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Fifty-Six Counties: A Montana Journey
non-fiction
- GenresNonfictionTravelHistory
416 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2016
34 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Russell Rowland
18 books97 followersI'm a Montana native, and I returned home in 2007. My first novel, In Open Spaces, made the San Francisco Chronicle's bestseller list. I got my MA in Creative Writing from Boston University in 1991, and have been a MacDowell fellow and a fortune cookie writer. The Watershed Years, the sequel to number one, was published in 2007 and was a finalist for the High Plains Book Award. In 2012, WEST OF 98, an anthology I edited with Lynn Stegner, was released by the University of Texas Press. And in 2012r, my third novel, High and Inside, was released by Bangtail Press and was also named a finalist for the High Plains Book Award. In April 2016, Fifty-Six Counties: A Montana Journey came out. This is my first non-fiction effort, about my travels to every county in Montana and what I learned from this journey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 10, 2016
I had the pleasure of proofreading this book, and was simply blown away by the depth, humor and sheer amount of research that went in to the creation of this work. Russell Rowland is an incredibly talented writer who obviously invests a great deal of time in honing his craft, to the reader's delight and benefit. I believe this book will be a significant and lasting contribution to the narrative of Montana's history.
August 7, 2023
This book is what I would call a concise history of many cities and counties in Montana. Written in a very personal style it often cites friends’ history here. Although I enjoyed the book and learned a lot about the cultural and social history of Montana, I felt it was rather disjointed. It was difficult for me to understand where the towns or counties that he was describing were located in the State. It would have been helpful to have an index of the cities in an appendix and definitely would benefit from a better map…. Of perhaps a map with each chapter in order for the reader … who is not as familiar with Montana…. Has better reference to the particular parts of the state he is discussing in each chapter.
February 4, 2021
Six-word Review: A fascinating trip through authentic Montana.
There have been many books written about Montana. Some are collections of myths, especially fictional ones. Some are puff pieces. A few are historically accurate. This book is an exception to the usual in that it is both contemporary and honest.
The author, Russell Rowland, set out on a two-year quest to discover the "real" Montana by visiting all 56 of its county seats. In the process, he discovered things about Montana as well as things about himself. He also takes the time in the book to explode some of the myths surrounding both the people and the places that have a "reputation" that may not be as accurate as one would wish. He also does not spare the rod, so to speak, when describing the attitudes of many if not most Montanans towards Native Americans, minorities, or strangers.
One of the behaviors he describes, I have experienced myself. It's called "The Stare". In most Montana small towns, if you enter a cafe or bar, you are immediately fixed with the stares of whoever is there. It's because you are unknown as opposed to most likely everyone there. In most cases, the stare is neither friendly nor hostile but rather blank as they try to figure out why you are there and who or what you might be. The first time I experienced "the stare", I was a little bit frightened but now I recognize it for what it is, an interruption of the usual.
Rowland does an excellent job of analyzing the attitudes both positive and negative of Montanans in different parts of the state. There is an urban Montana and a rural Montana. There are also obvious attitudinal differences between those that live in the mountainous West and the relatively flat arid country in the Eastern part of the state. He points out that there is also lots of overlap rather than a definite dividing line between the different environments.
The book is divided into sections defined by the primary economic drivers or history of the area being described. This device made moving through the book more interesting than if he had just started at one end of the state and worked his way East or West. One thing the reader comes away with is a realization that Montana is one diverse place and not just the posters of the National Parks or the legends of its past.
All in all, I totally enjoyed reading about this state that I've been living in for the last 8 years. I learned a lot and expect to notice more as I travel around the state with the insights provided in this book
There have been many books written about Montana. Some are collections of myths, especially fictional ones. Some are puff pieces. A few are historically accurate. This book is an exception to the usual in that it is both contemporary and honest.
The author, Russell Rowland, set out on a two-year quest to discover the "real" Montana by visiting all 56 of its county seats. In the process, he discovered things about Montana as well as things about himself. He also takes the time in the book to explode some of the myths surrounding both the people and the places that have a "reputation" that may not be as accurate as one would wish. He also does not spare the rod, so to speak, when describing the attitudes of many if not most Montanans towards Native Americans, minorities, or strangers.
One of the behaviors he describes, I have experienced myself. It's called "The Stare". In most Montana small towns, if you enter a cafe or bar, you are immediately fixed with the stares of whoever is there. It's because you are unknown as opposed to most likely everyone there. In most cases, the stare is neither friendly nor hostile but rather blank as they try to figure out why you are there and who or what you might be. The first time I experienced "the stare", I was a little bit frightened but now I recognize it for what it is, an interruption of the usual.
Rowland does an excellent job of analyzing the attitudes both positive and negative of Montanans in different parts of the state. There is an urban Montana and a rural Montana. There are also obvious attitudinal differences between those that live in the mountainous West and the relatively flat arid country in the Eastern part of the state. He points out that there is also lots of overlap rather than a definite dividing line between the different environments.
The book is divided into sections defined by the primary economic drivers or history of the area being described. This device made moving through the book more interesting than if he had just started at one end of the state and worked his way East or West. One thing the reader comes away with is a realization that Montana is one diverse place and not just the posters of the National Parks or the legends of its past.
All in all, I totally enjoyed reading about this state that I've been living in for the last 8 years. I learned a lot and expect to notice more as I travel around the state with the insights provided in this book
June 16, 2016
I started out really wanting to like this book. I truly enjoyed In Open Spaces, The Watershed Years, and High & Inside. I talked our Friends of the Library into bringing this author to do a reading & book signing after his second book became "popular" in Montana. About the middle of this book on the 56 counties in Montana, it became quite evident that Mr. Rowland was talking about himself & his judgement of the places he was visiting & the people he was meeting. For instance ~ how can you write about Havre & not mention the college there that educates & sends so many of our young Montanans into successful careers? As I progressed further into the book I started seeing errors. For example on page 395, Rowland calls our former Governor a geologist. I attended Montana State University with Brian Schweitzer in the College of Agriculture in Soil Science classes. My roommate was a teacher's assistant with him teaching Soil Science labs. Further down on the same page, Rowland says that the town of Musselshell no longer existing. Tell that to our neighbors who live there. I felt like sending him photographs postmarked in Musselshell at the Musselshell USPS along with a newsletter from Friends of the Musselshell School. If you are going to write a book about Montana have a little more self respect & pay attention!!!!!
June 16, 2016
Did you know that there are counties in the state of Montana that are bigger than entire states back east? Yup, it's true. This right here is a big, big state, and as a recent arrival, I could not have chosen a better book to give me some background on my new home (along with lots of ideas for all the things I need to see here). Perhaps necessarily, the book is long. You'll go speeding through most of it, but there are times towards the end when both you and Rowland will feel a little discouraged about dragging around in yet another struggling town out in the great beyond of Montana's vastnesses. But far more often, Rowland's joy and love for this state and its people are immediate and infectious. In such a book, I often find including personal anecdotes to be ancillary and distracting, but the times where Rowland includes his personal experience -- and that of the people he talks to -- turn out to be some of the most moving and relatable parts of the book. Whether you are a Montana native, a recent transplant, or an actual or armchair traveler, you will find plenty to enjoy in reading about these Fifty-Six Counties.
August 5, 2021
Russell Rowland’s book Fifty-Six Counties: A Montana Journey isn’t exactly an uplifting tale about the Treasure State, but it is captivating. Rowland visited every county in Montana in his research, creating a first-person narrative touching on the past and present stories of towns along the way. Much of it reads as a eulogy to dying small towns across rural Montana. Rowland provides the historical background of towns that arose due to boom and bust resource extraction, whether related to mining endeavors, oil booms, logging towns established to serve the railroads, or agricultural communities founded to stimulate railroad business even where the land wasn’t rich enough to support viable farms. In each case, big business extracted the wealth and left the state, leaving impoverished, shrinking towns in their wake.
The author keys in on the irony of living in a state that often ranks among the happiest in the nation while simultaneously struggling with one of the highest rates of alcoholism and suicide. Montana has always been a hardscrabble place to survive, and those who succeeded against the odds helped create the aura of stoic individualism that carries through to this day. Montanans are unaccustomed to asking for help disinclined to talk about their problems, seeking solace in the bottle or the revolver instead.
We are accustomed to stereotypical views of Indian reservations, which can be rife with poverty, drugs, alcohol, and suicide. Fifty-Six Counties gave me the impression that most of rural Montana struggles with similar challenges, different only by degrees. Rowland does highlight individual and community stories of hope throughout the book. He also emphasizes the Montana spirit of optimism, how folks in every town believe the situation is about to take a turn for the better, even while the prevailing evidence indicates otherwise.
I bought the book because I had a fleeting inspiration to do a similar project, visiting every county in Montana to write a book about the state. It’s not likely that I ever will, which made me enjoy Rowland’s book all the more. I’ll rate it 4 out of 5 stars for being excessively chatty and at times too trivial, and excessively politically biased. But overall, Fifty-Six Counties is a great read for anyone with a strong connection to Montana.
The author keys in on the irony of living in a state that often ranks among the happiest in the nation while simultaneously struggling with one of the highest rates of alcoholism and suicide. Montana has always been a hardscrabble place to survive, and those who succeeded against the odds helped create the aura of stoic individualism that carries through to this day. Montanans are unaccustomed to asking for help disinclined to talk about their problems, seeking solace in the bottle or the revolver instead.
We are accustomed to stereotypical views of Indian reservations, which can be rife with poverty, drugs, alcohol, and suicide. Fifty-Six Counties gave me the impression that most of rural Montana struggles with similar challenges, different only by degrees. Rowland does highlight individual and community stories of hope throughout the book. He also emphasizes the Montana spirit of optimism, how folks in every town believe the situation is about to take a turn for the better, even while the prevailing evidence indicates otherwise.
I bought the book because I had a fleeting inspiration to do a similar project, visiting every county in Montana to write a book about the state. It’s not likely that I ever will, which made me enjoy Rowland’s book all the more. I’ll rate it 4 out of 5 stars for being excessively chatty and at times too trivial, and excessively politically biased. But overall, Fifty-Six Counties is a great read for anyone with a strong connection to Montana.
August 14, 2019
This book does not purport to be a detailed historical or political study of Montana, which is very good because it would wholly fail on that front. But it is a fascinating journalistic-style profile of 2015-ish Montana. One gets the sense that the author could have written five books of this length with all the material he gained during his tour of Montana's county seats. It's an impressive achievement and mostly enjoyable to read.
I found the chapter on the indigenous people of Montana not excellent. It was cursory and oversimplified, with little of the depth the author gave to the other regions he profiled. The chapter also focused--almost exclusively in my view--on tales of tribal infighting, rather than stories of reservation resilience. I don't dispute the reality of those stories, but I also don't believe they're worthy of highlighting. It doesn't help that the author inexplicably refused to make an exception for reservation towns in his otherwise single-minded devotedness to profiling county seats. (Reservation towns are generally not county seats because state governments gave preference to white border towns in selecting the seat.) But my criticism may just be nit-picky-ness. The author disavowed any particular expertise in Native affairs and focused on individual stories, which is valid enough. He just picked the wrong stories, in my view.
I also found his increasingly fatalistic attitude about rural eastern Montana to be upsetting. Too many of the county seats received short, sad reviews about the author's inability to perceive a future for these small towns. But I don't have enough information to contest that view and I can't imagine it's wholly unjustified. (On the other hand, I think of my own friends who come from rural Montana reservation towns and the good things they know are done there and imagine maybe the author was too pessimistic.)
Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book. It was a great look into the depths of a place most Americans know only through idle vacations. (Point in fact: I bought the book at a Bozeman museum on my way to Glacier National Park.) I gained a new appreciation for Montana, which would hopefully please the author.
I found the chapter on the indigenous people of Montana not excellent. It was cursory and oversimplified, with little of the depth the author gave to the other regions he profiled. The chapter also focused--almost exclusively in my view--on tales of tribal infighting, rather than stories of reservation resilience. I don't dispute the reality of those stories, but I also don't believe they're worthy of highlighting. It doesn't help that the author inexplicably refused to make an exception for reservation towns in his otherwise single-minded devotedness to profiling county seats. (Reservation towns are generally not county seats because state governments gave preference to white border towns in selecting the seat.) But my criticism may just be nit-picky-ness. The author disavowed any particular expertise in Native affairs and focused on individual stories, which is valid enough. He just picked the wrong stories, in my view.
I also found his increasingly fatalistic attitude about rural eastern Montana to be upsetting. Too many of the county seats received short, sad reviews about the author's inability to perceive a future for these small towns. But I don't have enough information to contest that view and I can't imagine it's wholly unjustified. (On the other hand, I think of my own friends who come from rural Montana reservation towns and the good things they know are done there and imagine maybe the author was too pessimistic.)
Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book. It was a great look into the depths of a place most Americans know only through idle vacations. (Point in fact: I bought the book at a Bozeman museum on my way to Glacier National Park.) I gained a new appreciation for Montana, which would hopefully please the author.
December 22, 2020
I really applaud the idea, just not the execution.
The concept of a thematic organization to the 56 counties of Montana to find patterns is great. It is clear why "conservative" readers dislike the book in their reviews: Rowland does a fine job of demonstrating in county after county how turning your town/county/state over to large companies has screwed Montana in boom and bust cycles again, and again, and again, and again (and probably will step on the gas of this pattern starting in 2021 as the state turns itself over to millionaire real estate developers).
The execution of the concept, however, left me dissatisfied. I dislike the "surprise" the author expresses when he finds anything admirable or that compares to his time in San Francisco. At times he takes on a Leslie Fiedler attitude that gets a little tiresome. Most of all I was bored with the pattern: roll into town, have a coffee, visit a museum or town booster, talk about K. Ross Toole's ideas, move on. I just did not like the voice and tone of this particular author, which is purely a matter of taste.
In travel narratives, I prefer an author that attempts to develop a sense of place and that spends more time with the physical space, as well. I just didn't get that sense of place from this book beyond "failed towns hanging on by a thread." If you are from Montana, you already know that story because you lived it. What can you reveal that we don't already know? On occasion we get a story like that (the farmers in Teton County outside of Power). More often than not we get stories of "locals didn't trust me" or "hey, people at the museum like their town."
A good try, but I think there is clearly room for a new author from Montana to tackle the Montana travel narrative.
The concept of a thematic organization to the 56 counties of Montana to find patterns is great. It is clear why "conservative" readers dislike the book in their reviews: Rowland does a fine job of demonstrating in county after county how turning your town/county/state over to large companies has screwed Montana in boom and bust cycles again, and again, and again, and again (and probably will step on the gas of this pattern starting in 2021 as the state turns itself over to millionaire real estate developers).
The execution of the concept, however, left me dissatisfied. I dislike the "surprise" the author expresses when he finds anything admirable or that compares to his time in San Francisco. At times he takes on a Leslie Fiedler attitude that gets a little tiresome. Most of all I was bored with the pattern: roll into town, have a coffee, visit a museum or town booster, talk about K. Ross Toole's ideas, move on. I just did not like the voice and tone of this particular author, which is purely a matter of taste.
In travel narratives, I prefer an author that attempts to develop a sense of place and that spends more time with the physical space, as well. I just didn't get that sense of place from this book beyond "failed towns hanging on by a thread." If you are from Montana, you already know that story because you lived it. What can you reveal that we don't already know? On occasion we get a story like that (the farmers in Teton County outside of Power). More often than not we get stories of "locals didn't trust me" or "hey, people at the museum like their town."
A good try, but I think there is clearly room for a new author from Montana to tackle the Montana travel narrative.
November 20, 2017
I came across this book while browsing in a Montana bookstore -- and what a find! Russell Rowland took it upon himself to visit every county in the vast state of Montana and discovered some amazing things about his home state, all on a few thousand dollars he raised online and with the help of friends who opened their homes and neighborhoods to him.
Although I expected something that went more methodically from state to state, Rowland tackles the territory by topic, so we get key details about current and pasting mining and agriculture in the state (for example). I'm glad he took the approach he did; what could have been pretty dull reading became fascinating.
I've read several other books about Montana, and this covers some of the same background, but what sets Rowland's book apart is the personal side of things he includes. The interesting but usually overlooked small town museums and the even more interesting folks who oversee those local collections.
If you've spent any time in Montana, if you want to make an extended visit there, or if you just want to discover some places in this state you haven't heard much about (if at all), then this is your book, keeping in mind it isn't a guide book. We laughed at his descriptions at some of the very small towns he visited -- yep, we know that stare the locals in some places give you when you walk in the door of the cafe-- yet we also share an appreciation of all the things Rowland says make Montanans unique.
I wish a book like this existed for every state in the country!
Although I expected something that went more methodically from state to state, Rowland tackles the territory by topic, so we get key details about current and pasting mining and agriculture in the state (for example). I'm glad he took the approach he did; what could have been pretty dull reading became fascinating.
I've read several other books about Montana, and this covers some of the same background, but what sets Rowland's book apart is the personal side of things he includes. The interesting but usually overlooked small town museums and the even more interesting folks who oversee those local collections.
If you've spent any time in Montana, if you want to make an extended visit there, or if you just want to discover some places in this state you haven't heard much about (if at all), then this is your book, keeping in mind it isn't a guide book. We laughed at his descriptions at some of the very small towns he visited -- yep, we know that stare the locals in some places give you when you walk in the door of the cafe-- yet we also share an appreciation of all the things Rowland says make Montanans unique.
I wish a book like this existed for every state in the country!
May 21, 2022
I loved the theme of this book and the author's straightahead tales.
I especially appreciated his bringing up some uncomfortable truths, in particular that many Montananas are down on the "guvmint" and yet much of the state's economy relies on it.
Most of all, though, it was fun to vicariously travel alongside Rowland. I have a longer list of destinations I want to visit now and some of his pronouncements ring so true, such as, "I feel like I should like Billings more than I do."
I also appreciate Rowland's willingness to Do rather than Muse, particularly with his work doing conversations with people from local tribes.
Also, I'm sorry the folks weren't that nice to him in Kalispell. Their/our less — and I hope Rowland comes back and tries again.
I especially appreciated his bringing up some uncomfortable truths, in particular that many Montananas are down on the "guvmint" and yet much of the state's economy relies on it.
Most of all, though, it was fun to vicariously travel alongside Rowland. I have a longer list of destinations I want to visit now and some of his pronouncements ring so true, such as, "I feel like I should like Billings more than I do."
I also appreciate Rowland's willingness to Do rather than Muse, particularly with his work doing conversations with people from local tribes.
Also, I'm sorry the folks weren't that nice to him in Kalispell. Their/our less — and I hope Rowland comes back and tries again.
July 17, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Much more than I thought I would. Maybe because I lived in Anaconda for two years and traveled back and forth to Butte quite a bit. I thought those areas would be the only ones of interest to me but Rowland has a way of drawing you in to every county with his descriptive verse and excellent writing skills. He introduced me to so many interesting inhabitants of those 56 counties. It gave me a homespun look into what it takes to actually love those areas. I also realized my two years living there didn’t properly introduce me to the reality of the land and people of Montana. Many thanks to this great author for doing so.
February 6, 2018
Disappointing. I was looking forward to reading about the (many) parts of Montana I've never visited, but Fifty-Six Counties never made me feel like I could tell the difference between one part of the state (and its people) and another. Rowland has a tendency to back off to generalizations and provide his judgement of situations without providing enough detail to really understand where the judgements come from. The style's chatty, which misses the lyrical potential of some of the West's most evocative landscape.
June 14, 2017
Very interesting read and an intriguing concept for a book - as a lifelong Montana resident I was already aware of some of the more standard 'textbook' history discussed, but I greatly enjoyed the sections regarding agriculture and its role in Montana's history and economy. Visiting all 56 counties as Rowland did (speeding through on the Interstate at 80 mph doesn't count) has now been added to my personal bucket list!
February 14, 2020
It was nice to read about my beloved state from someone raised here who knows how passionate native born Montanans are about this beautiful state and how we don’t want people to come in and take advantage of it. You can hear his personal bias in his writing, he is more left of center than me. Hearing his praise of folks I don’t care for as much as he does, but hey we all have our biases based on our own journey. I learned some history and he also peaked my interest in some areas to visit.
June 27, 2020
This is a well written introduction to the state of Montana. It tells a little about its history, psychology, geology, arts, politics, beauty, strengths and weaknesses. But most of all it points the way for you to discover Montana on your own. It is not free from personal bias- like the segment on Missoula vs Bozeman, nor is it wholly historical as in its mis portrayal of Custer. Yet it is a fine introduction to Montana and a must read.
October 19, 2022
I’ve lived in Bozeman (Gallatin County) for close to 20 years. I thought I had a pretty good knowledge of the Great State I have chosen to call home. Not so fast! Wow, this was a wonderful, interesting, well-researched adventure around Montana. I loved the people Rowland introduced us to, I loved the respect and admiration he had for the county seats (and tiny museums!) he visited. This book is just a beautiful love letter to Montana.
September 15, 2018
Good idea.....but
This was a wonderful idea for a book. A terrific means to present an area's history. The author did this very well. However, his left leaning political views kept coming to the fore, and got a bit tiresome. The author did attempt to present both sides of things. Just another intellectual elitist snob. I really wanted to like this book too.
This was a wonderful idea for a book. A terrific means to present an area's history. The author did this very well. However, his left leaning political views kept coming to the fore, and got a bit tiresome. The author did attempt to present both sides of things. Just another intellectual elitist snob. I really wanted to like this book too.
August 8, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. The author visits all of Montana’s 56 counties. He offers historical insight, modern trends, personalized stories and more. The book started a little slow but once I figured out the flow of the book it turned into a quick and interesting read. 5 stars might be a little biased since I’m a MT native and can relate to many of these stories and books topics.
May 19, 2022
Thoroughly loved this book. Makes me want to visit all these little communities. Was a pleasant surprise to read something that actually spoke about both sides of the story instead of being so jaded one way or the other. Could have used without the philosophizing in the last part, but fully understand why the author needed to do this as well. A good read for all of us Montana history people!
October 28, 2022
As a long time Montana resident that still has much to learn about my big home state, I really loved this book. The writers insightful thoughts about the people and places of Montana often felt like written clarifications of thoughts and feelings that were coming from my own views on Montana.
I can't help wondering how the book might have a different feel if written in the present.
I can't help wondering how the book might have a different feel if written in the present.
March 26, 2022
A great introduction to the diversity of Montana's geography and its people. History, anthropology and politics all in one. Of course, with such a large area and so many counties to visit, the author sometimes only dedicates a page (if that) to some of the less populated places.
June 10, 2024
Interesting take on the state of Montana, in the form of stories based on visits to all 56 counties in the state. It gives a sense of the diversity of the state and highlights some of the challenges faced by different regions.
October 22, 2024
Being a Montanan and a 6th generation rancher I have mixed emotions on this book. It was well written and presented. I think the author makes good points and also missed some too. However, we all have different perspectives and opinions.
July 21, 2017
There is a lot I love about this book--I just feel like it needs some more editing.
April 5, 2021
A great way to enjoy many of the back roads of Montana I have experienced. Makes me want to get in my car and drive those county roads that usually lead to a place that is truly unique.
June 13, 2024
Fifty-Six Counties by Russell Rowland is an interesting, informative, and realistic look at a great state.
December 27, 2025
so many amazing fun facts in one book! this guy sure does love Billings though...
January 21, 2019
An interesting book about the culture of Montana. It is written in an easy and readable stye. I particularly liked how he spent a lot of time wandering Eastern Montana. Its an underappreciated part of Montana. I'm from Montana and haven't spent much time in these areas myself.
Each of the stories basically follows a common thread: "we settled, we came together, we prospered, we survived." That's the story of rural life. I really appreciated that he spent some time with the Tribes; however, he could have spent a lot more time with them.
Fort Benton is a really neat town, I can confirm that! Billings is too. He's right, Billings is figuring out how to grow up. But it is a nice town full of real people. Bozeman, on the other hand... he buys into the myth a little too much and doesn't focus on the reality of Bozeman so much.
Thing is, he introduces the notion early in the book that rural Montana is full of drunks who are waiting to kill themselves. This just isn't the whole story. Yes, Montana (and rural communities everywhere) have a problem with boom-bust economy, depression, drugs and alcoholism. He does tell the story of people surviving and succeeding. But he still holds onto this overarching notion of depression and suicide in spite of all of the great people, young and old, that he met along the way.
Another thing that really annoyed me is his moralizing about how great life in San Fransisco was compared to Montana. People in San Fransisco are just as judgemental as anywhere else. If he loved the place so much, he should move back.
Each of the stories basically follows a common thread: "we settled, we came together, we prospered, we survived." That's the story of rural life. I really appreciated that he spent some time with the Tribes; however, he could have spent a lot more time with them.
Fort Benton is a really neat town, I can confirm that! Billings is too. He's right, Billings is figuring out how to grow up. But it is a nice town full of real people. Bozeman, on the other hand... he buys into the myth a little too much and doesn't focus on the reality of Bozeman so much.
Thing is, he introduces the notion early in the book that rural Montana is full of drunks who are waiting to kill themselves. This just isn't the whole story. Yes, Montana (and rural communities everywhere) have a problem with boom-bust economy, depression, drugs and alcoholism. He does tell the story of people surviving and succeeding. But he still holds onto this overarching notion of depression and suicide in spite of all of the great people, young and old, that he met along the way.
Another thing that really annoyed me is his moralizing about how great life in San Fransisco was compared to Montana. People in San Fransisco are just as judgemental as anywhere else. If he loved the place so much, he should move back.
July 19, 2016
I was not born in Montana, but my grandmother and mother were. I have lived more years in Montana than in Tennessee & Washington State put together. I have also lived on both ends of the state. Billings, to Colstrip to Missoula and now Livingston. I took the Montana History course from the esteemed Prof Harry Fritz at the University of Montana. After a recent roadtrip to the genesis of my family, Great Falls, I decided to read about the 56 counties that make up this state. Fifty-Six Counties: A Montana Journey is often depressing. Time and again author Russell Rowland reminds readers of how outside forces have taken from Montana and then left the locals to clean up the mess. This is currently happening to my hometown of Colstrip where I spent some of the best years of my life, despite the town's growing pains. The thought of it blowing away like Bannack, Butte & Black Eagle before it is heart- breaking to me. In the end, I am here for one of the same reasons Rowland is. Not the outdoors, the sports, the small town lifestyle, but for the people. My adored parents, longtime friends and the community of Livingston that embraced a city slicker when she needed to come "home".
June 14, 2021
Montana is one of the few places in this country that inspires a powerful sense of identity and an undying sense of loyalty in its people.
Having grown up in Montana, I've always loved my state. Living away from Montana makes me appreciate it that much more. I was eager to read more about the history of my home, especially the parts of it I'm not as familiar with (seriously, I had to look at a map multiple times when he named counties I didn't know existed.) While this wasn't the walk through history I anticipated, I really enjoyed the way that the author analyzed the aspects of our history that affect our current culture - for good or for ill. While I didn't always love his condescending attitude toward small towns (picked up during his time in California, no doubt! :), I learned a lot about my home and put a few more places on my "to visit" list.
Having grown up in Montana, I've always loved my state. Living away from Montana makes me appreciate it that much more. I was eager to read more about the history of my home, especially the parts of it I'm not as familiar with (seriously, I had to look at a map multiple times when he named counties I didn't know existed.) While this wasn't the walk through history I anticipated, I really enjoyed the way that the author analyzed the aspects of our history that affect our current culture - for good or for ill. While I didn't always love his condescending attitude toward small towns (picked up during his time in California, no doubt! :), I learned a lot about my home and put a few more places on my "to visit" list.
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