Babb, Montana

Babb is a small unincorporated community in Glacier County, Montana, United States, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. It has one school (Babb School), a K-6 elementary school which had 36 students as of 2005 [1].

Nearby attractions include the Many Glacier Hotel built in 1914.

Geography

Elevation: 4,524 ft.

Location: Glacier County

Latitude 48.86027908

Longitude -113.43582916

Zip Code: 59411

History

Established in 1905 as a post office, the town of Babb was named for Cyrus C. Babb, the engineer in charge of surveying the U.S. Reclamation Service’s St. Mary Irrigation Canal, which siphoned water from the St. Mary River into the Milk River and was one of the first Bureau of Reclamation projects in the nation.

Before 1905, chief Little Bear fled from Alberta to Montana, after the 1885 Northwest Rebellion, and stayed in the Babb region. In 1908, the United States sent Indian Inspector Frank Churchill to Montana, to negotiate with chief Rocky Boy about finding a new home for the landless Chippewa's of Montana and on the Flathead Reservation. The negotiations led to the establishment of a new Chippewa Reservation between St. Mary, Babb, and the Canadian border.

The land was located in the narrow valley between St. Mary and the Canadian border. It covered 11,500 acres or 18 sq. mi. On November 13, 1909 over 100 Chippewa's were sent by train to the new Reservation. Soon after, chief Little Bear and his people arrived. In all, close to 200 Indians settled down to live on the new Reservation. Not long after they settled down on their new land, some of the Chippewa's commenced to flee off the Reservation. Chief Rocky Boy could not stop the exodus.

Chief Rocky Boy and most of the Chippewa's remained. What led to the exodus was land allotments and strict laws about hunting and firewood. Bad winter conditions (heavy snow) also contributed to the exodus. And the land between St. Mary and the Canadian border, was not suited for agriculture.

Demographics

Babb has a population of 174 according to the 2010 census. The town has a total of 87 housing units. However, only around 60 of them are occupied year round. The others are possibly owned by vacationers. Native Americans make up 84% of Babb's population. Whites make up 12% of the towns population. Babb is an entrance way to Glacier National Park. The town has a motel, antique and gift shop, bar, a couple of restaurants, and several other businesses. Babb covers between 2 and 3 sq. mi.