Funeral Homes near Bearcreek

Facts about the city

Bearcreek is an incorporated town in Carbon County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Billings, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 79 at the 2010 census. Bearcreek uses the Mayor/Council form of government.The town of Bearcreek was named for Bear Creek, which runs through the middle of town. Bearcreek came into existence due to coal mines and grew rapidly following the building of a short line railroad connecting the Bearcreek mines to the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1906. Between 1906 and 1953, the mines at Bearcreek produced large volumes of coal, which was a higher grade than other regional sources, from the extensive underground coal mining deposits. The mines were located along the creek and also in the surrounding coulees. The development of the coal mines after 1906 drew miners to the area. They came from other parts of America, and from Serbia, Montenegro, Germany, Scotland and Italy. The recent immigrants built separate ethnic-based communities in the steep coulees that run down into Bearcreek, with names like Washoe, New Caledonia, Chickentown, Scotch Coulee, International, and Stringtown. At one time in the 1920s and 1930s the population of Bearcreek combined with the other surrounding small communities was close to 3,000 persons. Bear Creek and the surrounding communities had seven mercantiles, a bank, two hotels, two billiard halls, a brickyard, numerous saloons, and Bearcreek sported concrete sidewalks and their own water system. Allegedly, the town had no churches. The economy of Bear Creek was based on coal. The Smith Mine Disaster in 1943, followed by the decline in demand for coal in the late 1940s and 1950s caused the closure of the connecting railroad in 1953 and subsequently most of the coal mines, and the population declined steadily to less than 100 persons. Many buildings in Bearcreek and the surrounding communites were moved to other towns or demolished, and only a few structures remain.Currently, the town is home to the Bear Creek Saloon which hosts fundraising pig races throughout the year. In addition, Bearcreek plays host every autumn to Montana Falconer Symposium, the state's largest gathering of falcon trainers and birds of prey enthusiasts.When the legality of betting on pig races was challenged, a law was passed—Montana Code Annotated 23-5-502(b) -- stating that \"Only a licensee of premises that are located in an incorporated city or town with a population of less than 100 or located outside the boundaries of an incorporated city or town and that are appropriately licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises under 23-5-119 may conduct a race between animals and conduct one or more sports pools on the race. The race may be conducted only if it is between pigs, gerbils, or hamsters and is conducted on the premises but outside of interior areas of the establishment where food and beverages are usually stored, prepared, or served.\" Bearcreek is the only incorporated city or town in Montana with a population of less than 100.

Bearcreek Obituaries

It was revealed by The Mail Tribune on November 26th, 2014 that Doris Lucy Bell (Sconfiernza) passed on in Central Point, Oregon.  Ms. Bell was 88 years old and was born in Bearcreek, MT.  Send flowers to express your sorrow and honor Doris Lucy's life.

It was disclosed by Tri-City Herald on September 18th, 2014 that W Louise Krum passed away in Richland, Washington.  Krum was 83 years old and was born in Bearcreek, MT.  Send flowers to share your condolences and honor W Louise's life.

It was written by The Daily News on October 2nd, 2012 that Angeline Pilat (Sudar) passed away in Longview, Washington.  Ms. Pilat was 92 years old and was born in Bearcreek, MT.  Send flowers to express your sorrow and honor Angeline's life.

It was reported on November 10th, 2011 that Dale Alan Madson passed away in Bearcreek, Montana.  Madson was 42 years old and was born in Sheridan, WY.  Send flowers to express your sympathy and honor Dale Alan's life.

History

The population was 83 at the United States Census, 2000 census.

Bearcreek was a coal mining town in the early 1900s, named for Bear Creek, which runs through the town. On February 27, 1943, the Smith Mine disaster Mine #3 exploded in the worst coal Mining accidents accident in the history of Montana, killing 74 men and sealing the fate of the coal mining industry around Bear Creek. At its peak, Bearcreek and the surrounding communities of Washoe, New Caledonia, Chickentown, Scotch Coulee, International, and Stringtown, had a population of about 3,000 people, most of whom worked in the coal mines. Bearcreek is a town in Carbon County, Montana County, Montana, United States. Today, the rail spur has been removed, and no active mining is done in the area.