Toole County, Montana

Toole County formed in 1914 from Hill and Teton Counties, Toole County is named for Joseph K. Toole.

Toole County, situated in the northern part of Montana with the Canadian line as its northern boundary, is an agricultural and livestock county, having practically no other industries, aside from the mercantile business in the towns. It was created from parts of Hill and Teton counties on May 7, 1914, and has a land area of 1,958 square miles.

A part of its southern boundary is formed by Maria's (Marias) River, which flows through the south- eastern portion. In the eastern part are several creeks, the largest of which is Willow, which rises in the Sweet Grass hills and follows a southerly course through the county. In the Sweet Grass hills and elsewhere indications of oil and gas have been found.


Toole County Chronology
*1803*	Louisiana Purchase
*1805*	Maria's River named by Captain Meriwether Lewis
*1806*	Maria's River explored by Captain Lewis, Reuben and Joseph Field, and George Drewyer
*1846*	Fort Lewis established-renamed Fort Benton in 1850
*1853-1855*	Survey for western railroad by General Isaac Stevens
*1870*	Whoop up Trail - from Fort Benton to Fort McLeod
*1882*	Soldier Camp on the Marias - from Fort Shaw
*1885*	Gold Discovered in Sweetgrass Hills
*1888*	Indians "sold" the Sweetgrass Hills - land opened to white settlers
*1889*	Montana enters the Union as the 41st State
*1890*	Narrow Gauge Railroad built from Lethbridge to Great Falls - end of steamboat travel on the Missouri River
*1891*	Great Northern Railroad completed to the Marias Pass
*1895*	Gold Butte established - first post office and first school at Gold Butte
*1903*	May blizzard - many cattle and sheep perished
*1908*	June flood of the Marias River - destroyed homes and property
*1910*	Coming of Homesteaders
*1914*	Toole County formed with Shelby as the county seat