DescriptionDawson County was formed in 1869 from the northern half of the original Big Horn County. The new county was named for Maj. Andrew Dawson, who managed the Fort Benton trading post for the American Fur Company from 1856 to 1864. The legislature chose Fort Peck as the county seat but attached the county to Chouteau County for legislative representation. Over the years, Dawson County lost territory, which formed all of the counties now in northeastern Montana. Glendive, an important station along the Northern Pacific Railway, is the modern county seat.Personal NamesDawson, AndrewContributing InstitutionMontana Historical Society Library and ArchivesGeolocation[1] CountyDawson County
