Distinctly Montana Magazine

45 w w w. d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m be surveyed, leading to the abili- ty of private citizens to purchase property. It is the only initial point in the United States that has no name, so it is referred to as Princi- pal Meridian, Montana. The site is surrounded by a private ranch. The Northern Pacific Railroad laid tracks nearby in 1887, so the town moved closer. In 1910 lots in Willow Creek were laid out and sold. The drought years, starting around 1919, caused some pioneers to leave, but still others arrived. New businesses were established, such as a grain elevator, lumber yard, cheese factory, physician's office, bank, and drug store. The Depression years saw the community decline once again. Myers reported in her book that two cultural groups seem to have been the major settlers in the Willow Creek area. In ad- dition to the group from western Mis- souri, another group was comprised of disaffected Mormons from Utah, who brought with them experience devel- oping irrigation from a water source to relatively nearby farms. Since the area had only about twelve inches of rain a year, it proved vital that the settlers tap into water from Willow Creek, flowing from the mountains. Soon farmers were working together to dig gravi- ty-fed ditches to allow the water into their fields. Those carefully maintained ditches are still being used today. Farming moved beyond self-sustainment with not only the Northern Pacific Railroad serving the area but also with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. Livestock, wheat, oats, cabbages, and potatoes were sold beyond the community. A A Town with a Slice of Montana History WILLOW CREEK BASE LINE 1867 PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN Map showing the Initial Point from which all of Montana was surveyed. It is the only Initial Point in the United States that has no name. Adapted from the Center for Land Use Interpretation.

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