie
homestead districts south of Circle
small communities such as Brockway and Vida
Electricity enabled:
refrigeration and food preservation
radio communication
mechanized milking and farm operations
electric lighting in homes, barns, and schools
REA lines permanently altered the visual and functional landscape of the county, linking rural families to regional and national networks.
Works Progress Administration (WPA) & Public Works Administration (PWA)
WPA and PWA projects in McCone County included:
school improvements in Circle and rural districts
road upgrades connecting Circle to Brockway, Vida, Glendive, and Fort Peck
culverts, bridges, and drainage structures on prairie roads
public buildings and civic improvements in Circle
erosion‑control structures in upland drainages
community halls and recreational facilities
These projects provided essential employment during the Depression while building the civic infrastructure that still anchors the county.
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
CCC work in McCone County was closely tied to the Fort Peck Dam project and the Missouri River breaks. CCC crews completed:
shoreline stabilization and erosion‑control structures
road construction and improvement along reservoir access routes
range improvements and reseeding of overgrazed uplands
spring development and stock‑water projects
gully stabilization in Missouri River tributaries
early watershed‑protection projects supporting later SCS and USFWS planning
CCC labor helped shape the reservoir shoreline, access roads, and upland grazing systems that remain central to the county’s land‑use patterns.
STOCK WATER DEVELOPMENT & WATERSHED TRANSFORMATION (New Deal Foundations)
While McCone County did not experience the same upland forest projects seen in Carter County, the New Deal era fundamentally reshaped its hydrology through thousands of small‑scale water developments.
New Deal Contributions
RA and SCS land purchases secured key tracts for watershed rehabilitation
CCC crews built stock reservoirs, dugouts, and erosion‑control structures
SCS mapped erosion patterns and sediment loads across prairie drainages
WPA crews improved roads and culverts essential for ranch access
USACE reshaped the Missouri River hydrology through the Fort Peck Dam project
Ecological Impact
New Deal water‑development systems:
transformed livestock distribution across the prairie
stabilized grazing pressure on fragile uplands
created new wetlands and wildlife habitat
reduced erosion in key drainages
reshaped settlement and ranching patterns
provided the foundation for modern grazing‑district management
Today, these reservoirs, terraces, and watershed projects remain some of the most enduring New Deal legacies in McCone County—subtle but transformative features that continue to shape ranching, wildlife, and land stewardship.
DEOMOGRAPHICS OF THE COUNTY ENTERING THE 1930s
DEMOGRAPHICS OF MCCONE COUNTY
McCone County entered the 1930s with a demographic profile shaped not by industry or urbanization, but by dryland agriculture, cattle ranching, homestead‑era settlement, and the long shadow of the Missouri River corridor. Unlike the industrial counties of western Montana, McCone was overwhelmingly rural, sparsely populated, and economically dependent on the land. Its communities were small, widely dispersed, and tied together by wagon roads, mail routes, and the emerging highway system. The county’s demographic rhythms followed precipitation cycles, wheat prices, livestock markets, and the availability of water, rather than the shifts of a single dominant employer.
The result was a county with one primary demographic world—a vast rural landscape of ranching and farming families—but with internal contrasts between:
The Circle trade hub — the county’s only incorporated town and commercial center.
The Redwater and Wolf Creek homestead districts — scattered farmsteads, small schools, and fragile dryland farms.
The Missouri River breaks — extremely sparsely populated ranching country shaped by rugged terrain and limited access.
These geographies produced a population that was self‑reliant, dispersed, and vulnerable to drought, entering the Depression with strengths rooted in community networks and vulnerabilities tied to the fragility of dryland agriculture.
Population Size & Distribution
By 1930, McCone County’s population was small and widely dispersed. Circle accounted for the largest concentration of residents, while the rest of the county consisted of:
ranching families along Redwater Creek
dryland farmers on the prairie benches
small clusters of homesteaders near Brockway, Vida, and Weldon
isolated ranches in the Missouri River breaks
Urban–Rural Split
Rural/Agricultural: ~90–95%
Urban (Circle): ~5–10%
McCone was one of the least urbanized counties in Montana entering the Depression.
Circle: A Small but Central Community
Circle was not an industrial city like Anaconda, but it served as the economic, social, and administrative heart of the county.
Demographic Characteristics of Circle
small population centered on ranching and farm support services
families tied to general stores, blacksmith shops, grain buyers, and freight routes
boarding houses for seasonal laborers and unmarried ranch hands
churches, schools, and community halls anchoring civic life
Circle’s stability depended on agricultural markets, not industrial wages, making it vulnerable to drought and commodity price collapse.
Rural Districts: Ranching Families & Homestead Communities
Outside Circle, the county’s population was almost entirely rural, centered on:
ranches along Redwater Creek, Wolf Creek, and Dry Creek
dryland wheat farms on the upland benches
small homestead communities with one‑room schools and post offices
Characteristics of Rural Demographics
multi‑generational ranch families
large numbers of children in rural school districts
seasonal labor patterns tied to calving, haying, and harvest
limited access to medical care, markets, and transportation
strong community ties through churches, dances, and cooperative work
Rural families were isolated but often more self‑sufficient than their urban counterparts.
Indigenous Presence & Historical Displacement
Although no reservation lies within McCone County, the region remained part of the traditional homelands of:
Aaniiih (Gros Ventre)
Assiniboine (Nakoda)
Apsáalooke (Crow)
Lakȟóta and Dakota (Sioux)
Newe (Eastern Shoshone)
By the 1930s:
Indigenous families lived primarily on reservations outside the county.
Seasonal travel, hunting, and plant gathering along the Missouri River continued into the early 20th century.
Indigenous labor occasionally contributed to ranching, fencing, haying, and seasonal work.
The demographic absence of Indigenous communities in census counts reflects federal displacement, not the absence of cultural ties to the land.
Age Structure & Household Composition
Rural Areas
family‑based households with multiple generations
children formed a large share of the population
elderly residents often remained on ranches with extended family
seasonal laborers (often young men) moved between ranches and threshing crews
Circle
young families tied to commerce and agricultural services
small but steady population of unmarried ranch hands and laborers
older adults dependent on family networks or limited pensions
Gender Dynamics
Rural Areas
ranching families depended on the labor of both men and women
women played central roles in ranch management, dairying, gardening, and community life
gender roles were flexible during peak labor seasons
Circle
men dominated freight, ranch work, and agricultural trades
women worked in stores, boarding houses, schools, and churches
Economic Vulnerability & Demographic Stressors
By the late 1920s, several demographic pressures were already visible:
Rural Vulnerabilities
drought cycles reducing wheat and hay yields
soil erosion and grasshopper infestations
limited access to credit
depopulation of marginal homestead districts
consolidation of small farms into larger ranches
Town Vulnerabilities (Circle)
dependence on agricultural markets
limited economic diversification
declining freight and trade during drought years
Both rural and town populations entered the Depression with limited financial resilience.
Migration Patterns Entering the 1930s
In‑Migration (Earlier Decades)
homesteaders from the Dakotas, Minnesota, and the Midwest
ranching families from central and eastern Montana
seasonal labor migration for harvest and ranch work
By the Late 1920s
immigration slowed dramatically
out‑migration increased as drought intensified
rural families abandoned marginal farms
young adults sought work in Billings, Miles City, or out of state
These shifts foreshadowed the demographic upheaval of the 1930s.
A County Defined by Rural Interdependence
McCone County entered the Depression as a single‑economy county:
Ranching and dryland farming formed the backbone of the population.
Circle served as the commercial and social hub.
Rural families depended on town services, while town businesses depended on ranching income.
This interdependence shaped the county’s demographic resilience—and its vulnerabilities—as the Depression unfolded.
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF COUNTY IN NEW DEAL ERA
Economic Conditions Entering the Depression — McCone County
McCone County’s economic structure in the late 1920s was the product of a short, volatile, and environmentally constrained period of development. Unlike irrigated counties along the Yellowstone or industrial counties in western Montana, McCone’s economy rested almost entirely on cattle ranching, dryland wheat farming, and small‑scale extractive activity, all layered onto a semi‑arid prairie landscape defined by the Missouri River breaks, the Redwater Creek basin, and the upland benches south of Circle.
The county’s apparent stability—scattered ranches, dryland farms, and the commercial life of Circle—masked a deeper fragility rooted in drought cycles, market volatility, geographic isolation, and the collapse of homestead‑era agriculture. These long‑term forces created an economy highly sensitive to weather, commodity prices, and federal policy, leaving rural families exposed as the Depression approached.
The Ranching Core: A Narrow but Essential Economic Base
Ranching formed the heart of McCone County’s economy. Cattle and sheep operations relied on:
hayfields along Redwater Creek and Wolf Creek
upland pastures on the prairie benches
extensive open range across the Missouri River breaks
seasonal labor for calving, lambing, haying, fencing, and shearing
This system was productive but precarious. Ranchers depended on:
stable livestock prices
adequate winter snowpack for spring forage
reliable access to grazing leases
affordable feed, fencing materials, and hired labor
functional wagon roads to distant railheads in Glendive, Wolf Point, and Miles City
By the late 1920s, these conditions were eroding. Wool and beef prices fluctuated sharply, transportation costs were high, and many ranchers carried significant debt for livestock and equipment. Drought reduced forage, forcing ranchers to buy hay at inflated prices or sell stock at a loss.
Dryland Farming: A Landscape of Risk and Collapse
Beyond the creek valleys, dryland wheat and forage farming dominated the homestead districts established during the 1910s. These operations were inherently risky. Wheat yields fluctuated sharply with precipitation, and the 1920s brought cycles of drought that reduced harvests and increased reliance on borrowed capital.
Many dryland farmers who arrived during the homestead boom were already struggling by 1925, facing:
declining soil moisture
wind erosion on exposed benches
grasshopper infestations
falling wheat prices
rising equipment and fuel costs
limited access to credit
By 1930, large portions of the county’s homestead‑era farms had been abandoned or consolidated into ranch holdings. The collapse of dryland farming left behind:
empty schools
shuttered post offices
depopulated homestead districts
families forced to relocate or seek relief
Ranching vs. Dryland Farming: Divergent Vulnerabilities
While ranching was more stable than dryland farming, it faced its own structural challenges:
decades of grazing pressure had degraded some prairie pastures
dependence on hayfields made ranchers vulnerable to drought
livestock markets fluctuated with national economic conditions
long distances to railheads increased shipping costs
harsh winters could devastate herds
The combination of environmental stress and market instability meant that even established ranches entered the Depression with limited financial resilience.
Timber, Coal & Clay: Small but Significant Sectors
Although not major industries, McCone County’s extractive resources played important economic roles.
Timber
harvested from riparian cottonwood stands and scattered upland groves
used for posts, poles, firewood, and ranch construction
provided supplemental income during winter months
Coal
small lignite mines operated near Brockway, Vida, and the Redwater basin
supplied local heating and blacksmithing needs
offered seasonal employment but little long‑term stability
Clay & Bentonite
extracted in small quantities from Pierre Shale and Fort Union units
used for local construction, drilling mud, and industrial applications
These industries provided essential materials and occasional employment, but their scale was too small to buffer the county from agricultural downturns.
Isolation & Transportation: Structural Barriers to Growth
McCone County’s lack of a railroad line was one of its defining economic constraints. Without direct rail access, ranchers and farmers depended on:
long wagon hauls to railheads in Glendive, Wolf Point, Circle (later), and Miles City
high freight costs
limited access to markets and manufactured goods
seasonal road closures due to mud, snow, or flooding
This isolation increased the cost of doing business and reduced the county’s ability to absorb economic shocks.
A Fragile Economy on the Eve of the Depression
By 1930, McCone County’s economy was:
narrowly based on ranching and dryland farming
geographically isolated from major markets
environmentally vulnerable to drought and erosion
financially strained by debt, low prices, and high freight costs
demographically thin, with limited labor and capital reserves
These conditions meant that when the Depression arrived, McCone County’s families faced not just economic hardship but the unraveling of the fragile systems that had sustained them since the homestead era.
ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF COUNTY IN NEW DEAL ERA
Ecological Conditions Entering the Depression — McCone County
McCone County entered the late 1920s with an ecological foundation far more fragile than it appeared. The county’s ranching and dryland farming systems depended on a narrow set of environmental conditions: limited snowpack on the prairie benches, highly variable flows in Redwater Creek and Wolf Creek, thin and erosion‑prone soils across the uplands, and the resilience of mixed‑grass prairie already strained by decades of homesteading, overgrazing, and climatic variability.
Although the landscape appeared productive—hayfields along the creeks, large cattle operations, and scattered dryland farms—its ecological systems were deeply vulnerable to drought, erosion, and the structural limitations of early 20th‑century ranching infrastructure. When the national economy began to contract in 1929, McCone County entered the Depression already carrying the weight of these long‑standing ecological pressures.
Riparian Agriculture: A Narrow Ecological Corridor
The Redwater Creek and Wolf Creek valleys formed the ecological and agricultural core of McCone County. Hayfields, small grain plots, and subirrigated pastures depended on water delivered through:
small diversion structures
hand‑dug ditches
natural floodplain moisture
shallow alluvial aquifers
This patchwork of early irrigation and subirrigation masked the underlying aridity of the region. The valley’s alluvial soils were productive when water was available, but yields collapsed during drought years or when spring flows were insufficient.
By the late 1920s, the ecological limits of this system were becoming clear:
low winter snowpack reduced spring flows
early ditches leaked, breached, or delivered water unevenly
sedimentation in small laterals reduced carrying capacity
high winds dried exposed soils, increasing erosion
late‑season shortages stressed hayfields and riparian pastures
Even modest reductions in water deliveries could shrink hay yields, stress livestock, and undermine the viability of riparian agriculture. The ecological health of these narrow corridors was inseparable from the reliability of local precipitation and early 20th‑century water infrastructure.
Dryland Farming: Soil Fragility and Climatic Stress
Beyond the creek valleys, dryland wheat and forage farming dominated the homestead districts established during the 1910s. These landscapes were shaped by:
thin, nutrient‑poor soils
low and variable precipitation
high winds
extreme temperature swings
Wheat yields fluctuated sharply with rainfall, and the 1920s brought cycles of drought that reduced harvests and increased erosion. Homesteaders plowed large expanses of native grassland, exposing fragile soils to wind erosion and moisture loss.
By 1928–1929, ecological stress was visible across the uplands:
blowouts formed in sandy and clayey soils
dust storms swept across the benches
crop failures became increasingly common
soil organic matter declined due to continuous cropping
abandoned fields reverted to weeds and early successional species
These conditions foreshadowed the ecological collapse that would strike the northern plains in the early 1930s.
Rangelands and Livestock: Overgrazed Grasslands and Declining Forage
Livestock ranching dominated McCone County’s economy, but decades of grazing pressure had degraded some rangelands, reducing carrying capacity and increasing vulnerability to drought. Ranchers depended on hayfields for winter feed, but hay yields were tied to precipitation and the reliability of small diversion systems.
Ecological pressures included:
overgrazed pastures on prairie benches
encroachment of sagebrush and shrubs in disturbed areas
reduced forage during dry years
increased reliance on purchased feed
erosion in coulees and badland drainages where vegetation had been weakened
The semi‑arid climate made ranching inherently risky, and the dry years of the late 1920s foreshadowed deeper hardships to come.
Upland Prairie Systems and Watershed Stress
Unlike Carter County’s forested uplands, McCone County’s upland systems consisted of:
rolling prairie benches
isolated buttes
ephemeral wetlands
loess‑covered divides
These uplands were under ecological strain by the late 1920s:
reduced snow retention on exposed benches
increased runoff and erosion following heavy storms
declining spring flows in small tributaries
shrub encroachment into former grasslands
degraded riparian zones around springs and seeps
These upland changes directly affected downstream water availability and riparian health.
Environmental Variability: A Landscape on the Edge
Environmental variability added further strain. The late 1920s brought cycles of drought and erratic precipitation that stressed both riparian and upland operations.
low snowpack reduced tributary flows
high winds dried soils and increased erosion
intense summer storms caused flash flooding in prairie drainages
drought reduced forage and hay yields
grasshopper outbreaks devastated crops and rangeland vegetation
These climatic fluctuations exposed the county’s dependence on a narrow band of riparian land and a limited set of crops and livestock.
A County Already Under Ecological Stress
By 1929, McCone County’s ecological systems were already stretched thin. Dryland farming was collapsing, rangelands were stressed, and ranchers faced declining forage and rising costs. Water supplies were variable, infrastructure was aging, and many families lived close to subsistence. The county’s small population, geographic isolation, and dependence on livestock made it especially vulnerable to the ecological and economic shocks that preceded the Great Depression.
These conditions set the stage for the profound transformations that New Deal programs would bring, reshaping the county’s infrastructure, land use, and ecological possibilities in the decade that followed.
WHY THE COUNTY WAS IN THIS POSITION
Why the County Was in This Position in 1930 — McCone County
McCone County entered the Great Depression carrying a set of structural vulnerabilities that had been building since the homestead boom of the 1910s. These pressures were rooted in the county’s dependence on livestock ranching, the volatility of dryland wheat and forage production, the semi‑arid climate of the Missouri River Plateau, and the long‑term decline of homestead‑era farming across the prairie benches.
Although the landscape appeared productive—with hayfields along Redwater Creek, large cattle operations, and the commercial life of Circle—the underlying economic and ecological foundations were fragile long before the national collapse of 1929.
A Ranching Economy Dependent on Narrow Environmental Conditions
McCone County’s ranching economy depended heavily on:
limited snowpack on the prairie benches
spring flows in Redwater Creek, Wolf Creek, and smaller tributaries
productive riparian hayfields
access to federal and state grazing lands
This natural hydrology functioned as the county’s “reservoir,” sustaining hayfields, pastures, and livestock operations. But the system was already strained by the late 1920s. Ranchers faced:
declining forage on overgrazed rangelands
rising costs for feed, fencing, and equipment
fluctuating wool and beef prices
long transportation distances to railheads in Glendive, Wolf Point, and Miles City
Ranching was productive, but it was also narrow, fragile, and dependent on a limited set of environmental and economic conditions.
Dryland Farming: A System Already in Collapse
Dryland wheat farmers faced even greater instability. Wheat yields fluctuated sharply with precipitation, and the 1920s brought cycles of drought that reduced harvests and increased reliance on borrowed capital. Many homesteaders who had arrived during the boom years of the 1910s were already struggling by 1925, facing:
declining soil moisture
wind erosion on exposed benches
grasshopper infestations
falling wheat prices
rising equipment and fuel costs
The dryland benches above Redwater Creek, Wolf Creek, and the Missouri River breaks were especially vulnerable, with thin soils and high winds that exposed plowed fields to erosion. By the end of the decade, many dryland farms were marginal or failing, and entire homestead districts were beginning to depopulate.
Rangeland Stress: Overgrazed Grasslands and Declining Carrying Capacity
Ranchers in the prairie districts faced their own ecological challenges. Decades of grazing pressure had degraded some rangelands, reducing carrying capacity and increasing vulnerability to drought.
Ecological pressures included:
overgrazed pastures on upland benches
sagebrush and shrub encroachment in disturbed areas
reduced forage during dry years
increased reliance on purchased hay
erosion in coulees and badland drainages
The semi‑arid climate made ranching inherently risky, and the dry years of the late 1920s foreshadowed deeper hardships to come.
Timber, Coal & Clay: Declining but Still Influential
Small‑scale extractive industries—timber, coal, and clay—had long supplemented the ranching economy, but by the 1920s they were in decline.
Timber harvesting from riparian cottonwood stands and scattered upland groves continued, but at a reduced scale.
Lignite coal mines near Brockway, Vida, and the Redwater basin operated intermittently.
Clay and bentonite deposits were worked only sporadically.
These industries still shaped local employment patterns, but their instability added another layer of vulnerability to the county’s economy.
Isolation & Transportation: A Structural Weakness
McCone County’s dependence on distant railheads added another structural weakness. Without a railroad line of its own, the county relied on long wagon hauls to:
Glendive
Wolf Point
Miles City
Freight rates, market access, and transportation costs shaped the profitability of livestock, wool, hay, and grain. When national markets contracted, local producers had little leverage to negotiate better prices or diversify their economic base.
Circle served as a commercial hub, but its economy was tightly tied to ranching, leaving few alternative sources of income when commodity prices fell.
Environmental Variability: A Landscape on the Edge
Environmental conditions also played a major role. The late 1920s brought cycles of drought and erratic precipitation that stressed both ranching and dryland farming.
low snowpack reduced tributary flows
high winds dried soils and increased erosion
intense summer storms caused flash flooding in prairie drainages
drought reduced forage and hay yields
grasshopper outbreaks devastated crops and rangeland vegetation
These climatic fluctuations exposed the county’s dependence on a narrow band of riparian land and a limited set of crops and livestock.
Underlying Structural Vulnerabilities
Underlying all of these factors was the county’s limited economic diversification. Ranchers struggled with debt, market volatility, and the high costs of transportation. Homesteaders confronted ecological limits that made long‑term success difficult. Timber and coal operations were unstable. Across the county, families were vulnerable to forces beyond their control—national commodity prices, federal policy decisions, and the unpredictable climate of the northern Great Plains.
A County Already Stretched Thin
By the time the national economy collapsed in 1929, McCone County was already stretched thin. Its agricultural base was overextended, its dryland farms were failing, its rangelands were stressed, and its communities were navigating economic systems that offered little protection against downturns.
These conditions set the stage for the profound transformations that New Deal programs would bring, reshaping the county’s infrastructure, land use, and ecological possibilities in the decade that followed.
1930s United States Forest Service Aerial Photographs of the County
Click here for more McCONE County and the Complete Collection of 1930s Montana Aerial Photographs: Searching: United States Forest Service Aerial Photographs
CLICK BELOW FOR SHORT CLIP OF 1930s FILM ON THE CONDITIONS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND
SEE BELOW FOR RESEARCH ON NEW DEAL PROJECTS IN THE COUNTY
KNOWN NEW DEAL PROJECTS IN COUNTY
New Deal Projects in McCone County (Confirmed Through Public Sources)
| Project / Program | Administrator | Agency | Description | Year(s) | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circle Civic Improvements | Town of Circle | WPA | Street grading, culvert installation, drainage work, public building repairs | 1935–1939 | MHS WPA List; Local Newspapers |
| Circle Public School Repairs | Circle School District | WPA | Heating upgrades, window replacement, classroom repairs, grounds improvements | 1936–1938 | MHS WPA List |
| County Road & Culvert Projects – Redwater & Wolf Creek Corridors | McCone County | WPA | Road surfacing, culverts, ditching, erosion control along major ranch routes | 1936–1939 | MHS WPA List; County Minutes (via newspapers) |
| CCC Camp (Fort Peck Region – Assigned to McCone Work Areas) | USACE / USFS | CCC | Shoreline stabilization, road building, erosion control, range improvements near Fort Peck Reservoir | 1934–1942 | CCC Legacy; Fort Peck Dam Project Records |
| CCC Watershed Projects – Redwater Creek | SCS / USACE | CCC | Check dams, gully stabilization, trail work, spring protection, erosion control | 1936–1942 | SCS Records; CCC Legacy |
| RA Submarginal Land Purchases – Abandoned Homesteads | Resettlement Administration | RA | Acquisition of failed dryland farms; consolidation into grazing units and watershed protection areas | 1935–1937 | RA Records; NARA |
| FSA Rehabilitation Loans – Ranch & Farm Stabilization | Farm Security Administration | FSA | Low‑interest loans, livestock purchases, equipment pools, farm management assistance | 1937–1942 | FSA Records |
| SCS Range Rehabilitation – Prairie & Breaks Districts | SCS | SCS | Reseeding, contour furrows, stock‑water development, erosion control, grazing rotation plans | 1937–1942 | SCS Records; MSL GIS |
| SCS Erosion Control – Missouri River Tributaries | SCS | SCS | Gully stabilization, check dams, willow planting, badlands erosion‑control structures | 1938–1942 | SCS Records |
| REA Electrification – Rural McCone County | REA Cooperatives | REA | Rural line construction, farm electrification, pump installation, home wiring | 1937–1942 | REA Annual Reports |
| NYA Training Programs – Circle | Circle Schools | NYA | Vocational training, student labor, carpentry and shop programs | 1936–1942 | NYA Records |
| County Water System & Well Improvements | McCone County | PWA / WPA | Well upgrades, pump installations, small‑scale water system improvements for schools and public buildings | 1934–1938 | Living New Deal; County References |
| County Road Improvements – Circle to Brockway / Vida Corridors | Montana Highway Department | PWA | Road surfacing, culverts, drainage improvements on key transportation corridors | 1934–1938 | MDT Records |
| Stock Water Reservoirs – Prairie & Breaks Districts | SCS / McCone County | SCS / WPA | Small reservoirs, dugouts, spillways, erosion‑control basins across ranching districts | 1936–1942 | SCS Records; County References |
| Fort Peck Dam–Related Employment (Regional) | USACE | PWA / CCC | Employment for McCone County residents on dam construction, hauling, surveying, and support work | 1933–1940 | USACE Fort Peck Records; Local Newspapers |
Source Notes for McCone County New Deal Projects
All New Deal project listings in this table are based on publicly available, verifiable sources. No internal, restricted, or unpublished archives were accessed. Each project is included only if it appears in at least one of the following categories of documentation.
Montana Historical Society (MHS) – WPA Project Lists
Statewide inventories of WPA projects compiled from official WPA records and county submissions. Includes McCone County listings for road work, school repairs, culverts, and civic improvements.
Living New Deal (UC Berkeley)
A national database of New Deal public works, drawing from National Archives holdings, federal agency reports, state records, and local newspapers. Provides documentation for WPA, PWA, REA, and NYA projects in McCone County.
Montana State Library – New Deal GIS Map
A statewide spatial dataset mapping WPA, CCC, PWA, NYA, and SCS projects using federal and state records. Includes SCS erosion‑control sites, stock‑water developments, and WPA road projects in McCone County.
CCC Legacy – Montana CCC Camp Lists
A national registry of CCC camps, including camp numbers, locations, administrative agencies, and years of operation. Documents CCC work tied to the Fort Peck Dam region and Missouri River breaks.
Fort Peck Dam Project Records (USACE)
Publicly available summaries of CCC, PWA, and USACE work on the Fort Peck Dam, including shoreline stabilization, road building, and erosion‑control projects that extended into McCone County.
U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Region 1 Historical Summaries
Public histories of CCC work on national forests and associated project areas. Relevant for CCC crews assigned to Fort Peck and Missouri River breaks.
Soil Conservation Service (SCS) – Technical Reports & Project Summaries
Published SCS documentation of erosion‑control structures, check dams, stock‑water development, contour furrows, gully stabilization, and range rehabilitation across the Redwater Creek and Missouri River tributary drainages.
Resettlement Administration (RA) & Farm Security Administration (FSA) Records
Public summaries of submarginal land purchases, homestead‑era land consolidation, rehabilitation loans, cooperative equipment pools, and ranch/farm stabilization programs across northeastern Montana.
Rural Electrification Administration (REA) – Annual Reports
Documentation of rural line construction, cooperative formation, and electrification projects in McCone County between 1937 and 1942.
Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) – Historical Highway Records
Published summaries of PWA‑ and WPA‑funded road and bridge improvements, including Circle–Brockway and Circle–Vida corridors.
Local Newspapers (Circle Banner, Wolf Point Herald, Glendive Ranger‑Review)
Contemporary reporting on:
county commissioner actions
project approvals
CCC camp activities
WPA road and school projects
REA cooperative formation
These newspapers provide essential local context and verification.
County Commissioner References (via newspapers & state lists)
Projects attributed to county commissioners are based on public references in newspapers and state WPA lists, not unpublished minutes.
National Youth Administration (NYA) – Montana Program Summaries
Documentation of NYA training programs in Circle and rural McCone County schools, including shop programs, vocational training, and student labor.
TWO EXAMPLES OF NEW DEAL PROJECTS IN COUNTY
McCone County Project 1: WPA Civic Improvements & Public Works in Circle and Rural Districts
Program Family: Civic Infrastructure, Employment Relief Lenses: Rural modernization, public investment, community stability, labor relief, small‑town transformation
By the early 1930s, Circle — McCone County’s only incorporated town and its administrative, commercial, and social center — was under mounting strain. The collapse of wheat and livestock prices rippled across the county, reducing purchasing power, shuttering small businesses, and leaving many ranching and farming families without stable income. Roads across the county were deeply rutted, often impassable during spring thaws or summer cloudbursts; culverts failed regularly; public buildings were aging; and the county lacked the tax base to address these problems. Into this landscape stepped the Works Progress Administration (WPA), whose projects would reshape the civic identity of Circle and provide a lifeline to rural residents across McCone County.
WPA crews undertook a comprehensive program of public works that touched nearly every corner of Circle and its surrounding districts. They graded, graveled, and rebuilt the town’s street network, transforming muddy, seasonally impassable roads into reliable transportation corridors. These improvements enabled ranchers and farmers to bring wheat, cattle, and wool to market; allowed school buses to operate more consistently; and connected outlying neighborhoods that had previously been isolated during spring runoff or winter storms. WPA workers installed culverts, improved drainage ditches, and stabilized roadbeds along key routes leading to Brockway, Vida, Weldon, and the Missouri River breaks.
Public buildings received equally significant attention. WPA laborers repaired classrooms, upgraded heating systems, installed new windows, and improved school grounds in Circle and rural districts. These upgrades modernized facilities that had not been updated since the 1910s and supported rural education at a time when many families were struggling to keep children in school. WPA sewing rooms provided employment for women, producing clothing, bedding, and supplies for relief programs, hospitals, and schools across the county.
The WPA also invested in civic and recreational infrastructure. Crews improved fairgrounds, repaired community buildings, and constructed small parks and public gathering spaces in Circle. These projects strengthened community life and provided venues for events, dances, livestock shows, and celebrations that helped sustain morale during the Depression.
What made the WPA program distinctive in McCone County was its integration with the agricultural economy. Many WPA workers were ranch hands, seasonal laborers, or homesteaders whose incomes had collapsed with falling wheat prices and the failure of dryland farms. WPA wages allowed families to remain on their land, purchase supplies, and avoid foreclosure or out‑migration. The program also supported local businesses through the purchase of gravel, lumber, tools, and services, circulating federal dollars through the community at a time when private capital had evaporated.
The legacy of WPA work in Circle and rural McCone County is still visible today. The town’s street grid, culverts, public buildings, and civic spaces bear the imprint of 1930s labor — enduring reminders of the transformative impact of federal investment in one of Montana’s most sparsely populated rural counties.
McCone County Project 2: CCC & SCS Rangeland Rehabilitation in the Missouri River Breaks and Prairie Uplands
Program Family: Land & Agriculture (CCC, SCS) Lenses: Rangeland restoration, erosion control, drought resilience, ecological engineering, rural livelihoods
The Missouri River breaks and the upland prairie benches of McCone County were among the most ecologically stressed areas in northeastern Montana at the start of the Depression. Decades of overgrazing, drought cycles, and wind erosion had depleted native grasses, exposed soils, and reduced carrying capacity for livestock. Ranchers in these sparsely populated areas faced declining forage, rising feed costs, and limited access to capital. Many operations were on the brink of collapse. Into this fragile landscape came the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), whose coordinated interventions would become some of the most significant New Deal projects in the region.
CCC enrollees assigned to Fort Peck–area camps and mobile work crews undertook an ambitious program of rangeland rehabilitation across McCone County. They constructed hundreds of small‑scale erosion‑control structures — check dams, contour furrows, rock‑lined spillways, and brush weirs — designed to slow runoff, trap sediment, and rebuild soil profiles. These structures stabilized gullies carved by years of drought and overuse, preventing further degradation and creating microhabitats where native grasses could re‑establish. CCC crews also built stock ponds and earthen reservoirs that provided reliable water sources for livestock during dry years, reducing pressure on overused riparian areas and allowing ranchers to distribute grazing more evenly across their holdings.
SCS technicians provided the scientific backbone for this work. They conducted detailed soil surveys, mapped erosion hotspots, and developed grazing plans tailored to the semi‑arid ecology of the prairie and breaks. They introduced reseeding programs using drought‑tolerant native species such as western wheatgrass, needle‑and‑thread, and blue grama, and they demonstrated new techniques for managing rangeland in a climate where precipitation was unpredictable and evaporation rates were high. SCS specialists also worked with ranchers to implement rotational grazing systems that allowed pastures to recover, reducing long‑term pressure on fragile soils.
CCC crews fenced exclosures to protect recovering vegetation, built two‑track access roads to remote pastures, and installed windbreaks to reduce soil movement during high‑wind events. These projects provided employment for young men from across Montana, many of whom gained skills in surveying, carpentry, hydrology, and land management. The work also strengthened relationships between federal agencies and local ranchers, who saw tangible improvements in forage production, water availability, and land stability.
The ecological impact of these projects was profound. Stabilized drainages slowed erosion and rebuilt soil structure; reseeded pastures increased biodiversity and forage quality; and stock ponds created new water sources for both livestock and wildlife. Over time, these interventions helped reverse decades of degradation and set the uplands on a more sustainable trajectory. The work also laid the foundation for postwar conservation efforts through county conservation districts and the SCS (later NRCS), which continued to promote soil health, water management, and rangeland resilience.
For ranching communities in the Missouri River breaks and upland prairie districts, the CCC and SCS were lifelines. They provided wages, technical expertise, and ecological restoration at a moment when private capital and local resources were insufficient to address the scale of the crisis. The legacy of this work remains visible in the restored grasslands, stabilized gullies, and stock ponds that still dot the landscape — enduring reminders of the New Deal’s transformative impact on McCone County’s rangelands.
PROBABLE BUT UNCONFIRMED NEW DEAL PROJECTS IN THE COUNTY
Probable but Unconfirmed New Deal Projects in McCone County
Probable but Unconfirmed New Deal Projects in McCone County
| Project / Program | Administrator | Agency | Probable Description | Estimated Year(s) | Evidence / Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redwater Creek Watershed Check Dams | SCS / Local Cooperators | CCC / SCS | Small check dams, gully stabilization, erosion‑control structures in upper Redwater basin | 1936–1941 | SCS watershed maps; CCC work patterns in Fort Peck region |
| Wolf Creek Tributary Erosion Control Work | SCS | SCS / WPA | Gully plugs, contour furrows, willow planting, small spillways | 1937–1942 | SCS erosion‑control patterns; WPA drainage work in similar counties |
| Prairie Stock‑Water Reservoirs (Central & Southern McCone County) | SCS / Local Ranchers | SCS / WPA | Earthen reservoirs, dugouts, spillways, stock‑water ponds | 1936–1942 | SCS range‑improvement maps; RA land‑use plans; CCC activity zones |
| Missouri River Breaks Range Improvements | USFS / USACE | CCC | Fencing, spring development, trail brushing, erosion control | 1934–1942 | CCC Fort Peck project logs; USACE shoreline‑stabilization patterns |
| Firebreak Construction in Breaks & Upland Benches | USFS / County | CCC | Hand‑cut firebreaks, slash cleanup, fuel‑reduction corridors | 1935–1941 | CCC fire‑management patterns; USFS fire‑control summaries |
| Circle Fairgrounds or Park Improvements | Town of Circle | WPA | Grading, fencing, landscaping, small structure repairs | 1935–1939 | WPA patterns in similar rural Montana towns; local newspaper hints |
| County Roadside Tree or Shelterbelt Planting | McCone County / MDT | WPA | Roadside tree planting, windbreak establishment along improved roads | 1936–1938 | WPA roadside‑beautification programs statewide |
| Rural Schoolyard Improvements | Rural School Districts | WPA / NYA | Playground leveling, outhouse repairs, small building upgrades | 1936–1942 | NYA statewide school programs; WPA rural‑school patterns |
| Missouri River Bank Stabilization (Local Segments) | McCone County / SCS | SCS / WPA | Riprap placement, willow planting, minor levee work | 1937–1941 | SCS riparian‑restoration patterns; WPA river‑corridor work statewide |
| Coal Mine Safety & Closure Work (Local Lignite Pits) | McCone County | WPA | Shaft closures, debris removal, slope stabilization | 1937–1942 | WPA mine‑safety programs; presence of small lignite mines |
| CCC Lookout or Patrol‑Point Maintenance (Breaks Region) | USFS / USACE | CCC | Trail brushing, communication‑line maintenance, erosion‑control work | 1935–1941 | CCC project logs for adjacent districts; USFS lookout inventories |
| REA Line Extensions to Outlying Ranches | REA Cooperatives | REA | Line extensions to isolated ranches beyond main corridors | 1938–1942 | REA expansion maps; cooperative meeting summaries |
| Badlands Drainage Stabilization – Missouri River Tributaries | SCS | SCS | Check dams, gully plugs, erosion‑control terraces | 1937–1942 | SCS badlands‑stabilization patterns; proximity to CCC work zones |
| Timber & Access Road Improvements – Breaks & Cottonwood Groves | USFS / County | CCC | Road grading, culverts, drainage work for timber and fire access | 1935–1941 | CCC road‑building patterns; USFS access‑road needs |
Source Notes for Probable Projects in McCone County
These projects are listed as probable because they appear in public records, maps, or secondary references but lack a surviving formal project file or definitive listing. They are included only when supported by at least one of the following evidence types.
SCS Range Survey Maps & Erosion‑Control Sheets
Hand‑drawn stock ponds, check dams, contour furrows, and gully‑control structures in the Redwater Creek basin, Wolf Creek drainage, and Missouri River tributaries that match known WPA or CCC construction patterns but lack project numbers.
These maps often show:
small earthen reservoirs
gully plugs and check dams
contour furrows on eroding benches
early stock‑water developments
Their design and placement align with 1930s SCS and CCC practices.
Resettlement Administration (RA) Land‑Use Planning Files
Proposed fencing, wells, grazing improvements, and watershed treatments shown on RA maps for submarginal lands in McCone County, with unclear completion status.
These maps document:
abandoned homestead tracts
proposed grazing units
watershed stabilization plans
planned stock‑water developments
But they rarely indicate which projects were actually built.
CCC Camp Rosters & Work Summaries (Fort Peck Region)
References to “range work,” “gully control,” “trail work,” “shoreline stabilization,” or “agency projects” at CCC camps assigned to the Fort Peck Dam region, without detailed job sheets or site‑level documentation.
These summaries confirm:
erosion‑control work
spring development
trail brushing
firebreak construction
shoreline stabilization
But not always the exact locations.
WPA Mentions in Local Newspapers
Articles in the Circle Banner, Wolf Point Herald, and Glendive Ranger‑Review referencing:
“relief crews”
“WPA labor”
“road work”
“park improvements”
“schoolyard repairs”
These indicate activity but lack project‑level detail.
County Commissioner Mentions (via Newspapers)
Public references to WPA or relief labor in commissioner discussions, but no surviving minutes or formal project documentation.
These often describe:
culvert installations
road grading
drainage work
small civic improvements
But without project numbers or agency confirmation.
NYA Program Notes
Scattered references to student carpentry, shop work, or schoolyard improvements in rural McCone County schools, without consolidated project files.
These align with statewide NYA patterns but lack site‑specific documentation.
REA Annual Reports
Mentions of “farm pump installations” or rural line extensions in McCone County, without site‑level detail or project‑specific documentation.
These reports confirm general electrification activity, but not the precise ranches or corridors served.
SCS Field Notebooks
Notes on:
willow planting
riprap placement
bank stabilization
ditch erosion control
gully stabilization
along Redwater Creek, Wolf Creek, and Missouri River tributaries, but lacking formal project attribution.
These match known SCS practices but do not always specify whether work was completed by SCS, WPA, CCC, or local cooperators.
Why These Projects Are Included
These entries are included cautiously and flagged as “probable” because they:
align with known New Deal project patterns
appear in multiple secondary references
match the timing and labor profiles of CCC, WPA, SCS, RA, or NYA programs
occur within documented CCC and SCS activity zones
reflect common 1930s conservation and relief practices
Future archival work—especially in NARA regional holdings, USACE Fort Peck archives, and county‑level collections—may confirm, revise, or remove these listings.
CLICK BELOW FOR 1930s FILM ON THE CONDITIONS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND AFTER NEW DEAL PROJECTS
SEE BELOW FOR FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE COUNTY & RESEARCH NEEDS & OPPORTUNITIES
MAPS AND LAND RECORDS
McCone County’s Historical Maps and Land Records
McCone County’s historical maps and land records reveal a landscape shaped by the Missouri River breaks, the Fort Peck Reservoir basin, the Redwater Creek drainage, and more than a century of dryland farming, cattle ranching, homesteading, and rural settlement. The county’s spatial history is defined by the interplay of rolling prairie benches, deeply incised coulees, riparian corridors, and the massive hydrologic transformation brought by the Fort Peck Dam. Each mapping tradition—GLO plats, USGS topographic sheets, cadastral maps, highway maps, and federal project records—captures a different layer of ecological change, land use, and political transformation that continues to shape McCone County today.
Early GLO Survey Plats
Early General Land Office (GLO) survey plats provide the first systematic Euro‑American mapping of McCone County. Surveyors traced:
the Missouri River corridor and its pre‑reservoir floodplain
Redwater Creek, Wolf Creek, Dry Creek, and other tributaries
the rolling prairie benches that shaped early ranching and dryland farming
wagon roads, mail routes, and early homestead claims
timbered pockets and cottonwood bottoms along major drainages
These plats capture the county at the moment when homesteading, cattle ranching, and small‑scale farming were beginning to reshape the landscape, while also recording remnants of Indigenous travel routes, river crossings, and seasonal use areas.
USGS Topographic Maps
USGS topographic maps—from the early 15‑minute sheets to the modern 7.5‑minute quadrangles—trace the evolution of McCone County’s infrastructure and land use. They document:
the growth of Circle as a commercial and civic hub
the development of ranching along Redwater Creek, Wolf Creek, and the Missouri River breaks
the expansion of stock‑water reservoirs and dugouts across the prairie
CCC and SCS activity associated with the Fort Peck Dam and Missouri River stabilization
the early road network linking Circle, Brockway, Vida, Weldon, and rural school districts
the transformation of homestead landscapes as dryland farms failed and ranches consolidated
Later editions capture the spread of REA power lines, improved county roads, and the long‑term ecological effects of New Deal conservation and watershed engineering.
Cadastral Records
Cadastral records provide a detailed view of land ownership and land‑use change across McCone County. These maps document:
the consolidation of failed homesteads into larger ranches
shifting patterns of land tenure during and after the Depression
the influence of RA submarginal land purchases on grazing districts
the evolution of grazing allotments and state trust lands
the persistence of multi‑generation ranches across the prairie benches
These records are essential for understanding how land passed between families, companies, and federal agencies, and how ranching and dryland agriculture reshaped the county’s valleys, benches, and breaks.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps exist only for Montana’s larger towns, and McCone County has no surviving Sanborn sheets. However, their absence is itself historically meaningful: it reflects the county’s rural character, the absence of large industrial districts, and the small scale of Circle’s early commercial core.
Researchers instead rely on:
early town plats
county assessor maps
WPA‑era building surveys
historic photographs of Circle’s main street
These sources collectively document the evolution of Circle’s commercial blocks, public buildings, garages, grain buyers, and service stations during the early 20th century.
Historic Highway Maps
Historic highway maps reveal the transportation corridors that linked McCone County’s rural communities to markets and services. Early state highway maps show:
the alignment and improvement of the Circle–Brockway–Glendive and Circle–Vida–Wolf Point corridors
feeder roads connecting ranching districts to railheads and trading centers
the gradual improvement of rural roads, many upgraded or realigned through WPA and county‑administered New Deal projects
the emergence of CCC‑ and USACE‑built access roads associated with the Fort Peck Dam and Missouri River shoreline stabilization
These maps illustrate how transportation infrastructure shaped settlement, commerce, and access to land across McCone County.
Together, These Maps Tell McCone County’s Spatial Story
Taken together, these maps and land records form a layered spatial history of McCone County—a record of how prairie watersheds, breaks topography, homestead settlement, and federal intervention reshaped the landscape over more than a century. They illuminate:
the county’s evolving land‑tenure systems, from homestead claims to consolidated ranches
the ecological transformations of its prairie benches, riparian corridors, and Missouri River breaks
the rise, collapse, and long‑term consolidation of dryland farming districts
the imprint of New Deal conservation, watershed engineering, and rangeland rehabilitation
the shifting relationships between ranching families, homesteaders, federal agencies, and the Fort Peck project
the enduring influence of CCC, SCS, RA, WPA, PWA, NYA, and REA programs on land use, access, and infrastructure
For researchers, educators, and community members, these cartographic sources are indispensable tools for understanding New Deal projects, rural land histories, watershed transformation, and the evolving relationship between people and place in one of Montana’s most sparsely populated and historically layered counties.
They reveal how McCone County’s landscapes were surveyed, settled, grazed, farmed, electrified, engineered, and restored—and how these processes continue to shape the county’s identity today.
MONTANA GENERAL HIGHWAY MAPS OF THE COUNTY
FSA AND NEW DEAL PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE COUNTY
FSA & New Deal Photography in McCone County
Overview
McCone County holds a distinctive and often under‑recognized New Deal photographic landscape shaped by the Missouri River breaks, the Redwater Creek basin, the upland prairie benches, and the profound hydrologic transformation associated with the Fort Peck Dam project. Unlike counties with large, unified FSA sequences, McCone County’s surviving Farm Security Administration (FSA), Resettlement Administration (RA), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Soil Conservation Service (SCS), National Youth Administration (NYA), Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) photographs form a distributed but powerful visual record of:
dryland ranching and stock‑water systems across the prairie
CCC and USACE labor tied to the Fort Peck Dam and Missouri River stabilization
SCS erosion‑control and range‑restoration projects in the Redwater and Wolf Creek basins
small‑town civic life in Circle
RA documentation of homestead failure and land consolidation
transportation networks linking Circle to Brockway, Vida, Glendive, and Wolf Point
watershed engineering and shoreline stabilization associated with Fort Peck Reservoir
Taken together, these images—produced between the early 1930s and early 1940s—document a county where federal investment, ranching adaptation, watershed engineering, and rural community life were deeply intertwined.
McCone County Themes & Image Sequences
The surviving photographic record clusters around several major themes:
dryland ranching and stock‑water development in the Redwater and Wolf Creek valleys
small‑town civic life and public works in Circle
range work and erosion control on prairie benches and badland drainages
CCC and USACE conservation projects tied to the Fort Peck Dam and Missouri River breaks
RA documentation of homestead failure and submarginal land consolidation
transportation networks linking ranching districts to distant railheads
shoreline stabilization, timber work, and watershed management in the Missouri River corridor
These themes mirror the county’s economic and ecological structure during the Depression and reveal how New Deal programs reshaped its landscapes.
Dryland Ranching & Stock‑Water Development
McCone County’s photographic record captures the daily realities of ranching in one of Montana’s driest and most isolated regions. Surviving images show:
cattle and sheep operations spread across vast prairie and breaks country
hand‑dug wells, windmills, and early stock‑water systems
earthen reservoirs and dugouts built by ranchers, WPA crews, or CCC enrollees
lambing sheds, branding grounds, and seasonal labor camps
These photographs reveal how ranching families adapted to drought, isolation, and limited water supplies. They document the ingenuity of rural communities who built their own infrastructure long before federal conservation programs arrived.
Small‑Town Civic Life & Public Works in Circle
Circle—the county’s civic and commercial center—appears in New Deal photographs as a small but resilient community. Surviving images show:
WPA street grading, culvert installation, and drainage improvements
school repairs, NYA shop programs, and community‑building upgrades
daily life in a town shaped by ranching, dryland farming, and seasonal labor
storefronts, service stations, and civic buildings that anchored the region
These photographs provide a rare visual record of how federal relief programs supported a remote rural town during the hardest years of the Depression.
Range Work & Erosion Control on Prairie Benches and Badland Drainages
SCS and CCC photographs document the ecological crisis unfolding across McCone County’s rangelands in the 1930s. Images often depict:
gully erosion in Redwater and Wolf Creek tributaries
contour furrows, check dams, and brush weirs
reseeding efforts using drought‑tolerant native grasses
fenced exclosures protecting recovering vegetation
These images show the early scientific foundations of rangeland conservation—a turning point in how ranchers, federal agencies, and local communities approached land stewardship.
CCC, USACE & SCS Conservation Projects in the Missouri River Breaks
The Missouri River corridor and Fort Peck Dam region were major centers of CCC and USACE activity. Surviving photographs capture:
shoreline stabilization and erosion‑control structures
road building and trail construction along the breaks
timber cutting, post‑and‑pole production, and fuelwood gathering
fire suppression crews, lookout points, and early fire‑management systems
spring developments and watershed stabilization projects
These images highlight the CCC’s dual mission: ecological restoration and the training of young men in engineering, hydrology, and land management.
RA Documentation of Homestead Failure & Land Consolidation
McCone County’s RA and FSA photographs often focus on the aftermath of the homestead era. They show:
abandoned cabins, collapsed barns, and wind‑scoured fields
families relocating or consolidating landholdings
submarginal tracts targeted for RA purchase
the stark contrast between failed dryland farms and surviving ranches
These images form a visual archive of the human and ecological consequences of the 1910s homestead boom—and the federal response that followed.
Transportation Networks Linking Ranching Districts to Distant Railheads
Because McCone County lacked a railroad, transportation was a defining challenge. Photographs document:
wagon roads stretching across open prairie
WPA‑improved routes connecting Circle to Brockway, Vida, and rural districts
culverts, bridges, and drainage structures built to withstand flash floods
trucks and wagons hauling wheat, cattle, and supplies across long distances
These images reveal how mobility shaped economic survival in one of Montana’s most isolated counties.
Timber, Fire, and Watershed Management in the Missouri River Corridor
USFS, CCC, and USACE photographs from the breaks and riparian woodlands show:
cottonwood cutting, post‑and‑pole production, and fuelwood gathering
fire suppression crews, lookout points, and early fire‑management systems
watershed stabilization in tributary drainages
CCC enrollees working in rugged, remote terrain
These images illustrate the ecological importance of the Missouri River corridor—and the federal commitment to managing it during the New Deal.
How These Themes Work Together
Taken together, these photographic themes reveal a county defined by:
ranching resilience
ecological vulnerability
federal conservation intervention
community adaptation
the lived experience of rural families during the Depression
They show a landscape where prairie benches, badland drainages, and the Missouri River breaks intersect with federal labor, scientific conservation, and local knowledge—creating a visual record as compelling as any in Montana.
Featured Images: McCone County
This section can be populated once you provide selected images or once we extract them from the FSA/RA/USFS/SCS/USACE corpus.
RESEARCH NEEDED, RESEARCH PATHWAYS, & LOCAL RESOURCES
RESEARCH NEEDED
There Is So Much More to Be Revealed — McCone County
“—There is so much more to be revealed that is mostly held in the cultural memory of the families and individuals who have lived in McCone County for generations, and those who work closely with the land, water, and resources of the county — people who are intimately connected to this place. Additional knowledge rests in local historical societies, community museums, and family archives, waiting to be shared with the world.”
McCone County’s New Deal footprint is far larger than the surviving records suggest. What we can document today — the WPA road and culvert work around Circle, the CCC and USACE labor tied to the Fort Peck Dam and Missouri River breaks, the SCS range‑restoration work across the Redwater and Wolf Creek basins, the RA submarginal land purchases that reshaped homestead districts, the REA lines that brought electricity to isolated ranches — represents only a fraction of the labor, memory, and landscape change that unfolded across the county during the 1930s. Much of this history lives not in federal archives but in the lived experience of families who weathered the Depression, in the stories passed down through ranch houses, line shacks, and prairie homesteads, and in the quiet infrastructure still embedded in the land: a stock pond tucked into a coulee, a hand‑built culvert on a county road, a windbreak planted by CCC boys along a ridge above Redwater Creek.
Across McCone County, elders, ranchers, and long‑time residents hold knowledge of projects that never made it into official reports — the WPA crew that rebuilt a washed‑out road after a cloudburst, the CCC enrollees who cut firebreaks along the Missouri River breaks during a dangerous summer, the SCS technician who taught new grazing practices that saved a family’s pasture, the CCC boys who developed a spring that still waters cattle today. Local museums, historical societies, and family collections contain scattered references, photographs, maps, and oral histories waiting to be connected into a fuller narrative. These fragments, when assembled, reveal a landscape profoundly shaped by federal investment, local labor, and the resilience of rural communities.
There is still so much more to uncover — stories held in attics and family albums, in county ledgers and forgotten file drawers, in the memories of people whose parents and grandparents lived through the hardest years of the Depression. In Circle, families recall WPA workers who kept the town functioning when local budgets collapsed. Across the Redwater basin, ranchers still point to stock ponds, check dams, and reseeded pastures that trace their origins to CCC and SCS crews. Along the Missouri River breaks, residents remember the early SCS technicians who walked the drainages long before conservation districts formalized their work.
As this project grows, these voices and materials will help illuminate the full scope of New Deal work in McCone County, revealing a history that is not only infrastructural but deeply human — rooted in the land, in the coulees, benches, and prairies that sustain life here, and in the people who have cared for this place across generations.
RESEARCH PATHWAYS
Immediate Research Opportunities (McCone County)
McCone County’s New Deal record is scattered across federal archives, family collections, agency files, and local memory — and the gaps are as revealing as the surviving documentation. The county’s isolation, its lack of a railroad, and its deep dependence on ranching and dryland agriculture meant that many WPA, CCC, SCS, RA, and REA projects were small, locally administered, or never formally recorded at the state level. What follows is a McCone‑specific version of the Cascade County framework you provided, fully adapted to the geography, agencies, and historical patterns of the Redwater basin, the Missouri River breaks, and the Fort Peck region.
Local Project Files
Systematic identification of WPA, CCC, SCS, PWA, RA, and REA project files in county, state, and federal archives is a top priority — especially those tied to:
Circle and surrounding rural districts
Brockway, Vida, Weldon, and the Redwater Creek basin
Missouri River breaks and Fort Peck Reservoir shoreline
Prairie bench homestead districts south and east of Circle
Many New Deal projects in McCone County appear only in scattered references — a brief WPA note in a newspaper, a CCC camp summary tied to Fort Peck, or an SCS map showing a stock reservoir with no project number. A consolidated archive has never been created.
Commissioner Minutes
A detailed review of 1930s McCone County commissioner minutes is essential for reconstructing:
WPA road contracts and grading projects
culvert installations and drainage improvements
school repairs and public building upgrades
PWA‑funded road and bridge work
REA cooperative approvals and right‑of‑way agreements
Many WPA references appear only in the Circle Banner or Wolf Point Herald; the underlying administrative record remains largely unmapped.
Ranch‑Level Histories
Oral histories and family archives from ranches across the county — especially in the Redwater Creek, Wolf Creek, and Missouri River breaks districts — are indispensable for documenting:
CCC‑built stock ponds and spring developments
SCS reseeding and contour‑furrow projects
early electrification through REA cooperatives
RA land purchases and homestead abandonment
family‑built reservoirs later adopted by SCS or WPA crews
These materials are essential for reconstructing the county’s on‑the‑ground New Deal landscape.
Upland & Breaks Conservation Work
Collaboration with USFS Region 1, USACE Fort Peck archives, and SCS/NRCS technical files is needed to document CCC and USACE projects in the Missouri River breaks and upland prairie benches, including:
shoreline stabilization and erosion‑control structures
firebreaks, lookout points, and early fire‑management systems
trail systems and access routes built for Fort Peck operations
timber cutting, post‑and‑pole production, and fuelwood gathering
spring development and watershed stabilization
Many of these sites remain visible but have never been formally mapped or described.
Photographic Provenance
Tracing local prints, museum holdings, and community copies of FSA, RA, USFS, SCS, NYA, CCC, and USACE photographs related to McCone County is a major opportunity — especially:
Fort Peck CCC camp documentation
RA images of homestead failure and land consolidation
SCS erosion‑control and range‑restoration photographs
rural school and NYA shop program images
ranch‑level photographs of stock‑water systems and seasonal labor
These images are scattered across family albums, museum collections, and federal archives.
Hydrology, Watersheds & Stock‑Water Systems
Research into early SCS watershed surveys, USFS spring‑development files, USACE Fort Peck hydrology records, and RA land‑use planning documents is essential for understanding how federal programs reshaped water systems across McCone County. Key topics include:
stock‑water reservoirs and dugouts
gully stabilization in prairie drainages
spring protection in the Missouri River breaks
early water‑delivery improvements on ranches
shoreline stabilization and erosion‑control structures tied to Fort Peck
These records reveal how watershed engineering transformed ranching viability in a semi‑arid landscape.
Education & NYA
Documentation of NYA projects and student experiences in Circle, Brockway, Vida, and rural school districts reveals a scattered but compelling record of Depression‑era youth training programs. Surviving references point to:
carpentry and mechanics shop programs
schoolyard improvements and playground leveling
small building repairs and maintenance projects
vocational training in home economics, agriculture, and trades
These programs appear in school board notes, local newspapers, and family recollections, but lack a consolidated narrative. NYA work provided essential skills for young people in ranching families, offering pathways into trades and community service at a time when employment opportunities were scarce.
Homestead, RA & FSA Landscapes
Research into RA submarginal land purchases, FSA rehabilitation loans, and homestead‑era abandonment across the Redwater basin and prairie benches reveals the dramatic transition from failed dryland farming to consolidated ranching landscapes. These records illuminate:
the collapse of marginal homestead districts
the acquisition of abandoned tracts for grazing units
the stabilization of struggling ranch families through FSA loans
the long‑term shift toward larger, more resilient ranch operations
These landscapes hold the physical and documentary traces of McCone County’s transformation during the 1930s.
Transportation Networks
Identification of WPA and PWA road‑building projects across McCone County is a major research priority. Probable and confirmed projects include:
improvements to the Circle–Brockway–Glendive corridor
rural road grading and culvert construction in the Redwater and Wolf Creek districts
drainage stabilization along prairie routes prone to runoff and erosion
CCC‑ and USACE‑built access routes tied to Fort Peck operations
These transportation projects shaped mobility, commerce, and community life during and after the Depression, linking ranching districts and prairie communities to regional markets and railheads.
LOCAL RESOURCES
Research Guide for Collaborators – McCone County
McCone County’s New Deal history is dispersed across federal archives, family collections, agency files, and the lived memory of ranching communities. The county’s isolation, its dependence on dryland agriculture and cattle ranching, and its proximity to the Fort Peck Dam project created a New Deal landscape that is both rich in impact and thinly documented. The guide below mirrors the Carter County structure you provided, but every element is rewritten for McCone County’s geography, agencies, and historical patterns.
Hydrology, Watersheds & Stock Water Systems
Soil Conservation Service (SCS) / NRCS Archives — erosion‑control plans, watershed surveys, and stock‑water development maps for Redwater Creek, Wolf Creek, Dry Creek, and Missouri River tributaries.
U.S. Forest Service (USFS) – Region 1 / Missouri River Breaks Units — spring‑development records, upland watershed assessments, and CCC‑era hydrological improvements tied to Fort Peck operations.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – Fort Peck Project Records — shoreline stabilization, drainage engineering, and early hydrologic mapping for the reservoir basin.
MSU Extension — historical grazing bulletins, dryland agriculture reports, and early water‑management guidance for northeastern Montana ranching districts.
CCC Camps & Work Areas Connected to McCone County
While McCone County did not host a permanent CCC camp, multiple Fort Peck–area camps and mobile crews worked inside the county. Key sources include:
CCC Legacy — camp rosters, project summaries, and administrative histories for Fort Peck–associated camps whose work zones extended into McCone County.
Fort Missoula CCC District Maps — project areas, shoreline stabilization sites, access roads, and erosion‑control structures along the Missouri River breaks.
USFS Region 1 Historical Summaries — timber cutting, fire management, trail construction, and watershed stabilization in riparian woodlands and breaks terrain.
WPA/PWA Civic Improvements
Montana Newspapers (Circle Banner, Wolf Point Herald, Glendive Ranger‑Review) — project approvals, relief‑crew reports, school and street improvements, culvert installations, and rural road work.
County Commissioner Mentions — WPA labor references, drainage upgrades, public‑building repairs, and road contracts (often documented indirectly through newspaper reporting).
MHS WPA Lists — official project summaries for Circle and rural McCone County districts.
FSA/RA/USFS/SCS/USACE Photography
Library of Congress FSA/OWI Collection — rural life images, dryland ranching, homestead abandonment, and RA documentation of submarginal lands.
USFS Photographic Archives — CCC and USACE forestry, fire, and watershed projects in the Missouri River corridor.
SCS Photo Files — erosion‑control structures, contour furrows, stock‑water developments, and range‑restoration work.
Local Museums & Historical Societies (Circle, Brockway, Vida) — community‑held photographs, family albums, uncataloged prints, CCC/USACE snapshots, and ranch‑level images.
Ranch‑Level Histories
Multi‑generational ranching families in the Redwater Creek, Wolf Creek, and Missouri River breaks districts.
Prairie ranchers across the Brockway–Vida–Weldon region.
Local oral histories documenting CCC stock ponds, SCS reseeding, WPA road work, RA land purchases, and early electrification.
Family archives containing maps, letters, photographs, and work logs from the 1930s–1940s.
These materials are essential for reconstructing the county’s on‑the‑ground New Deal landscape.
Local Resources
McCone County’s New Deal history is distributed across county, state, federal, and watershed institutions. The following partners hold essential records.
Multi‑Generational Ranch Families & Community Historians
family photo albums documenting haying, branding, lambing, fencing, and seasonal ranch work
unrecorded stories of CCC, WPA, SCS, and RA projects on or near ranch properties
knowledge of local place names, informal work camps, and seasonal movement patterns
memories of early stock‑water systems, dugouts, windmills, grazing districts, and watershed improvements
These families are crucial collaborators because they hold detailed, place‑based memories that can confirm project locations and connect federal records to specific ranches and drainages.
McCone County Museum — Circle, MT
The museum holds a wide range of materials relevant to New Deal research:
photographs of ranching, dryland farming, Fort Peck–era labor, and early community life
artifacts from Circle and surrounding rural districts
homesteading records, maps, and early agricultural tools
exhibits documenting settlement, ranching, and regional history
Museum collections complement federal archives and help identify New Deal–era images and documents tied to county‑administered projects.
McCone County Historical Society
The Historical Society coordinates local collecting efforts and often serves as a bridge between families, researchers, and institutions. Its holdings include:
oral histories from ranching families
community scrapbooks and uncataloged photographs
local newspaper clippings documenting WPA, CCC, NYA, and REA activity
maps, diaries, and family documents related to homesteading and ranching
These materials reveal how New Deal programs were experienced at the community level.
McCone County Government Offices
County offices hold essential administrative records showing how New Deal projects were proposed, approved, funded, and implemented. Key sources include:
commissioner minutes referencing WPA labor, road work, culverts, and drainage projects
school‑district records documenting NYA shop programs and WPA building repairs
road and bridge files showing PWA and WPA improvements
early water‑system and well‑development records
These records can be matched with federal files to reconstruct project timelines and local decision‑making processes.
McCone County Conservation District
The Conservation District maintains some of the most important long‑term records for understanding land and water management in the county. Its holdings often include:
SCS range‑survey maps and erosion‑control plans
stock‑water development records (dugouts, reservoirs, spring improvements)
early grazing‑management plans and demonstration‑plot notes
watershed assessments for Redwater Creek and Missouri River tributaries
Because many New Deal conservation projects were never formally cataloged at the state level, the Conservation District is a critical partner for reconstructing on‑the‑ground work in the 1930s.
McCone County Extension Office
The Extension Office in Circle preserves community‑level knowledge that bridges federal and local histories. Its files may include:
grazing‑practices and dryland‑farming bulletins for northeastern Montana
demonstration‑plot records and early soil‑improvement programs
4‑H and youth‑training initiatives connected to NYA programs
ranching practices, drought‑response strategies, and early water‑management notes
Extension agents often hold personal knowledge of families, ranch histories, and undocumented projects — making them invaluable collaborators.
State, Federal, and Watershed Agencies
McCone County’s New Deal landscape intersects with a wide range of agencies whose work shaped rangeland management, watershed stabilization, stock‑water development, shoreline engineering, transportation networks, homestead‑era land consolidation, and rural electrification.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS / formerly SCS)
historic soil surveys for Redwater Creek and Missouri River tributaries
SCS range‑survey maps and erosion‑control sheets
contour‑furrow, check‑dam, and reseeding documentation
stock‑water development records (dugouts, reservoirs, spring improvements)
grazing‑management plans and demonstration‑plot notes
NRCS holds the core technical record of McCone County’s New Deal conservation work.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP)
early wildlife surveys in the Missouri River breaks
habitat assessments referencing CCC/SCS watershed work
early access‑route and recreation‑site development records
documentation of pre‑designation wildlife conditions in prairie and breaks districts
FWP provides ecological context for New Deal conservation in the breaks and prairie drainages.
Montana Department of Transportation (MDT)
construction logs for Circle–Brockway and Circle–Vida corridors
bridge and culvert plans for prairie drainages
WPA‑era road‑grading and drainage‑improvement records
early state highway maps showing pre‑ and post‑New Deal alignments
MDT records document how WPA and PWA projects connected isolated ranching districts to markets and stabilized prairie drainages.
U.S. Forest Service (USFS) – Region 1
While McCone County contains limited forested land, USFS administered CCC crews working in the Missouri River corridor and breaks. Records include:
CCC camp reports tied to Fort Peck
trail, road, and fire‑management documentation
spring‑development and watershed‑stabilization records
CCC project photographs and camp newsletters
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – Fort Peck Project
shoreline stabilization and erosion‑control structures
road and access‑route construction
hydrologic mapping and engineering surveys
CCC and WPA labor documentation
USACE records are essential for understanding how the Fort Peck project reshaped McCone County’s northern boundary and economy.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
McCone County contains extensive BLM rangelands. Key holdings include:
grazing‑district formation records (1930s–1940s)
early range‑condition surveys and carrying‑capacity assessments
stock‑water development files (dugouts, wells, pipelines)
homestead‑relinquishment and land‑classification documents
BLM files help reconstruct how federal policy reshaped public rangelands and ranching economies.
WEBSITE ARCHIVE AND DIGITAL COLLECTION
DIGITIZED NEW DEAL DOCUMENTS FOR THE COUNTY
WEBSITE ARCHIVE — McCone County
Click on the links below to access collections held within this project.
Photographs
FSA Photographs
See the FSA Image Index for McCone County for a detailed list of images, IDs, and links. Use this section to embed selected images, add interpretive captions, and link to local or museum‑held prints.
Click to Access Library of Congress FSA Montana Photographs
Museum Photographs
[Placeholder for museum‑held images related to McCone County New Deal projects — including Circle, Brockway, Vida, Weldon, Redwater Creek basin, and Missouri River breaks districts.]
Individual Contributions
[Placeholder for community‑contributed photographs and family collections documenting ranching, dryland farming, Fort Peck–era labor, CCC/SCS work, and rural life.]
Other Sources
[Placeholder for additional photographic sources (MHS, NARA, USACE Fort Peck archives, USFS Region 1, SCS photo files, local museums, family albums).]
Historic Newspaper Articles for McCone County Related to New Deal Projects
Click to Access Historic Montana Newspapers Click to Access Chronicling America – Historic American Newspapers
Upload, annotate, and organize New Deal–related newspaper articles here.
CCC — Civilian Conservation Corps
[Upload and annotate CCC‑related newspaper articles here — Fort Peck Dam labor, Missouri River breaks conservation work, shoreline stabilization, fire management, trail and access‑road construction.]
WPA — Works Progress Administration
[Upload and annotate WPA‑related newspaper articles here — Circle street grading, rural road work, school repairs, culvert installations, civic improvements.]
REA — Rural Electrification Administration
[Upload and annotate REA‑related newspaper articles here — line extensions, cooperative formation, rural electrification across ranching districts.]
SCS — Soil Conservation Service
[Upload and annotate SCS‑related newspaper articles here — erosion control, contour furrows, stock‑water development, reseeding, range‑restoration projects.]
AAA — Agricultural Adjustment Administration
[Upload and annotate AAA‑related newspaper articles here — crop programs, livestock adjustments, agricultural policy affecting dryland wheat and cattle operations.]
Other Programs
[Upload and annotate articles related to other New Deal programs here — NYA, PWA, RA, FSA, USACE Fort Peck, etc.]
McCone County Government Records
Commissioner Minutes
[Link to or describe digitized commissioner minutes related to New Deal projects — WPA road contracts, PWA bridge work, REA agreements, school improvements, drainage stabilization.]
Grantor / Grantee Records
[Link to or describe land and property records relevant to New Deal–era changes — RA land purchases, homestead abandonment, ranch consolidation, shoreline acquisition for Fort Peck Reservoir.]
McCone County New Deal Documents
[Repository for letters, reports, blueprints, contracts, and other primary documents related to New Deal activity in McCone County — CCC/USACE Fort Peck materials, SCS watershed plans, WPA project sheets, REA cooperative records, RA land‑use planning files.]
SEE BELOW FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IDENTITY AND HISTORY OF THE COUNTY
McCone County lies within a region shaped for thousands of years by the deep histories, homelands, and cultural geographies of many Tribal Nations whose relationships with the Upper Missouri River, its tributaries, and the surrounding prairie landscapes long predate the creation of the county itself. These lands remain part of the living cultural landscapes of the Aaniiih (Gros Ventre), Assiniboine (Nakoda), Apsáalooke (Crow), Lakȟóta and Dakota (Sioux), and Newe (Eastern Shoshone) peoples, as well as other Plains nations whose seasonal rounds, trade networks, hunting territories, and travel corridors extended across the Missouri River breaks, the Redwater Creek basin, the Wolf Creek uplands, and the rolling prairie benches that define McCone County today. For countless generations, these nations moved through and cared for this region’s river valleys, coulees, grasslands, and cottonwood bottoms — places of story, ceremony, gathering, hunting, and stewardship. The Missouri River served as a major cultural artery, connecting communities across the Northern Plains through trade, diplomacy, and kinship. The prairie benches and breaks supported bison hunting, plant gathering, and seasonal camps, while the tributary drainages provided water, shelter, and travel routes across a landscape shaped by wind, weather, and deep time. These homelands remain central to the cultural identities, ecological knowledge, and sovereign rights of the Tribal Nations connected to this place. Their relationships with the waters, soils, plants, and animal nations of northeastern Montana continue today through ceremony, land stewardship, hunting and gathering traditions, and the transmission of cultural memory across generations. This project honors the enduring presence, sovereignty, and knowledge of these Tribal Nations. It recognizes that McCone County’s landscapes — from the Missouri River breaks to the Redwater basin and the high prairie benches — carry histories far older than the county itself. The work of documenting New Deal history, land use, and ecological change is inseparable from acknowledging the deeper Indigenous geographies that continue to shape this region.
GEOGRAPHY OF THE COUNTY
Geography of McCone County
McCone County spans roughly 2,675 square miles in northeastern Montana, forming one of the most sparsely populated, agriculturally oriented, and river‑defined landscapes in the state. Its terrain stretches from the Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir along the northern boundary to the rolling prairie benches, coulees, and sagebrush uplands that dominate the county’s interior. Elevations range from approximately 2,050 feet along the Missouri River near the western reservoir arms to more than 3,200 feet on the high benches and divides south of Circle. These gradients shape the county’s climate, vegetation, and land‑use patterns, creating a landscape where dryland farming, cattle ranching, and wildlife habitat coexist across broad, open spaces.
The county’s defining geographic feature is the Missouri River, which forms the entire northern boundary and transitions into the massive Fort Peck Reservoir, one of the largest impoundments in the United States. The river’s breaks, coulees, and badland formations create a rugged northern tier, contrasting sharply with the smoother prairie topography to the south. The interior of the county is characterized by rolling grasslands, wheat fields, ephemeral drainages, and isolated buttes that rise above the surrounding plains.
McCone County’s geography is fundamentally rural, shaped by the rhythms of dryland agriculture, the availability of stock water, and the long distances between communities. Circle, the county seat, sits at the crossroads of state highways and serves as the commercial and social hub for ranching and farming families spread across the county’s vast open spaces.
Location, Area & Boundaries
Total Area: ~2,675 square miles
Region: Northeastern Montana, within the Missouri River–Fort Peck Reservoir basin
County Seat: Circle
Boundaries:
North: Roosevelt County (across the Missouri River / Fort Peck Reservoir)
East: Richland County
South: Prairie County
West: Garfield County
McCone County occupies a transitional zone between the Missouri River breaks to the north and the high plains to the south, forming part of the larger Missouri Plateau that stretches across eastern Montana and the western Dakotas.
Land Ownership Distribution (Modeled for Narrative Use)
McCone County’s land ownership pattern reflects its agricultural economy, sparse population, and proximity to the Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir.
Private Land: ~72% Dominant across the central and southern portions of the county, including dryland wheat farms, cattle ranches, and family‑owned prairie holdings.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM): ~18% Concentrated in the Missouri River breaks, upland prairie tracts, and scattered parcels across the county. BLM lands support grazing, wildlife habitat, and access to the Fort Peck Reservoir shoreline.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS): ~4% Primarily associated with the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (CMR) and conservation easements along the Missouri River and reservoir arms.
State Trust Lands (DNRC): ~5% Checkerboard parcels interspersed with private ranchlands, used for grazing leases, school trust revenue, and limited public access.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE): ~1% Lands surrounding Fort Peck Reservoir, including shoreline management zones, recreation sites, and infrastructure tied to the Fort Peck Dam system.
These proportions reflect McCone County’s identity as a predominantly agricultural county with significant federal holdings along the Missouri River corridor.
Federal Entities in McCone County
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
BLM manages large tracts of rangeland across the county, especially in the northern breaks and scattered interior parcels. Historically, BLM lands in McCone County were shaped by:
the Taylor Grazing Act (1934)
early grazing districts and allotments
stock‑water development programs
post‑homestead land reclassification
BLM lands remain central to ranching operations and wildlife habitat.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
USFWS administers portions of the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, which extends into the northern edge of McCone County along the Missouri River. The refuge preserves:
native prairie ecosystems
migratory bird habitat
Missouri River breaks wildlife corridors
USFWS also manages conservation easements and habitat protection areas.
U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
McCone County contains no national forest lands, but USFS historically conducted:
erosion‑control surveys
grazing assessments
fire‑management coordination in cooperation with other agencies during the New Deal era.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
USACE oversees Fort Peck Reservoir shoreline lands and infrastructure. Their presence stems from:
the Fort Peck Dam project (1933–1940)
reservoir management
recreation site development
erosion and shoreline stabilization
Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)
BOR’s role is limited but historically tied to:
Missouri River basin planning
water‑resource surveys
early irrigation feasibility studies
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, formerly SCS)
NRCS holds the most extensive conservation record in the county, including:
soil surveys
contour‑furrow and reseeding projects
stock‑water development
watershed stabilization
grazing‑management plans
NRCS work remains foundational to land stewardship in McCone County.
State Entities in McCone County
Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC)
DNRC manages State Trust Lands used for:
grazing leases
school trust revenue
limited public access
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP)
FWP manages:
fishing access sites
wildlife management areas near the Missouri River
hunting regulations and habitat programs
Montana Department of Transportation (MDT)
MDT maintains:
state highways (notably MT‑200 and MT‑24)
bridges, culverts, and drainage systems
transportation corridors linking Circle to regional markets
Human Settlement Patterns
McCone County’s settlement patterns reflect its agricultural economy, sparse population, and distance from major rail and river transport hubs.
Circle (County Seat)
Founded as a ranching and trade center, Circle became the administrative and commercial hub after the county’s creation in 1919. It remains the only incorporated community.
Rural Homestead Districts
Early 20th‑century homesteading created clusters of small farms across:
the southern prairie benches
the uplands between Redwater Creek and Wolf Creek
the rolling plains south of Circle
Many homesteads were abandoned during the droughts of the 1920s–1930s, later consolidated into larger ranches.
Missouri River Corridor
Settlement along the Missouri River was limited by:
rugged breaks
distance from markets
lack of irrigation infrastructure
Small ranches and seasonal camps existed, but the area remained sparsely populated.
Agricultural Landscape
Today, settlement is defined by:
widely spaced ranch headquarters
dryland wheat farms
stock‑water systems
long distances between neighbors
The county’s low population density reflects its reliance on large landholdings and extensive grazing operations.
Expanded Geographic Themes
Missouri River & Fort Peck Reservoir
The northern boundary forms a dramatic landscape of:
badlands
coulees
cottonwood bottoms
reservoir shorelines
This corridor supports wildlife, recreation, and grazing.
Prairie Benches & Uplands
The central and southern county consists of:
rolling grasslands
wheat fields
ephemeral drainages
isolated buttes
These areas form the agricultural core of McCone County.
Drainage Systems
Key drainages include:
Redwater Creek
Wolf Creek
Dry Creek
Willow Creek
These ephemeral systems shape settlement, stock‑water development, and erosion patterns.
Transportation Geography
Highways and county roads follow:
ridge lines
creek valleys
historic homestead routes
Circle serves as the transportation hub linking ranching districts to regional markets.
McCone County’s geography is a story of prairie, river, and resilience — a landscape shaped by dryland agriculture, federal land policy, and the enduring presence of ranching families across generations.
Federal Entities in McCone County (with Histories)
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
BLM is the dominant federal landholder in McCone County, especially across the Missouri River breaks, upland prairie tracts, and scattered parcels throughout the interior.
Historical Role: BLM’s presence in McCone County grew out of the Taylor Grazing Act (1934) and the consolidation of abandoned homesteads during the 1920s–1930s. Many lands that failed during the homestead era reverted to federal ownership and were later incorporated into grazing districts.
New Deal Era: BLM’s predecessor agencies coordinated with the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) on early erosion‑control and stock‑water development projects, including dugouts, wells, and grazing‑management plans.
Today: BLM administers grazing allotments, stock‑water systems, prairie wildlife habitat, and public access routes. These lands support cattle ranching, hunting, and recreation along the Missouri River corridor.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) — Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge
USFWS manages portions of the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (CMR) along McCone County’s northern boundary.
Historical Role: The refuge was established in 1936 as the Fort Peck Game Range, part of the massive New Deal–era Fort Peck Dam project. It was later renamed to honor artist Charles M. Russell.
New Deal Era: CCC and WPA crews worked extensively in what is now the refuge, constructing roads, fences, erosion‑control structures, and early wildlife‑management facilities.
Today: USFWS manages habitat for migratory birds, pronghorn, mule deer, elk, and native prairie species. Conservation easements and refuge lands protect riparian corridors, breaks, and reservoir shorelines.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) — Fort Peck Reservoir
USACE oversees the Fort Peck Reservoir shoreline, which forms McCone County’s entire northern boundary.
Historical Role: The Corps built Fort Peck Dam (1933–1940), one of the largest New Deal public works projects in the nation. Thousands of workers lived in nearby construction towns, and the project reshaped the Missouri River basin.
New Deal Era: USACE coordinated with CCC, WPA, and BOR crews on dam construction, shoreline stabilization, and reservoir infrastructure.
Today: The Corps manages recreation sites, boat ramps, shoreline access, erosion‑control structures, and water‑level operations.
Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)
BOR’s presence in McCone County is limited but historically significant.
Historical Role: During the 1930s, BOR conducted Missouri River basin planning, irrigation feasibility studies, and hydrological surveys tied to the Fort Peck project.
New Deal Era: BOR engineers collaborated with USACE and SCS on water‑resource mapping, early irrigation assessments, and reservoir planning.
Today: BOR maintains regional water‑resource data and participates in Missouri River system management.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, formerly SCS)
NRCS holds the most extensive conservation record in McCone County.
Historical Role: The Soil Conservation Service arrived in the 1930s to address severe erosion, drought, and homestead failure.
New Deal Era: SCS technicians mapped soils, designed contour furrows, built check dams, developed springs, and created grazing‑management plans. Many stock‑water reservoirs and reseeded pastures still in use today originated from SCS/CCC collaboration.
Today: NRCS continues to support ranchers with conservation planning, watershed restoration, and soil‑health programs.
Other Federal Entities
McCone County does not contain national forest lands, military installations, or major federal facilities beyond those listed above. However, federal agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and National Weather Service (NWS) have long maintained hydrological and climate monitoring stations in the region.
State Entities in McCone County (with Histories)
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP)
FWP manages wildlife habitat, fishing access sites, and hunting regulations across McCone County.
Historical Role: FWP’s predecessors conducted early wildlife surveys in the Missouri River breaks and collaborated with federal agencies on game‑range planning during the 1930s.
Today: FWP oversees habitat programs, block‑management access, and conservation easements along the Missouri River and reservoir arms.
Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC)
DNRC administers State Trust Lands scattered across McCone County.
Historical Role: Many state parcels originated from school‑trust allocations during Montana’s statehood era.
New Deal Era: DNRC’s predecessors coordinated with SCS and county governments on grazing leases, windbreak plantings, and erosion‑control projects.
Today: DNRC manages grazing leases, water rights, and revenue‑generating land uses.
Montana Department of Transportation (MDT)
MDT maintains the county’s major transportation corridors, including MT‑200 and MT‑24.
Historical Role: During the New Deal, PWA and WPA crews improved culverts, bridges, and rural roads that connected Circle to regional markets.
Today: MDT oversees highway maintenance, bridge systems, and safety improvements across the county.
Montana State Parks (FWP Division)
McCone County does not contain a designated state park, but FWP manages:
fishing access sites along the Missouri River
wildlife habitat programs
recreation access near Fort Peck Reservoir
These sites support hunting, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing.
Expanded Context: How These Entities Shape McCone County
BLM provides the backbone of public rangeland management, shaping grazing systems and wildlife habitat.
USFWS (CMR) protects one of the largest intact prairie ecosystems in the nation.
USACE defines the county’s northern geography through Fort Peck Reservoir management.
NRCS remains central to soil health, stock‑water development, and conservation planning.
DNRC and FWP manage state lands, wildlife, and access.
MDT maintains the transportation lifelines that connect ranching communities to markets.
Together, these federal and state entities form the institutional framework that governs land use, conservation, water systems, and rural infrastructure across McCone County.
FEDERAL ENTITIES IN MCCONE COUNTY (BY NAME)
McCone County contains a significant federal presence concentrated along the Missouri River / Fort Peck Reservoir corridor, the Missouri River Breaks, and scattered prairie holdings across the interior. The county’s federal footprint is defined by BLM rangelands, USFWS refuge lands, USACE reservoir management, and NRCS/SCS conservation history.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
McCone County contains extensive BLM holdings, especially in the Missouri River breaks, upland prairie tracts, and scattered parcels across the county.
Administering Office:
BLM Miles City Field Office (Miles City, MT) — Administers all BLM lands in McCone County.
Named BLM Units in McCone County:
Missouri River Breaks BLM Lands (unnamed but mapped as part of the Missouri Breaks management zone)
BLM Prairie Tracts south of Fort Peck Reservoir
BLM Grazing Allotments (individually numbered, not named)
BLM Recreation Sites along Fort Peck Reservoir (informal, not individually named)
BLM Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) in or bordering McCone County: McCone County does not contain named WSAs within its boundaries, but it borders WSA units in Garfield County that influence regional management.
Historical Notes: BLM lands in McCone County originate from failed homesteads, grazing district formation under the Taylor Grazing Act (1934), and federal land reclassification during the New Deal.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
USFWS manages some of the most ecologically significant lands in McCone County through the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (CMR).
Named USFWS Units in McCone County:
Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (CMR) — Portions of the refuge extend into northern McCone County along the Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir.
USFWS Conservation Easements — Scattered across riparian corridors and prairie pothole areas.
Waterfowl Production Areas (unnamed) — Small, legally recognized units tied to the Fort Peck complex.
Administering Office:
USFWS – Charles M. Russell NWR Headquarters (Lewistown, MT)
Historical Notes: CMR began as the Fort Peck Game Range (1936), created during the New Deal to protect wildlife habitat around the newly constructed Fort Peck Dam.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
USACE is one of the most important federal entities in McCone County due to its jurisdiction over Fort Peck Reservoir.
Named USACE Programs/Structures in McCone County:
Fort Peck Reservoir Shoreline Management Zone
Fort Peck Dam System (downstream influence)
Recreation Sites and Boat Ramps (USACE-managed)
Erosion and Shoreline Stabilization Projects
Missouri River Navigation & Flood Control System
Administering Office:
USACE – Omaha District (Missouri River Basin)
Historical Notes: USACE built Fort Peck Dam (1933–1940), one of the largest New Deal projects in the nation, shaping the county’s northern geography and economy.
Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)
BOR’s presence is smaller but historically significant.
Named BOR Projects Affecting McCone County:
Fort Peck Reservoir Planning & Hydrological Surveys
Missouri River Basin Water Resource Studies
Irrigation Feasibility Assessments (historic, not implemented)
Administering Office:
BOR Montana Area Office (Billings, MT)
Historical Notes: BOR engineers collaborated with USACE and SCS during the New Deal on water‑resource mapping and early irrigation planning.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
NRCS (formerly SCS) is deeply embedded in McCone County’s agricultural and conservation history.
Named NRCS Entity:
NRCS McCone County Field Office (Circle, MT)
Historical Notes: SCS arrived in the 1930s to address drought, erosion, and homestead failure. Their work included:
contour furrows
check dams
stock‑water reservoirs
reseeding programs
grazing‑management plans Many of these structures remain visible today.
Farm Service Agency (FSA)
FSA administers federal agricultural programs.
Named FSA Entity:
McCone County FSA Office (Circle, MT)
Historical Notes: FSA’s predecessors (RA/FSA) managed rehabilitation loans, land consolidation, and drought‑relief programs during the 1930s–1940s.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
USGS maintains hydrologic and geologic monitoring sites.
Named USGS Sites in McCone County:
USGS Missouri River Gaging Stations (multiple)
USGS Fort Peck Reservoir Monitoring Sites
USGS Prairie Groundwater Observation Wells
Historical Notes: USGS conducted early Missouri River mapping and sediment studies tied to Fort Peck Dam construction.
STATE ENTITIES IN MCCONE COUNTY (BY NAME)
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP)
Named FWP Units in McCone County:
Fort Peck Reservoir Fishing Access Sites (multiple)
Missouri River Fishing Access Sites
FWP Wildlife Habitat Programs (easements and cooperative areas)
Administering Region:
FWP Region 6 – Glasgow
Historical Notes: FWP’s predecessors conducted early wildlife surveys during the New Deal, especially around the Fort Peck Game Range.
Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC)
Named DNRC Units:
DNRC Northeastern Land Office (Lewistown, MT) — Administers all State Trust Lands in McCone County.
State Trust Lands (School Trust Sections) — Scattered throughout the county.
Historical Notes: DNRC lands originated from school‑trust allocations at statehood and remain central to grazing leases and revenue generation.
Montana Department of Transportation (MDT)
Named MDT District:
MDT Glendive District
Named MDT Corridors in McCone County:
Montana Highway 200
Montana Highway 24
Major County Roads connecting Circle to Brockway, Vida, and Fort Peck Reservoir
Historical Notes: New Deal–era WPA and PWA crews improved culverts, bridges, and rural roads across the county.
Montana State Parks (FWP Division)
McCone County does not contain a designated state park, but it includes state‑managed recreation sites.
Named State‑Managed Sites:
Fort Peck Reservoir Access Sites
Missouri River Recreation Areas
FWP‑Managed Shoreline Access Points
Montana Historical Society (MHS)
Named MHS Presence:
National Register Documentation for McCone County Sites
Historic Survey Records for Circle and Rural Districts
MHS‑Administered Archival Materials Related to Fort Peck Construction
Human Settlement Patterns in McCone County
McCone County’s settlement patterns reflect the constraints and opportunities of a semi‑arid prairie landscape, where water, transportation routes, and agricultural viability determine where people live and work. The county is one of the most sparsely populated in Montana, with settlement dispersed across ranch headquarters, dryland farms, and a single incorporated town.
Circle (County Seat)
Commercial and administrative hub for a vast rural region.
Founded as a ranching and trade center; became the county seat in 1919.
Serves as the primary location for schools, medical services, agricultural suppliers, and county government.
Settlement radiates outward along state highways and historic homestead roads.
Missouri River & Fort Peck Reservoir Corridor
The entire northern boundary of McCone County is defined by the Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir.
Settlement is extremely sparse due to rugged breaks, steep coulees, and limited arable land.
Ranches, seasonal camps, and recreation sites dot the shoreline.
Historically used for:
seasonal grazing
river crossings and ferry points
hunting and trapping
Today, the corridor is shaped by USACE and USFWS management, recreation access, and wildlife habitat.
Prairie Benches & Dryland Farming Districts
These broad uplands form the agricultural core of McCone County.
Dominated by dryland wheat, barley, and forage crops.
Settlement consists of widely spaced farmsteads separated by miles of prairie.
Homestead‑era road grids remain visible, even where farms were abandoned.
Vulnerable to:
drought
wind erosion
grasshopper outbreaks
fluctuating grain prices
Many original homesteads failed in the 1920s–1930s and were later consolidated into larger ranches.
Ranching Districts (Central & Southern McCone County)
Cattle ranching is the dominant land use across the county’s interior.
Ranch headquarters are isolated, often located near:
ephemeral creeks
developed springs
stock‑water reservoirs
Settlement patterns reflect the need for:
large grazing allotments
reliable water sources
access to county roads and shipping points
Ranch families maintain deep generational ties to the land.
Redwater Creek & Wolf Creek Valleys
These ephemeral drainages support linear settlement patterns where water and soils are slightly more favorable.
Historically important for:
early homestead clusters
small schools and community halls
stock‑water development
Many original homestead structures remain as archaeological and cultural sites.
Transportation Corridors
Settlement follows the county’s limited transportation network.
MT‑200 (east–west) and MT‑24 (north–south) form the backbone of movement.
Rural roads follow:
ridge lines
creek valleys
historic homestead routes
Communities and ranches cluster near:
reliable road access
mail routes
former one‑room school districts
Transportation geography reinforces McCone County’s dispersed, low‑density settlement pattern.
Expanded Thematic Patterns
Dryland Agriculture
The county’s economy and settlement are built on non‑irrigated farming.
Early homesteaders plowed vast tracts of native prairie, leaving a legacy of:
abandoned farmsteads
wind‑eroded soils
checkerboard road grids
Surviving farms are larger, more mechanized, and more resilient.
Rangelands & Grazing Systems
Much of the county is mixed‑grass prairie used for cattle grazing.
Settlement is shaped by:
grazing allotments (BLM, State Trust Lands)
stock‑water infrastructure
seasonal movement between pastures
Ranch headquarters are often miles apart, reflecting the land base required for livestock operations.
Missouri River Breaks
Rugged topography limits settlement but supports:
wildlife habitat
recreation
grazing on BLM and USFWS lands
Historically used for:
hunting
trapping
seasonal grazing
Today, the area is shaped by CMR Refuge and Fort Peck Reservoir management.
State & Federal Land Patterns
BLM rangelands create large blocks of public land used for grazing and recreation.
USFWS refuge lands along the Missouri River limit permanent settlement but support seasonal use.
State Trust Lands are interspersed with private holdings, influencing access and grazing patterns.
USACE shoreline zones restrict development along Fort Peck Reservoir.
Settlement Character
Dispersed, low‑density, and tied to agricultural production.
No large towns; Circle is the only incorporated community.
Rural schools, post offices, and community halls once dotted the landscape but many closed after homestead collapse.
Modern settlement reflects:
consolidation of ranches
mechanization of agriculture
decline of rural population
persistence of multi‑generational ranch families
McCone County’s human settlement patterns tell a story of prairie resilience, shaped by water scarcity, agricultural adaptation, and the long legacy of homesteading. The landscape remains defined by wide distances, working ranchlands, and the enduring presence of families who have lived on this land for generations.
HISTORY OF THE COUNTY
HISTORY OF MCCONE COUNTY
Indigenous Homelands
McCone County lies within a region shaped for millennia by the homelands, seasonal rounds, and cultural geographies of the Aaniiih (Gros Ventre), Apsáalooke (Crow), Assiniboine (Nakoda), Lakȟóta and Dakota (Sioux), and Newe (Eastern Shoshone) peoples. The Missouri River, its breaks, and the rolling prairie uplands formed part of a vast Indigenous world linking the Upper Missouri Basin, the Milk River country, the Yellowstone Plateau, and the northern plains. These lands remain part of their living cultural landscapes—places of story, movement, gathering, ceremony, and stewardship.
Trails crossed the uplands and river valleys; buffalo herds moved through in immense numbers; and kinship, diplomacy, and trade connected this region to communities far beyond present‑day county boundaries. The land that would become McCone County was never an empty frontier—it was a lived‑in homeland mapped by generations of Indigenous knowledge, place names, and seasonal movement.
Archaeological Record
McCone County and its surrounding region contain a rich archaeological landscape reflecting thousands of years of Indigenous presence. Known or nearby site types include:
Buffalo jumps and kill sites along the Missouri River breaks and high prairie benches.
Pictograph and petroglyph sites in sheltered coulees and sandstone outcrops.
Stone circles (tipi rings) on upland terraces overlooking the Missouri and Redwater Creek.
Vision quest sites on isolated buttes and high ridgelines.
Quarry and tool‑making sites where high‑quality chert and petrified wood were worked into projectile points.
Burial sites and cairns associated with long‑standing cultural traditions.
Historic encampment sites from the 18th and 19th centuries, including Crow, Assiniboine, and Sioux camps along the Missouri.
Many of these sites remain unmapped or protected through confidentiality agreements, but together they document a deep and continuous Indigenous presence.
Indigenous Use Before Euro‑American Settlement
Long before white settlement, McCone County’s river corridors, prairie basins, and upland ridges formed part of a dynamic Indigenous world:
Crow families traveled seasonally along the Missouri River and its tributaries, hunting buffalo and gathering plants in the breaks and uplands.
Assiniboine bands moved through the northern plains, using the Missouri as a travel corridor and wintering in sheltered coulees.
Gros Ventre communities hunted, gathered, and traded across the Missouri Plateau, maintaining ties to the Milk River and Upper Missouri regions.
Lakota and Dakota groups traveled westward into the Missouri breaks during the 18th and 19th centuries, following buffalo herds and trade routes.
Shoshone and Bannock parties occasionally moved northward along the Yellowstone and Missouri drainages.
The Missouri River served as a major trade artery, linking northern plains nations to Mandan and Hidatsa villages downstream, and connecting the region to intertribal diplomacy, exchange networks, and ceremonial life.
Early Contact, Trade & Conflict
The early 1800s brought fur traders, trappers, and military expeditions into the Upper Missouri Basin. The river corridor became a route of exploration, commerce, and conflict as Euro‑American presence increased.
By the 1820s–1830s, fur companies operated along the Missouri, and steamboat traffic expanded upriver.
Indigenous nations continued to camp, hunt, and travel through what is now McCone County, but the buffalo economy began to shift under the pressures of trade, disease, and intertribal competition intensified by the arrival of Euro‑American goods and weapons.
The Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 and 1868 reshaped territorial boundaries across the northern plains, though Indigenous mobility continued well into the late 19th century.
The decline of buffalo herds in the 1870s–1880s—driven by commercial hunting and military policy—profoundly altered Indigenous life across the region.
Even after reservation confinement, Crow, Assiniboine, and Sioux families continued to travel, hunt, and gather along the Missouri River and its tributaries, maintaining deep cultural ties to the landscape.
Euro‑American Settlement
Euro‑American settlement arrived later in McCone County than in many other parts of Montana. Several factors slowed early development:
Distance from railroads
Semi‑arid climate
Limited timber resources
Rugged Missouri River breaks
By the 1880s–1890s, cattle outfits and sheep operations began to spread across the prairie, using the Redwater Creek and Wolf Creek drainages as seasonal grazing corridors. Small communities emerged around schools, post offices, and stage routes.
The Missouri River corridor remained sparsely settled due to steep breaks and limited agricultural potential, though it supported ranching, trapping, and seasonal camps.
Homesteading & Agricultural Expansion
The early 20th century brought a wave of homesteading that transformed the county:
The Enlarged Homestead Act (1909) and Stock Raising Homestead Act (1916) drew settlers from across the country.
Hundreds of small farms and ranches were established across the prairie benches and upland divides.
Circle grew as a service center, with stores, blacksmiths, hotels, and community institutions supporting surrounding agricultural districts.
Dryland farming expanded rapidly—often beyond what the semi‑arid climate could sustain.
Many families faced hardship during drought cycles in the 1910s–1930s, and a significant number of homesteads were abandoned, later consolidated into larger ranches.
Formation of McCone County
McCone County was created in 1919, carved from portions of Dawson and Richland Counties. Circle was chosen as the county seat. The new county’s economy centered on:
dryland wheat
cattle ranching
small‑town commerce
seasonal labor tied to agriculture and transportation
The arrival of improved roads, mail routes, and agricultural services helped stabilize settlement patterns, though population density remained low.
A Landscape of Persistence
By the mid‑20th century, McCone County had settled into the pattern that defines it today:
large, multi‑generational ranches
consolidated dryland farms
sparse rural population
strong community identity centered on Circle
deep ties to the Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir
enduring Indigenous presence and cultural landscapes
McCone County’s history is one of resilience, shaped by the land itself—its rivers, its prairies, its climate—and by the people who have lived, traveled, and worked here for thousands of years.
Formation of McCone County (1919)
McCone County was officially created in 1919, carved from portions of Dawson and Richland counties during a period of rapid agricultural expansion across northeastern Montana. Circle, already functioning as a trade center for ranchers and homesteaders scattered across the prairie, became the county seat. The new county encompassed a landscape defined by:
the Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir corridor along the northern boundary
broad mixed‑grass prairie and rolling benches in the central and southern regions
dryland farms and ranches spread across the Redwater Creek and Wolf Creek drainages
rugged breaks and coulees carved by tributaries flowing toward the Missouri
Its early economy blended cattle ranching, dryland wheat farming, and small‑town commerce, with wagon roads—and later state highways—serving as the primary arteries of trade, mail, and community life.
The early 20th century brought both opportunity and hardship. Homesteading surged, rural schools and community halls were built, and Circle expanded as a regional service center. Yet drought, grasshopper infestations, and the challenges of dryland agriculture tested the resilience of families trying to make a living on the northern plains. The 1930s intensified these pressures. The Great Depression strained local economies, while drought and soil erosion exposed the limits of early farming practices. These conditions set the stage for the New Deal era, when federal agencies—especially the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), and the Works Progress Administration (WPA)—launched projects that would permanently alter McCone County’s landscape.
CCC and USACE crews worked extensively along the Fort Peck Reservoir corridor, building roads, shoreline stabilization structures, recreation sites, and erosion‑control features tied to the massive Fort Peck Dam project. SCS technicians introduced contour plowing, reseeding, stock‑water development, and erosion‑control practices across the prairie. WPA crews improved roads, schools, and public buildings in Circle and rural districts, providing essential employment during the hardest years of the Depression.
Today, McCone County’s history is visible in its layered landscapes: the Indigenous homelands of the Aaniiih, Assiniboine, Crow, Sioux, and Shoshone peoples; the dryland farms and ranches of the prairie; the rugged Missouri River breaks; and the enduring imprint of New Deal conservation and infrastructure projects. The county’s story is one of adaptation and resilience—of communities, Native and non‑Native, who have continually reshaped their relationship to land, water, and the demanding beauty of northeastern Montana.
Settlement Patterns Across Time — McCone County
Indigenous Settlement (Deep Time – 1880s)
Long before Euro‑American settlement, the region was part of the homelands and seasonal rounds of the:
Aaniiih (Gros Ventre)
Assiniboine (Nakoda)
Apsáalooke (Crow)
Lakȟóta and Dakota (Sioux)
Newe (Eastern Shoshone)
Indigenous families moved seasonally through:
the Missouri River corridor
the Fort Peck Reservoir basin (pre‑dam river bottoms)
the Redwater Creek drainage
the Wolf Creek and Dry Creek uplands
the prairie benches and buttes overlooking the Missouri
These landscapes supported buffalo, elk, deer, pronghorn, and a wide range of plant resources. Trails along the Missouri River and across the upland ridges linked this region to the Milk River country, the Yellowstone Basin, the Black Hills, and the northern plains. Indigenous families camped in sheltered coulees, hunted across the open prairie, and gathered plants in creek bottoms—shaping a cultural geography that long predates the creation of McCone County.
Fur Trade & Early Contact Era (1800s–1860s)
Although the fur trade was more concentrated along the Missouri River to the west and east, McCone County was still part of a broader network of movement and exchange. Key developments include:
early fur trade activity along the Upper Missouri River
Assiniboine, Gros Ventre, Crow, and Sioux camps moving seasonally through the region
increased intertribal conflict and shifting alliances as Euro‑American goods entered the plains
military scouting expeditions passing through the Missouri River breaks
This period marked the beginning of intensified outside interest in the region’s resources and travel corridors.
Ranching, Freighting & Early Settlement (1860s–1890s)
McCone County did not experience the mining booms seen elsewhere in Montana, but early economic activity shaped settlement patterns:
cattle and sheep outfits used the Redwater Creek and Wolf Creek valleys as grazing corridors
freighting routes connected northeastern Montana to Miles City, Glendive, and Fort Peck
small camps formed around water sources, stage routes, and early ranch headquarters
These activities established some of the earliest Euro‑American presence in the region.
Railroad‑Driven Settlement (1880s–1910)
McCone County was shaped indirectly—but profoundly—by the arrival of railroads outside its boundaries:
the Northern Pacific (1880s) through Glendive and Miles City
the Great Northern (late 1800s) through the Milk River corridor
the Milwaukee Road (1908–1909) through eastern Montana
Because no railroad line crossed McCone County, settlement clustered around:
wagon roads leading to railheads in Circle, Brockway, Vida, and neighboring counties
stage routes connecting ranches to shipping points
freight corridors supplying homesteads and ranches
The absence of a railroad is one of the defining features of McCone County’s settlement geography.
Irrigation & Agricultural Expansion (1880s–1930s)
Unlike irrigated counties along the Yellowstone or Missouri, McCone County’s agricultural development centered on:
dryland wheat and barley farming
cattle ranching on the prairie
small‑scale irrigation along Redwater Creek and Missouri tributaries
Early settlers built:
small ditches
stock reservoirs
diversion structures
But large‑scale irrigation was limited by hydrology and topography. Ranching quickly became the dominant land use.
Homestead Era Settlement (1900–1920)
The homestead boom transformed McCone County more dramatically than any previous era. Key drivers included:
the Enlarged Homestead Act (1909)
the Stock Raising Homestead Act (1916)
promotional campaigns encouraging dryland farming
improved wagon roads and access to railheads in Glendive, Circle, and Wolf Point
This period saw:
rapid population growth
the establishment of dozens of rural schools
new post offices, community halls, and small service centers
widespread dryland farming attempts—many short‑lived
The boom was followed by drought, crop failures, and widespread abandonment in the 1920s.
Circle
Circle emerged as the county’s central community because of:
its location at the crossroads of regional wagon and freight routes
its early role as a ranching and homesteading service center
access to trade networks connecting to Glendive and Miles City
the establishment of schools, churches, and community institutions
its selection as the county seat when McCone County was created in 1919
Circle became the administrative and commercial anchor of the region, a role it continues to play today.
GEOLOGY OF THE COUNTY
Geology of McCone County
McCone County sits within the northern Great Plains, the Missouri River Breaks, and the Fort Peck Reservoir basin, placing it at the intersection of several major geologic provinces: the Williston Basin, the Missouri Plateau, and the Missouri River badlands. This position gives McCone County a geologic landscape defined by Cretaceous marine shales, Paleocene river and floodplain deposits, Eocene volcanic ash layers, and Quaternary alluvium and glacially influenced sediments. These formations record a deep history of inland seas, shifting rivers, volcanic activity, and persistent erosion shaping the modern prairie.
The result is a terrain where soft marine shales weather into badlands, where Paleocene sandstones form benches and ridges, and where the Missouri River has carved one of the most dramatic erosional landscapes in the northern plains.
Cretaceous Marine Shales — The Foundation of the County
Across most of McCone County, the dominant bedrock is Cretaceous marine shale, especially the Pierre Shale, deposited 70–80 million years ago when the Western Interior Seaway covered the region.
These dark, clay‑rich shales:
weather into gumbo soils that swell when wet and crack when dry
form steep badland slopes and deeply incised coulees
contain bentonite layers derived from volcanic ash falls
preserve marine fossils such as ammonites, fish remains, and invertebrates
The Pierre Shale underlies the Missouri River breaks and much of the central prairie, shaping the county’s erosional patterns and soil behavior.
Paleocene Fort Union Formation — River Plains After the Sea
Above the Cretaceous shales lie the Paleocene Fort Union Formation, deposited 56–65 million years ago in broad river floodplains and swampy lowlands.
These units include:
yellow‑brown sandstones
gray siltstones
carbon‑rich mudstones
thin lignite coal seams
The Fort Union Formation forms:
upland benches
rolling prairie hills
the structural backbone of the southern and central county
These rocks record a warm, humid Paleocene climate with dense vegetation, meandering rivers, and extensive wetlands.
Eocene Volcanic Ash & Bentonite Layers
Although McCone County lacks major volcanic rocks, it contains widespread Eocene volcanic ash deposits, reworked into:
bentonite beds
claystone lenses
altered ash layers within the Fort Union and Wasatch formations
These ash layers originated from distant volcanic centers in what is now Wyoming, Idaho, and western Montana.
Bentonite plays a major role in:
soil swelling and shrinking
slope instability
water retention in stock ponds
local clay mining history
Missouri River Breaks & Fort Peck Reservoir Geomorphology
The Missouri River valley is the county’s most dramatic Quaternary landform. The river and reservoir cut through Cretaceous and Paleocene bedrock, creating:
steep badland cliffs
deeply incised coulees
broad terraces of gravel, silt, and sand
isolated buttes and erosional remnants
These terraces record thousands of years of:
river migration
climate change
sediment load variation
glacial meltwater influence
The Missouri River’s alluvial soils support cottonwood galleries, riparian pastures, and wildlife habitat.
Glacial & Wind‑Driven Processes
Although continental ice did not reach McCone County during the last glacial maximum, glacial meltwater from the north influenced the Missouri River system.
Key glacial‑related features include:
loess deposits blanketing upland surfaces
wind‑blown silt forming fine‑textured prairie soils
meltwater‑altered base levels affecting Missouri River incision
periglacial processes shaping slopes and drainages
These deposits support dryland farming and grazing across the county’s benches.
Extractive Resources & Their History
McCone County’s extractive resource history reflects its sedimentary geology and proximity to the Missouri River.
Coal
Lignite coal seams occur in the Fort Union Formation, especially in the southern and central county.
Small‑scale coal mining supported homesteaders and ranchers from the early 1900s through the mid‑20th century.
Coal was used for heating, blacksmithing, and local commerce.
Clay & Bentonite
Bentonite deposits are widespread in the Pierre Shale and Fort Union units.
Historically mined for drilling mud, sealants, and industrial uses.
Clay deposits supported local construction and homestead‑era brickmaking.
Sand & Gravel
Extensive Quaternary gravel deposits along the Missouri River and its tributaries.
Essential for:
road building
ranch infrastructure
WPA and county construction projects in the 1930s
Oil & Gas Exploration
McCone County saw periodic oil and gas exploration targeting:
structural traps
sandstone reservoirs
Fort Union and Wasatch formations
While no major fields were developed, exploration left:
seismic lines
test wells
detailed geologic mapping
Geologic Transformation Through Time
Erosion remains the dominant geologic force shaping McCone County today.
Badlands expand as soft shales weather into hoodoos, gullies, and steep clay slopes.
Prairie drainages deepen during flash‑flood events.
Reservoir shorelines shift with Fort Peck water levels, altering sedimentation patterns.
Wind erosion reshapes upland soils during drought cycles.
Stock reservoirs modify local hydrology and sediment distribution.
These processes reveal a landscape shaped by both slow geologic change and sudden climatic events.
A Landscape Written in Stone
From the rolling prairie benches to the Missouri River breaks, McCone County’s geology tells a story of:
inland seas
river systems
volcanic ash falls
rising uplands
persistent erosion
The county’s rocks and landforms underpin its ecology, hydrology, land use, and cultural history—forming the physical framework within which generations of Indigenous peoples, homesteaders, ranchers, and federal agencies have lived and worked.
BIOLOGY OF THE COUNTY
Biology of McCone County
McCone County’s biological landscape reflects the meeting of mixed‑grass prairie, Missouri River breaks, riparian corridors, and the reservoir‑influenced ecosystems of Fort Peck. For the Aaniiih (Gros Ventre), Assiniboine (Nakoda), Apsáalooke (Crow), Lakȟóta/Dakota (Sioux), and Newe (Eastern Shoshone) peoples—whose homelands include the Upper Missouri Basin, the Milk River country, and the northern plains—these ecosystems are not abstract ecological units but living relatives, each with roles, responsibilities, and relationships within a shared world. Millennia of Indigenous stewardship shaped the grasslands, riparian forests, and breaks long before the arrival of ranchers, homesteaders, and federal agencies. Fire, grazing, beaver activity, and cultural practices created a mosaic of habitats that supported bison, elk, pronghorn, wolves, bears, migratory birds, and a rich diversity of plants.
Large Mammals & Historical Ecology
Large mammals once dominated McCone County’s prairies, river bottoms, and breaks. Bison, the keystone species of the northern plains, shaped grassland structure through grazing, wallowing, and migration. Their movements created habitat mosaics that supported birds, small mammals, and plant communities; their grazing maintained open grasslands; and their carcasses fed wolves, bears, eagles, and scavengers. For Indigenous nations, bison were central to food, clothing, shelter, ceremony, and identity—a biological and cultural foundation that structured seasonal rounds and social life. Their removal in the late 19th century was both an ecological collapse and a cultural rupture.
Elk, now strongly associated with mountain habitats, historically ranged widely across the Missouri River valley, the breaks, and the prairie uplands. Early accounts describe elk herds in open grasslands, cottonwood bottoms, and coulees, linking the river corridor to the plains through seasonal movements.
Grizzly bears once roamed the Missouri River breaks and prairie basins, feeding on bison carcasses, berries, roots, and riparian vegetation. Their presence across northeastern Montana is well documented in 19th‑century journals, long before the species retreated westward.
Today, mule deer, pronghorn, white‑tailed deer, coyotes, and occasional elk dominate the county’s large‑mammal communities. Beaver persist in riparian corridors, and mountain lions move through the breaks and upland drainages.
Bird Life & Habitat Diversity
Bird life reflects McCone County’s ecological diversity. Raptors—golden eagles, ferruginous hawks, red‑tailed hawks, prairie falcons, and northern harriers—hunt across sagebrush benches, prairie grasslands, and badland breaks. The cliffs and outcrops of the Missouri River breaks provide nesting habitat for falcons, owls, and ravens.
Riparian corridors along the Missouri River, Redwater Creek, and Wolf Creek support:
great horned owls
belted kingfishers
woodpeckers
migratory songbirds
waterfowl and shorebirds
Wetlands, stock reservoirs, and ephemeral prairie ponds attract:
sandhill cranes
ducks and geese
shorebirds
amphibians
These water features—many expanded or created during the New Deal era—now form critical habitat in an otherwise semi‑arid landscape.
The sagebrush benches support greater sage‑grouse, whose leks mark ancient breeding grounds that remain culturally and ecologically significant.
Plant Communities & Indigenous Knowledge
Plant communities form the foundation of McCone County’s biological richness. The prairie is dominated by:
western wheatgrass
green needlegrass
blue grama
needle‑and‑thread
big sagebrush
silver sagebrush
Riparian zones support:
cottonwood
willow
chokecherry
rose
buffaloberry
wild plum
For Indigenous peoples, plants are teachers, medicines, and relatives. Sage, sweetgrass, chokecherry, serviceberry, timpsila (prairie turnip), and bitterroot hold ceremonial, nutritional, and ecological significance. Gathering sites along the Missouri River and in the prairie coulees remain important cultural landscapes where traditional ecological knowledge continues to guide stewardship.
Ecological Change After Contact
The biological history of McCone County was profoundly altered by the Columbian Exchange, which introduced new species, pathogens, and ecological pressures. Diseases such as smallpox and influenza devastated Indigenous populations, causing demographic collapse and cultural disruption across the northern plains. Horses, though introduced, transformed mobility, hunting, trade, and warfare, expanding the geographic range of seasonal rounds and reshaping the cultural landscape.
Homesteaders, ranchers, and federal agencies introduced additional biological changes:
cattle and sheep altered grazing patterns and soil structure
smooth brome, crested wheatgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass spread across pastures
predator‑control programs reduced wolf, grizzly, and cougar populations
fire suppression allowed juniper and shrubs to expand into former grasslands
stock reservoirs created new wetlands while altering natural hydrology
farming replaced native prairie with wheat, barley, and forage crops
Oil and gas exploration, though limited, disturbed vegetation and soils in localized areas.
Missouri River Breaks & Reservoir Ecology
The Missouri River breaks and Fort Peck Reservoir create a unique biological zone within McCone County. Their rugged topography supports:
mule deer
pronghorn
bighorn sheep (in nearby refuge units)
burrowing owls
ferruginous hawks
swift fox
diverse reptiles and invertebrates
Riparian forests along the Missouri support:
beaver
mink
muskrat
amphibians
migratory birds
The reservoir itself provides habitat for:
walleye
northern pike
sauger
catfish
pelicans and cormorants
Springs, seeps, and perennial side channels create microhabitats that support amphibians, pollinators, and native grasses.
A Living, Layered Biological Landscape
Today, McCone County’s biological landscape reflects the convergence of prairie, breaks, riparian corridors, and reservoir ecosystems. The Missouri River corridor remains an ecological hotspot, supporting cottonwood forests, beaver, amphibians, and fish species adapted to variable flows. The prairie benches support pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, raptors, and diverse grassland birds and pollinators. The breaks host specialized species adapted to clay soils, sparse vegetation, and extreme temperature swings.
Across this landscape, biology is inseparable from culture, history, and stewardship. The plants, animals, and ecological processes of McCone County reflect deep Indigenous relationships, colonial disruptions, and ongoing efforts to sustain the land’s living systems. From cottonwood galleries to sagebrush benches, from reservoir shorelines to prairie uplands, the county’s biological richness remains central to its identity and to the communities who call it home.
HYDROLOGY OF THE COUNTY
Hydrology of McCone County
McCone County sits at the intersection of two hydrologic worlds: the semi‑arid mixed‑grass prairie of the northern Great Plains and the Missouri River / Fort Peck Reservoir system, one of the largest engineered water bodies in the United States. Unlike mountain‑anchored counties with perennial streams, McCone’s hydrology is shaped by:
highly variable prairie runoff
ephemeral and intermittent creeks
stock reservoirs and dugouts
alluvial and bedrock aquifers
the Missouri River’s pre‑dam floodplain and post‑dam reservoir system
the long‑term legacy of New Deal watershed engineering
Because the county has no major mountain ranges and no trans‑basin diversions, McCone’s water supply depends on local precipitation, snowfall on prairie benches, and the hydrologic behavior of the Missouri River, Fort Peck Reservoir, and the Redwater Creek system. Water here is both scarce and foundational—a resource shaped by climate, geology, ranching practices, and nearly a century of conservation work.
Main Rivers, Creeks, and Hydrologic Sources
Missouri River & Fort Peck Reservoir
The Missouri River forms McCone County’s entire northern boundary. With the construction of Fort Peck Dam (1933–1940), the river became a vast reservoir system that transformed regional hydrology.
Historically, the Missouri River:
meandered across a wide floodplain
supported cottonwood forests, beaver, amphibians, and riparian wildlife
flooded periodically, reshaping channels and terraces
carried sediment from the Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming
Today, the reservoir’s hydrology is driven by:
upstream snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains
USACE reservoir operations
intense summer thunderstorms
long drought cycles
sediment‑rich prairie runoff
The Missouri River corridor remains the hydrologic spine of McCone County.
Redwater Creek
Redwater Creek is the most significant interior drainage in McCone County.
Its hydrology reflects:
snow accumulation on prairie benches
spring runoff pulses
summer thunderstorms and flash‑flood events
stock‑water withdrawals and ranch use
Redwater Creek supports hayfields, riparian pastures, and cottonwood galleries, forming one of the county’s most productive agricultural corridors.
Wolf Creek, Dry Creek & Prairie Tributaries
Numerous ephemeral and intermittent streams drain the central and southern county:
Wolf Creek
Dry Creek
Willow Creek
Sand Creek
multiple unnamed prairie draws
These drainages are highly responsive to:
snowpack on upland benches
summer convective storms
soil type (especially bentonite and gumbo)
land use and grazing patterns
They feed stock reservoirs, ephemeral wetlands, and alluvial aquifers across the prairie.
Breaks & Coulee Hydrology
The Missouri River breaks contain:
steep coulees
badland gullies
perched springs
seeps and wet meadows
These micro‑watersheds support wildlife, riparian vegetation, and seasonal grazing.
Hydrologic Processes & Landscape Interactions
Snowpack‑Driven Prairie Hydrology
McCone County lacks mountain snowpack, but winter snow on prairie benches is essential. Snowmelt drives:
spring runoff pulses
ephemeral streamflow
reservoir recharge
early‑season soil moisture
Snowpack variability directly influences:
stock‑water availability
riparian health
drought resilience
wildlife distribution
Ephemeral & Intermittent Streams
Most of McCone County’s streams flow only during:
spring snowmelt
major rain events
short‑duration storm runoff
These streams:
carve badland gullies
transport sediment
recharge alluvial aquifers
shape prairie erosion patterns
Stock Reservoirs & Dugouts
One of the defining hydrologic features of McCone County is the thousands of stock reservoirs built during the New Deal era and expanded through later conservation programs.
These reservoirs:
store runoff from small drainages
support livestock and wildlife
create wetlands and amphibian habitat
moderate grazing pressure across the prairie
They remain one of the most enduring hydrologic legacies of the 1930s.
Groundwater & Aquifers
Groundwater in McCone County is stored in:
alluvial aquifers along the Missouri River and Redwater Creek
fractured sandstones in the Fort Union Formation
perched aquifers in upland basins
These aquifers:
supply domestic and ranch wells
support riparian vegetation
buffer drought impacts
interact with reservoir recharge
Groundwater–surface water interactions are especially pronounced in the Redwater Creek valley.
Flooding & Channel Dynamics
The Missouri River and its tributaries exhibit dynamic channel behavior, including:
flash flooding
rapid incision
sediment‑rich flows
shifting meanders
badland gully expansion
These processes shape riparian vegetation, cottonwood recruitment, and erosion patterns across the county.
Prairie Hydrology & Climate Variability
McCone County’s hydrology is strongly influenced by:
multi‑year drought cycles
intense summer thunderstorms
high evaporation rates
limited perennial flow
This creates a landscape where water is both scarce and transformative, shaping settlement, ranching, and wildlife distribution.
A Hydrologic Landscape Defined by Prairie, Breaks & Reservoir
McCone County’s water systems reflect the convergence of:
prairie hydrology
Missouri River breaks
Fort Peck Reservoir
ephemeral drainages
stock‑water infrastructure
From cottonwood galleries along the Missouri to ephemeral prairie creeks, from reservoir shorelines to stock ponds on the uplands, McCone County’s hydrology remains central to its ecology, ranching economy, and cultural history.
Hydrology as Cultural & Economic Infrastructure — McCone County
Water in McCone County is inseparable from:
Indigenous travel routes, campsites, gathering areas, and river‑corridor homelands
homestead‑era dryland farming and small‑scale irrigation attempts along Redwater Creek
New Deal watershed engineering tied to Fort Peck Dam, SCS stock‑water development, and prairie conservation
modern ranching systems, grazing rotations, and stock‑water infrastructure
federal management of the Missouri River, Fort Peck Reservoir, and surrounding breaks
The Missouri River / Fort Peck Reservoir corridor remains the county’s ecological and cultural heart, shaped by upstream snowpack, reservoir operations, storm events, and nearly a century of conservation and engineering work. The prairie benches and ephemeral drainages of the interior define how ranchers manage grazing, wells, reservoirs, and seasonal water availability. Together, these systems anchor the county’s hydrological identity, feeding the creeks, springs, wetlands, and reservoirs that sustain communities, wildlife, and working landscapes.
Click to Access USDA, NRCS Hydrology Data and Maps: McCone County
New Deal Legacy: Infrastructure Still in Use Today (McCone County)
Many of the watershed, rangeland, and stock‑water systems in McCone County were built or expanded during the New Deal era through:
SCS engineering in the Redwater Creek, Wolf Creek, Dry Creek, and Missouri River tributary drainages
WPA road, culvert, and erosion‑control projects across the prairie and breaks
CCC shoreline stabilization, spring development, and range improvements tied to the Fort Peck Dam project
RA submarginal land purchases that consolidated failed homesteads into grazing units and watershed protection areas
USACE construction of Fort Peck Dam, reshaping the Missouri River hydrology and creating the reservoir system that defines the county’s northern boundary
These systems remain essential to McCone County’s ranching economy and watershed stability—yet most are now approaching or exceeding 90 years of continuous use. Their age contributes to:
sedimentation in stock reservoirs and dugouts
erosion and gully expansion around aging SCS check dams
structural failures in WPA‑era culverts and prairie road crossings
reduced water‑holding capacity in 1930s‑era reservoirs
maintenance backlogs for county roads, grazing‑district infrastructure, and reservoir access routes
shoreline erosion and sediment redistribution along Fort Peck Reservoir
Understanding this New Deal infrastructure—how it was built, why it was placed where it is, and how it has aged—is essential to understanding McCone County’s current water and land‑management challenges, including:
declining capacity in stock reservoirs built during the 1930s
increased erosion in prairie drainages during high‑intensity storms
aging CCC‑era shoreline stabilization and access routes along Fort Peck Reservoir
the need for modernization of SCS terraces, check dams, and grazing systems
sedimentation and channel instability in Redwater Creek and Missouri River tributaries
Across McCone County, the New Deal’s physical footprint remains deeply embedded in the working landscape. The reservoirs, roads, terraces, and range improvements built in the 1930s continue to shape ranching, hydrology, and land management today—a living legacy that still anchors the county’s water systems, even as those systems strain under the demands of drought cycles, climate variability, and a century of continuous use.
Recreation and River Use — McCone County
Recreation in McCone County is inseparable from water—whether flowing through the Missouri River, stored in Fort Peck Reservoir, or captured in New Deal–era stock reservoirs. Every water body, from the smallest prairie dugout to the vast reservoir shoreline, shapes how people move through, experience, and understand the landscape.
Recreation differs dramatically between the Missouri River / Fort Peck corridor, the prairie reservoirs, and the ephemeral creek valleys, reflecting distinct ecological conditions, access patterns, and land‑management frameworks.
Missouri River & Fort Peck Reservoir
boating, fishing, and shoreline camping
walleye, pike, catfish, and sauger fisheries
birdwatching for pelicans, cormorants, eagles, and migratory waterfowl
hiking and wildlife viewing in the breaks
USACE and USFWS‑managed recreation sites
Prairie Reservoirs & Dugouts
waterfowl hunting
upland bird habitat
amphibian and pollinator hotspots
dispersed recreation tied to ranch access and county roads
Redwater Creek & Interior Drainages
riparian wildlife viewing
seasonal fishing in wetter years
cottonwood galleries and beaver activity
limited but culturally significant recreation tied to ranching communities
Across McCone County, water remains the organizing force of both ecological function and human experience—a hydrologic landscape where culture, economy, and land stewardship are inseparable.
CLIMATE OF THE COUNTY
McCone County’s climate reflects the meeting of mixed‑grass prairie, Missouri River breaks, and the Fort Peck Reservoir basin, creating a landscape defined by extremes, variability, and sharp contrasts in temperature, precipitation, wind, and seasonality. Elevations range from roughly 2,050 feet along the Missouri River to more than 3,200 feet on the high prairie benches south of Circle. These gradients shape watershed behavior, grazing patterns, wildlife distribution, plant communities, and the cultural rhythms of Indigenous nations whose homelands encompass the Upper Missouri Basin and the northern plains.
Click to Access USDA NRCS Climate Data and Maps: McCone County
The Prairie & Breaks: Semi‑Arid Continental Climate
Most of McCone County experiences a classic semi‑arid continental climate defined by hot, dry summers and cold winters with dramatic temperature swings. Annual precipitation across the prairie averages 11 to 15 inches, with the majority falling between April and July.
Spring is the wettest season. Pacific and Gulf moisture occasionally reaches eastern Montana, producing widespread rains that recharge soils, fill stock reservoirs, and drive early‑season flows in Redwater Creek and Wolf Creek. These spring rains are essential for forage production and grazing rotations.
Summer brings long stretches of heat, with temperatures frequently exceeding 90°F. Afternoon thunderstorms—fast‑moving, intense, and often localized—deliver hail, high winds, and downpours that can cause flash flooding in badland drainages. These storms recharge ephemeral wetlands and influence haying schedules and livestock distribution.
Winters are highly variable. Arctic air masses can plunge temperatures well below zero for extended periods, followed by warm Pacific systems that melt snow, create midwinter runoff, and expose grass for livestock and wildlife. Snow cover is inconsistent, and chinook‑like warm spells can rapidly shift conditions across the prairie.
The Missouri River breaks experience colder winter lows, hotter summer highs, and more extreme wind exposure than the upland benches.
Reservoir & River Corridor Climates: Fort Peck & the Missouri
The Fort Peck Reservoir creates a microclimatic zone along McCone County’s northern boundary:
slightly moderated winter temperatures near open water
increased humidity and fog events
enhanced lake‑effect snow in localized areas
stronger winds along exposed shorelines
The Missouri River corridor supports cottonwood forests, wetlands, and riparian wildlife that depend on seasonal flows, reservoir levels, and storm‑driven runoff.
Upland Prairie Climates: Benches & Divide Country
Higher prairie benches south of Circle experience:
colder winter lows
stronger winds
lower annual precipitation
rapid snowmelt and runoff
high evaporation rates
These uplands form the county’s dryland farming core, where climate variability directly influences crop success, grazing rotations, and soil moisture.
Wind as a Defining Climatic Force
Wind is one of the most defining climatic forces in McCone County. Persistent westerlies and strong convective winds:
accelerate evaporation
shape snowdrifts and winter grazing conditions
influence fire behavior in the breaks and uplands
drive soil erosion on exposed benches
affect calving, lambing, and early‑season ranch work
Summer thunderstorms can produce damaging gusts, dust plumes, and rapid temperature shifts.
Climate & Cultural Rhythms
For Indigenous nations, ranching families, and rural communities, climate is inseparable from cultural and economic life. Seasonal rhythms shape:
calving, lambing, and branding
haying and grazing rotations
wildlife migrations and hunting seasons
plant gathering and ceremonial practices
watershed behavior and stock‑water availability
The Missouri River corridor remains the county’s climatic and ecological heart, shaped by upstream snowpack, reservoir operations, storm events, and long drought cycles. The prairie benches and ephemeral drainages anchor the county’s climatic identity, feeding the reservoirs, wetlands, and riparian zones that sustain communities, wildlife, and working landscapes.
Across McCone County, climate is not simply a backdrop—it is a living force, shaping land use, cultural continuity, and ecological resilience in a region defined by extremes, variability, and the enduring interplay of prairie, breaks, and reservoir systems.