HILL COUNTY, MT HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Hill County, Montana: A Genealogical Overview

Situated along the U.S.-Canada border in north-central Montana, Hill County is a vast landscape of plains and prairies that embodies the history of the American West in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its story is one of Native American heritage, military forts, the transformative power of the railroad, and the enduring spirit of the homesteaders who turned its sod into sprawling grain farms. Known as part of Montana’s “Hi-Line,” its county seat, Havre, remains a vital hub for agriculture and railroad operations. For genealogists, research in Hill County often involves tracing ancestors who arrived during the great homesteading boom.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Hill County was created relatively late in Montana’s history, carved from a much larger parent county as the homestead boom brought a surge of population to the northern plains.

  • 1912: County Formed: Hill County was established on February 28, 1912.
  • Parent County: It was created entirely from the northern portion of Chouteau County. All research for individuals, land claims, or events taking place in this geographical area prior to February 1912 must be conducted in the records of Chouteau County, located at the courthouse in Fort Benton.
  • Subsequent Formations: A portion of western Hill County was partitioned in 1920 to help form the new county of Liberty. Researchers with ancestors in what is now Liberty County should search Hill County records for the period between 1912 and 1920.
  • Name Origin: The county was named for James J. Hill, the legendary “Empire Builder” and president of the Great Northern Railway. The railroad’s main line across the northern tier of Montana was the single most important factor in the region’s settlement and economic development.
  • County Seat History: Havre was named the county seat at the time of the county’s creation in 1912 and has held that status ever since. Its establishment and growth were a direct result of it being a major division point on the Great Northern Railway.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was the traditional territory of the Gros Ventre (Atsina), Assiniboine, and Blackfeet nations. In 1916, the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was established within the county’s boundaries for the Chippewa-Cree people, and it remains a vital center of their culture and governance.
  • Military and Railroad Presence: The first significant U.S. presence was the establishment of Fort Assinniboine in 1879, south of present-day Havre. It was one of the largest and most important military posts in the West. The arrival of the Great Northern Railway in 1887 was the true catalyst for settlement, creating Havre and opening the land to farmers and ranchers.
  • The Homesteading Boom: The period from roughly 1909 to 1917 saw a massive influx of settlers under the Enlarged Homestead Act. These “honyockers” arrived from the Midwest, the East, and Europe, seeking to claim 320-acre tracts for dryland farming. Many of the county’s families trace their origins to this dramatic, and often difficult, period of settlement, which was followed by drought and economic hardship in the 1920s.
  • Economy: The county’s economy has historically been, and remains, rooted in agriculture—primarily wheat, barley, and cattle ranching—along with transportation, as Havre continues to be a major hub for the BNSF Railway.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records. The relatively recent formation of the county means most records begin in 1912.

  • County Courthouse: The Hill County Courthouse, located at 315 4th St, Havre, MT 59501, is the central repository for historical records.
    • Clerk and Recorder: Holds all land records (deeds, mortgages, homestead patents) from 1912. This office also maintains county birth and death records.
    • Clerk of the District Court: This is a key office for Montana genealogical research. It holds marriage records, divorce decrees, probate records (wills, estates), and naturalization records from 1912 forward.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Montana began in 1907. For events occurring within the county after its formation in 1912, records are available from the Hill County Clerk and Recorder. Certified copies can also be obtained from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Statistics.
    • Marriage and Divorce Records: These records, from 1912 to the present, are held by the Hill County Clerk of the District Court.
  • Specialized Records:
    • Native American Records: For those researching ancestors who were members of the Chippewa-Cree Tribe, records may be held by the tribe itself or by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Research should include the National Archives (NARA) for federal agency records related to the Rocky Boy’s Agency.
  • Libraries and Museums:
    • Hill County Library: The library in Havre offers local history resources, including area newspapers on microfilm.
    • H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum: Located in Havre, the museum’s exhibits and archives cover Fort Assinniboine, homesteading, the railroad, and general county history.
    • Montana Historical Society: Located in Helena, this is the state’s premier research center, holding extensive collections of newspapers, manuscripts, photographs, and vital records indexes.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Liberty County (west)
    • Chouteau County (south)
    • Blaine County (east)
    • Province of Saskatchewan, Canada (north)
    • Province of Alberta, Canada (north)

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks