DescriptionBearcreek owes its existence to area coal mining that began in the 1890s to supply coal for the Northern Pacific Railroad and the Anaconda Company. The town was platted and incorporated after the arrival of the Montana, Wyoming & Southern Railroad in 1906, and it grew rapidly as American and foreign-born workers moved there, drawn by the promise of steady work. By 1917, the mines around Bearcreek were employing 1,200 men. With the trend toward natural gas for heating and diesel locomotives, however, the demand for coal fell sharply, and Bearcreek’s production was in decline by the late 1940s. After the 1953 closure of the railroad between Bridger and Bearcreek, the town’s population dwindled. Today Bearcreek is again growing thanks to its proximity to Red Lodge. With its diverse ethnic composition, Bearcreek traditionally celebrated Christmas twice, on December 25 and January 6, the Greek Orthodox Church holiday.Other Name(s)BearcreekContributing InstitutionMontana Historical Society Library and ArchivesGeolocation[1] Elevation4556 ft.
