| Long Description | <DIV class="cityaspfont"><ul class= "fotocolumn"><li class="brewfoto"><IMG SRC="/Pictures/Cities/Laurel_downTown.JPG" BORDER=0 WIDTH=222 HEIGHT=140 ALIGN=BASELINE><p class="fotocap">Downtown Businesses</p><p class="fotocred">Photo courtesy: John Ansotegui</p></li><li class="brewfoto"><IMG SRC="/Pictures/Cities/Laurel_train.JPG" BORDER=0 WIDTH=222 HEIGHT=140 ALIGN=BASELINE><p class="fotocap">Montana Rail Link</p><p class="fotocred">Photo courtesy: John Ansotegui</p></li><li class="brewfoto"><IMG SRC="/Pictures/Cities/Laurel_Town.JPG" BORDER=0 WIDTH=222 HEIGHT=140 ALIGN=BASELINE><p class="fotocap">Local Sculpture</p><p class="fotocred">Photo courtesy: MTOT</p></li><li class="brewfoto"><IMG SRC="/Pictures/Cities/Laurel_grainery.JPG" BORDER=0 WIDTH=222 HEIGHT=140 ALIGN=BASELINE><p class="fotocap">Local Elevator</p><p class="fotocred">Photo courtesy: MTOT</p></li></ul>
<p>Laurel, the largest city in Montana that is not a county seat, is truly the 'Hub of Montana'. From here, all roads lead to the exciting, historical and recreational attractions of Montana. To the south of Laurel, you can select one of four outstanding entrances into <a href="/national_parks/yellowstone/">Yellowstone National Park</a>. Heading east there is <a href="/categories/City.asp?CityID=29">Billings</a>, <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=7009">Pompeys Pillar National Monument</a> and the <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=3124">Little Bighorn Battlefield</a>. North of Laurel is where the battle between the Nez Perce Indians led by Chief Joseph and the U.S. Cavalry led by Col. Samuel Sturgis took place.</p><P>The <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=12624">Chief Joseph Monument</a> on the outskirts of Laurel rests where the famous Nez Perce passed, leading his people toward Canada in 1877. At the <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=12614">Canyon Creek Battlefield Monument</a>, the Nez Perce Indians fought. Led by Chief Joseph, Looking Glass, Hush-Hush Cute and others, the Nez Perce were nearing the end of their 1,300-mile flight through Oregon, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park, and Montana.</p><P>Of local historical significance is <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=11254">Riverside Park</a> located south of the Yellowstone River bridge which was the site of a Prisoner of War Camp during World War II. The prisoners built the buildings located in the park.</p><p>Laurel is home of the 1,000-mile check point for Montana Rail Link between here and Sandpoint, Idaho. The town is rich with railroad history, having served the Northern Pacific, the Great Northern, and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy.</p><P>One story links the name of the city to a railroad official from North Carolina who was working here at the time, and named it for the Laurel shrub native to his state. Laurel was originally named Carlton, but was changed in 1882. The Crow Indians were the area's inhabitants when Captain William Clark and his party explored the <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=12352">Yellowstone River</a> in 1806. Settlers were recorded in 1879. "In 1906, the Great Western Sugar Company erected a sugar beet-processing plant here. Agriculture has always been important to the local economy, but oil refining is the town's main industry." (Copyright 2009, <I>Montana Historical Society: Montana Place Names from Alzada to Zortman</I>, Montana Historical Society Research Center Staff)</p> |
| Map HTML Tag | <map name="nearbycities"><area shape="rect" alt="Melville, Montana" coords="13,3,66,12" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=223"><area shape="rect" alt="Rapelje, Montana" coords="125,16,161,31" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=269"><area shape="rect" alt="Big Timber, Montana" coords="48,32,136,55" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=26"><area shape="rect" alt="Springdale, Montana" coords="10,65,66,82" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=314"><area shape="rect" alt="Livingston, Montana" coords="4,85,47,104" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=202"><area shape="rect" alt="Greycliff, Montana" coords="68,55,112,66" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=149"><area shape="rect" alt="Silver Gate, Montana" coords="45,200,83,212" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=309"><area shape="rect" alt="Cooke City, Montana" coords="55,185,123,199" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=74"><area shape="rect" alt="McLeod, Montana" coords="15,108,73,123" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=219"><area shape="rect" alt="Bearcreek, Montana" coords="151,182,185,193" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=18"><area shape="rect" alt="Belfry, Montana" coords="168,174,196,181" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=19"><area shape="rect" alt="Red Lodge, Montana" coords="61,162,147,183" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=273"><area shape="rect" alt="Bridger, Montana" coor |