Big Sandy, Montana is a small town in Chouteau County. Prior to the settlement of the town, the region was visited by members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and the Lewis and Clark Trail follows US Route 87 through Big Sandy. The town is named for Big Sandy Creek, which is located nearby. The town grew up around a saloon that was constructed at a junction along the Cow Island Trail, between Virgelle, Fort Benton, Havre, and Fort Assiboine. The town was formed when the St. Paul, Minnesota & Manitoba Railway, which later became the Great Northern Railway, extended its tracks in 1887. The Spokane Hotel was built there in 1889, and the first store in Big Sandy began business around 1900, operated by the McNamara Cattle Company. Its population grew when homesteaders began arriving after 1909, providing steady growth for the next decade, but the amount of land offered by the Homestead Acts was insufficient to grow enough crops to support farming, so many of the homesteaders left by 1919. A bank was established there in 1910, and several grain elevators were operated there. Jeff Ament, the bassist for Pearl Jam, grew up in Big Sandy. The town is accessed primarily through US Highway 87, and it is located south of Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, and northeast of Loma.
Recommended Resources
The K-12th grade public school system is located in Big Sandy, Montana. A profile of the district and its programs is featured, with annual notices, a district calendar, administrative and staff contacts, and employment opportunities.
http://bigsandy.k12.mt.us/
Big Sandy Volunteer Fire Department
Replacing the first fire department in Big Sandy, Montana, which disbanded in 1938, the Big Sandy VFD offers fire prevention, fire suppression, and rescue services. Its organizational structure, a fire safety check list, and fire prevention tips are featured.
http://www.bigsandyfire.com/
The full-service outfitting business in Big Sandy, Montana offers opportunities to hunt mule deer, whitetail deer, big horn sheep, and antelope, featuring guided hunts on about one hundred thousand acres of private ranch land, with permits on over a million acres of federal land. Its packages are described in detail.
http://www.chasehill.com/
Established in 1955, the IX Ranch is a multigenerational Montana ranch raising feeder cattle and quarter horses, each of which are highlighted on its site, with photographs, a profile of the land, and contact data.
http://www.ixranch.com/
Little Sharps Rifle Manufacturing, founded in 1996, produces handmade replicas of the Lil’ Reliable, the classic bore buffalo gun made by the Sharps company in the 1800s. Located in Big Sandy, Montana, the company’s custom rifles and engraving services are featured.
http://www.littlesharpsrifle.com/
Based in Big Sandy, Montana, the auctioneer has been providing auction services in Montana for more than thirty years. Contacts and a schedule of upcoming auctions are featured.
http://www.ophusauctions.com/
Located in Big Sandy, Montana, the bar, restaurant, and bowling alley offers food, drinks, and six lanes of bowling, including tournament play. Its location and hours are posted.
http://www.pepsbar.com/
The Mountaineer is a weekly newspaper published in Big Sandy, Montana. Although the newspaper is available by subscription only, archives from the years 1974, 1979, and from 2008 on are available for browsing. Contact information is also posted.
http://mou.stparchive.com/
The farmer owned operation is situated between the Bear Paw Mountains and the Missouri River, just southeast of Big Sandy, Montana, producing a brand of safflower oil. Its product is highlighted, along with its farming operations and contacts.
http://www.theoilbarn.com/
The Weaver Cattle Company is situated on land in Big Sandy, Montana that was purchased by Elmer Weaver. An overview of t he company. its stallions, and annual sale schedule are published, along with news and contacts.
http://www.weaverhorses.com/
