DescriptionBuilt in 1883 by the Northern Pacific Railroad as a division point, Heron in its earliest days boasted a roundhouse, an engine repair shop, and a sawmill. The town is named after nearby rapids. On October 12, 1809, explorer David Thompson reported seeing Salish fishing for herring on the Clark Fork River, and several weeks later he mentioned fishing on “Herring Rapid.” In his journal entry of January 5, 1826, Hudson’s Bay Company trapper John Work referred to a “Heron Rapid.”Personal NamesThompson, DavidWork, JohnContributing InstitutionMontana Historical Society Library and ArchivesGeolocation[1] Elevation2248 ft. CountySanders County
