Armstead, Montana
Encyclopedia
Armstead is a ghost town
in Beaverhead County
, Montana
, United States
, about 21 miles (33.8 km) south of the county seat of Dillon
. It was named after miner Harry Armstead. Armstead was located in a narrow valley of the Beaverhead River
, near the mouth of Horse Prairie Creek. The town was a station stop on the Union Pacific Railroad
line from Idaho Falls, Idaho
to Butte, Montana
. There was a post office
in Armstead from 1907 to 1962.
Armstead is perhaps best remembered as the eastern terminus and headquarters of the Gilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad
, which operated a line from there to Salmon, Idaho
between 1910 and 1939.
The Lewis and Clark expedition traveled past the future location of Armstead during its westward trek in 1805.
The construction of Clark Canyon Dam
in 1961–1964 created a reservoir that completely inundated the former site of Armstead. The town was still a viable community when the decision to build the dam was made. Because of this, some people do not categorize Armstead as being a ghost town. When the water level low enough parts of the old highway, railroad, and even some building foundations are still visible.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
in Beaverhead County
Beaverhead County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Beaverhead National Forest * Big Hole National Battlefield* Nez Perce National Historical Park * Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge-History:...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, about 21 miles (33.8 km) south of the county seat of Dillon
Dillon, Montana
- Notable residents :* Ed Barker - NFL wide receiver - Washington Redskins* Cree Paul - [Where is she now?]* Charles Xavier Larrabee - owner of the nearby stock ranch Brooknook.* Lloyd Meeds - Politician, lobbyist, and navy officer....
. It was named after miner Harry Armstead. Armstead was located in a narrow valley of the Beaverhead River
Beaverhead River
The Beaverhead River is an approximately -long tributary of the Jefferson River in southwest Montana . It drains an area of roughly . The river's original headwaters, formed by the confluence of the Red Rock River and Horse Prairie Creek, are now flooded under Clark Canyon Reservoir, which also...
, near the mouth of Horse Prairie Creek. The town was a station stop on the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
line from Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls is a city in and the county seat of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States, and the largest city in Eastern Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the population of Idaho Falls was 56,813, with a metro population of 130,374....
to Butte, Montana
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
. There was a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
in Armstead from 1907 to 1962.
Armstead is perhaps best remembered as the eastern terminus and headquarters of the Gilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad
Gilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad
The Gilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad , now defunct, was an American railroad located in southwestern Montana and east-central Idaho. Constructed in 1909 and 1910 between the towns of Armstead, Montana and Salmon, Idaho, the G&P served mining and agricultural areas in Lemhi County, Idaho and...
, which operated a line from there to Salmon, Idaho
Salmon, Idaho
Salmon is a city in Lemhi County, Idaho, United States. The population was 3,122 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Lemhi County...
between 1910 and 1939.
The Lewis and Clark expedition traveled past the future location of Armstead during its westward trek in 1805.
The construction of Clark Canyon Dam
Clark Canyon Dam
Clark Canyon Dam is an earthfill dam located in Beaverhead County, Montana, about 20 miles south of the county seat of Dillon. The dam impounds the waters of the Beaverhead River, creating a body of water known as Clark Canyon Reservoir...
in 1961–1964 created a reservoir that completely inundated the former site of Armstead. The town was still a viable community when the decision to build the dam was made. Because of this, some people do not categorize Armstead as being a ghost town. When the water level low enough parts of the old highway, railroad, and even some building foundations are still visible.