McCone County is located in north central Montana. The Missouri River flows along the northern border of the county with the Redwater River flowing north and emptying into it. The county at one time was part of a sea floor, later covered with ice, and is now part of the vast prairie of the Great Plains. Marine fossils, dinosaur excavations, lignite coal deposits, and oil discoveries link McCone County to the ancient past. Indian artifacts indicate that McCone County, between the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers, was hunting grounds for several Indian tribes. Buffalo and beaver were plentiful.
Because of the success of many buffalo hunters who came in the early 1880's the prairies buffalo were wiped out; with their demise, wealthy individuals from the East were then able to set up large ranches. Huge herds of cattle were herded along dusty trails from Texas to Montana. The XIT Ranch introduced the Texas Longhorn along the Redwater River. The Mabry Cattle Corporation headquarted one mile south of the present town of Circle. Their brand was a plain O, their ranch was known as the Circle Ranch. This is how the town of Circle acquired its name.
In 1928 the Northern Pacific Railroad came to Circle. This provided another means for homestead people to bring their modern farming equipment. Agriculture is still the major industry in McCone County, with cattle, sheep, wheat, barley and other crops also produced.
McCone County was formed in 1919. After a major controversy between the towns of Brockway in the south and Vida in the north, Circle, which was located between the two towns, became the county seat.
The construction of FORT PECK DAM, the first of the great Missouri Rivers dams, employed hundreds of workers in the northern part of the county. For years, and to this day, FORT PECK DAM has been utilized to generate electricity. It is also a tremendous resource for boating and fishing recreation. Hunting for antelope, deer, sharp tail grouse and pheasant is still very much a major recreation for this county.
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