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St. Ignatius Post
Saint Ignatius, Lake County, Montana
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In 1876, John K. Castner founded Belt, Montana, near Fort Benton by claiming squatters rights and opening the first hotel for freighters heading to Virginia City and Neihart gold camps. Five years later, Henry W. Millard discovered coal, spurring mining and settlement growth into an important regional center.
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The Founding of Belt
-from the Belt Valley Times.
Shortly after the establishment of Fort Benton on the banks of the Missouri River about 40 miles north of Belt in 1876 an adventurous gentleman by the name of John K. Castner filed squatters rights on what was to become the townsite of Belt.
Belt Valley was located on the freighters' route to the newly discovered Virginia City and Neihart gold camps. To accommodate flow of men passing back and forth, Castner opened Belt's first hotel.
About five years after the arrival of Castner, Henry W. Millard discovered a vein of coal on the east side of the valley and opened Belt's first coal mine.
With the influx of miners, railroad workers and settlers and adventurers, Belt soon was established as an important center in the development of a new country.
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Location
Belt Valley, Montana, Near Fort Benton On The Missouri River
Event Date
1876
Story Details
Shortly after Fort Benton's establishment in 1876, John K. Castner filed squatters rights on the future townsite of Belt and opened its first hotel for freighters to Virginia City and Neihart gold camps. Five years later, Henry W. Millard discovered coal and opened the first mine, leading to influx of miners, railroad workers, settlers, and adventurers, establishing Belt as an important center.