Two Dot, Montana
Encyclopedia
Two Dot is a small unincorporated community
in west-central Wheatland County
, Montana
, United States
, along the route of U.S. Route 12
.
The town got its name from the cattle brand of George R. Wilson (1830-1907), who donated the land for the town. "Two Dot Wilson" had a cattle brand that was simply two dots, placed side by side on the hip of his cattle. The name stuck and the town's name has become somewhat of a Western legend., Many think it does not exist, but it clings to life along the arid banks of the Musselshell River
in central Montana. The Mussellshell River and the town of Two Dot are located where many of the legends of the West were forged. Fierce Indian tribes and Free Trappers held this hostile, yet beautiful country home. It is a windy and harsh climate that make for a rugged and independent population.
The town was a station stop on the now-abandoned transcontinental main line of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
("the Milwaukee Road"), and was the site of one of the substations of the railroad's electrification
project. Two Dot was founded in 1900 as a station on the Montana Railroad
, local predecessor to the Milwaukee Road.
For much of the town's history, two variant spellings of the town's name were in use: "Two Dot," and "Twodot." The "Two Dot" spelling is now generally accepted as being correct, and the name of the town's post office was officially changed from Twodot to Two Dot in 1999.http://postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MT&county=Wheatland
album with the song Twodot, Montana
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in west-central Wheatland County
Wheatland County, Montana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,259 people, 853 households, and 540 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 1,154 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
, 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...
, along the route of U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12 or US 12 is an east–west United States highway, running from Grays Harbor on the Pacific Ocean, in the state of Washington, to downtown Detroit, for almost . As a thoroughfare, it has mostly been supplanted by I-90 and I-94, but remains an important road for local travel.The...
.
The town got its name from the cattle brand of George R. Wilson (1830-1907), who donated the land for the town. "Two Dot Wilson" had a cattle brand that was simply two dots, placed side by side on the hip of his cattle. The name stuck and the town's name has become somewhat of a Western legend., Many think it does not exist, but it clings to life along the arid banks of the Musselshell River
Musselshell River
The Musselshell River is a tributary of the Missouri River, long from its origins at the confluence of its North and South Forks near Martinsdale, Montana to its mouth on the Missouri River. It is located east of the Continental divide entirely within Montana in the United States...
in central Montana. The Mussellshell River and the town of Two Dot are located where many of the legends of the West were forged. Fierce Indian tribes and Free Trappers held this hostile, yet beautiful country home. It is a windy and harsh climate that make for a rugged and independent population.
The town was a station stop on the now-abandoned transcontinental main line of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
The Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. The company went through several official names...
("the Milwaukee Road"), and was the site of one of the substations of the railroad's electrification
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
project. Two Dot was founded in 1900 as a station on the Montana Railroad
Montana Railroad
The Montana Railroad, now defunct, was an American railroad built and operated between the towns of Lombard and Lewistown, Montana, a distance of approximately 157 miles. The railroad connected with the national railway network via a connection with the Northern Pacific Railway at Lombard...
, local predecessor to the Milwaukee Road.
For much of the town's history, two variant spellings of the town's name were in use: "Two Dot," and "Twodot." The "Two Dot" spelling is now generally accepted as being correct, and the name of the town's post office was officially changed from Twodot to Two Dot in 1999.http://postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MT&county=Wheatland
Popular culture
In 1983 Hank Williams Jr. imortalized Two Dot in his Strong StuffStrong Stuff
Strong Stuff is a studio album by American country music artist Hank Williams, Jr.. It was released by Elektra/Curb Records in February 1983. "Gonna Go Huntin' Tonight" and "Leave Them Boys Alone" were released as singles...
album with the song Twodot, Montana