Inverness Montana

Inverness is on the Hi-Line west of Havre. It was named by "Scotty" Watson, pioneer stockman, in memory of his native town in Scotland. The Scottish town is located on the inlet to Loch Ness, famous for the Loch Ness monster. By 1909 the homesteaders were beginning to arrive. Many of them who were to settle in this area came to Inverness by train and from there went out to look for a suitable location. The majority of them came from Minnesota and North Dakota; the greatest number arriving in 1910-12. There were good years like 1915 and 1916 but they were to be followed by extreme drought and by 1918 many homesteaders gave up and moved away. The tar paper shacks disintegrated and the tumbleweeds took over. Those who stayed bought up more land and built up larger and more economically sound units than the 160-acre homesteads. (from Cheney's Names on the Face of Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company)