Sheridan County
Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture
Reserve, Montana is a tiny community tucked in the northeast corner of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. It has survived floods and droughts, depression and declining population.
Once the home of the real frontier cowboys and roaming bands of Indians, as well as the occasional outlaw; Reserve later became known as Montana’s Durum Capital for the area’s tremendous production of durum wheat – the basis of America’s pasta products.
In the county history book Sheridan’s Daybreak, Willo Engelstad Sedlacek wrote of Reserve’s early days, “How well I remember the years we lived near Reserve, the pretty little town nestled at the foot of the reservation hills. How the lights would twinkle on a snowy winter’s night, reminding me of a Christmas tree lit up… In the spring the Indians would pitch their tents along the hills to the west. Here they put up poles and lines to hang their food to dry for the coming winter. They were always friendly and sometimes would give us beads and trinkets.”
The community was platted shortly after 1900 as a midway point between Medicine Lake and Antelope on the Great Northern Railroad. It is located on the banks of the Big Muddy River – and there have been a few early springs when Reserve has been under water. In 1943, area residents traveled from one house to another by boat following the spring thaw.
Reserve was home to the First National Bank of Reserve from 1917 until 1968, when it became Montana National Bank of Plentywood. It was one of only two Sheridan County banks to survive the Depression.
Reserve now consists of the Post Office, Reserve Bar and Café, Community Oil (fuel, oil, propane and fertilizer), a modern fire hall plus the historic Reserve Lutheran Church – built in 1938 and featuring loving craftsmanship by local carpenters. There are also many well-kept homes in this quiet, friendly community along Highway 16.
Established in 1911
RESERVE
