Wibaux in Wibaux County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Wibaux Commercial Historic District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 10, 2020
1. Wibaux Commercial Historic District Marker
Inscription.
Wibaux Commercial Historic District. . From its roots as a pre-1900s cattle town to a farming community after the turn of the century, Wibaux well illustrates the transformation borne by many small Montana towns. This historic district reflects the high point of the town’s influence as an agricultural center. The dryland farming movement (1905-1915) brought an influx of settlers which in turn increased the number of farms and eliminated open range cattle ranching. Wibaux experienced a shift from the stockyard industry to agricultural trade. When a devastating fire swept away the principal business blocks in the district in 1906, the frame, false-fronted buildings and board sidewalks became a thing of the past. One- and two-story closely grouped brick buildings constructed between 1905 and 1917 replaced most of the frame structures. Today these give the district its architectural cohesiveness, featuring transitional stylistic elements between Classical Revival and the more modern “Prairie” school of commercial design. In 1910 alone, commercial construction expenditures exceeded $92,000, and Wibaux supported almost 50 businesses. The town had come a long way from its 1880 origins and its lively reputation as one of the “toughest towns north of the Rio Grande.”
From its roots as a pre-1900s cattle town to a farming community after the turn of the century, Wibaux well illustrates the transformation borne by many small Montana towns. This historic district reflects the high point of the town’s influence as an agricultural center. The dryland farming movement (1905-1915) brought an influx of settlers which in turn increased the number of farms and eliminated open range cattle ranching. Wibaux experienced a shift from the stockyard industry to agricultural trade. When a devastating fire swept away the principal business blocks in the district in 1906, the frame, false-fronted buildings and board sidewalks became a thing of the past. One- and two-story closely grouped brick buildings constructed between 1905 and 1917 replaced most of the frame structures. Today these give the district its architectural cohesiveness, featuring transitional stylistic elements between Classical Revival and the more modern “Prairie” school of commercial design. In 1910 alone, commercial construction expenditures exceeded $92,000, and Wibaux supported almost 50 businesses. The town had come a long way from its 1880 origins and its lively reputation as one of the “toughest towns north of the Rio Grande.”
Location. 46° 59.189′ N, 104° 11.265′ W. Marker is in Wibaux, Montana, in Wibaux County. Marker is on North Wibaux Street near 1st Avenue Southwest, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 118 North Wibaux Street, Wibaux MT 59353, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 10, 2020
2. Wibaux Commercial Historic District Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 26, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 95 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on December 26, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 2. submitted on December 27, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.