MSU Extension in Glacier County

Published: 2022
By Lisa Terry

There are mountains. There are plains. Many regions can claim such rural landscapes, but Glacier County is unique among Montana’s counties as this is where the Northern Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. For countless generations, the residents of the Blackfeet Nation have called this region the “Backbone of the world.” With more than 150 mountain peaks rising above 8,000 feet, the name was aptly applied. And when you hear the phrase 'Going-to-the-Sun Road,' you have reached the place people from all over the world come to see the breathtaking beauty of Glacier National Park with their own eyes. Encompassing 3,037 square miles, Glacier County is home to exceptional ranching, industrial, and recreational opportunities. Bordering 75 miles with our Canadian neighbors, Glacier's ranchers are winter-weathered and productive. Several thousand acres grow small grains, pulse crops, rangeland, and hay fields. With the opening of the Glacier Wind Farm in 2009, our industrial base expanded significantly. Sharing space with neighboring Toole County, this facility generates 250 megawatts of power from 140 wind turbines. In addition, several small, unincorporated towns dot the countryside, with the community of Cutbank serving as the county seat. Finally, the Blackfeet Nation tribal headquarters round out the diverse qualities of Glacier County.