Livingston Montana History

Indian, gold rush and railroad tales all play a major part in the history of Livingston, Montana, but perhaps the greatest of all was the establishment of Yellowstone National Park.

Livingston Town History

Long before south-central Montana was acquired in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, It was regarded as sacred, neutral territory by the native Bannock, Blackfoot, Crow, Flathead and Shoshone tribes. Called "The Valley of Flowers," it was their hunting ground.

Reports by Lewis and Clark after their historic trek across the Montana Territory attracted the adventurous to the area's resources. Trappers, traders and prospectors were the first to arrive. After the discovery of gold in the 1880's came the settlers.

The founding of Livingston at the great bend of the Yellowstone River was the direct result of building the Northern Pacific Railroad. Benson's Landing, a ferry and trading post three miles below the bend, was to be the original site where a supply store would be established. But on July 14, 1882, Joseph J. McBride arrived to survey a site for the supply store of Bruns and Kruntz, contractors. He chose a place nearer the great bend and called it Clark City in honor of Herman Clark, the principal contractor for the Northern Pacific in the region west of the Missouri River.

When the Northern Pacific builders reached this point, Clark City boasted a population of 500 with six general stores, two hotels and 44 other businesses, 30 of which were saloons. Railroad officials, however, surveyed the area and decided the city should be located a short distance to the north. People and businesses moved, and the Livingston Post Office was established on November 13, 1882, with the plat of the new town recorded in Gallatin County on December 21,1882. The city of Livingston, named after pioneer director of the Northern Pacific Johnston Livingston, was official.

The railroad, mining and agriculture played important roles in establishing the Livingston area as a sturdy economic base. The Northern Pacific built a machine and repair shop in the summer of 1883. Today it is owned and operated by Livingston Rebuild Center, specializing in locomotive and freight car repair, remanufacturing and painting.

In 1864, after the discovery of gold, mines at Emigrant Gulch, Bear Gulch (later known as Jardine) and Cooke City went into production. Coal was also discovered on the west side of the Yellowstone River above Livingston. After the establishment of the railroad, mines at Horr, Trail Creek and Cokedale were developed.

Stock raising and agriculture began in the early 1880's. Wool shipment was big business and sheep raising grew. Cattle soon followed as large herds were driven in from the south. Shortly after the turn of the century grain crops followed, and a major economic force in Park County was firmly established.

In 1872, Congress established Yellowstone as the first National Park. The completion of the Park Branch of the Northern Pacific Railroad brought to Livingston the trade business of tourists and suppliers. Livingston was the original entrance to Yellowstone National Park and today is the only road to the Park that remains open year-round .

- content from Livingston Chamber of Commerce