Located in north central Montana just 20 miles from the Canadian border, small town Kevin offers a unique Montana experience at the gateway to the Glacier Mountains and international travel.
It’s seen numerous wellsprings of prosperity in its time, from oil to grain to wind farms to nearby pictographs.
Named after Thomas Kevin, a superintendent of the Alberta Railway and Irrigation Company Railroad, it was previously known to homesteaders as the Turkey Track.
Even before their arrival, Blackfeet and Métis tribes lived on and around this land, a clear point of contention towards the end of the 19th century.
But once the homesteaders arrived, it slowly grew into a watering stop for trains transporting coal from Canada to Great Falls, where a train for passengers was eventually implemented.
Although train stops in Kevin are now a thing of the past, 1922 saw Kevin enter the stage of a nationwide search for oil.
In March of that year, oil was found in the Kevin-Sunburst field, where you can still find oil activity today, and this viscous substance cemented Kevin’s official existence in 1926, just four years shy of discovering oil in the area.
As often happens in smaller towns, once the oil refinery closed, Kevin bore the economic brunt in what was once a prosperous town with a bank and hospital. This tight-knit community continues to support its kin, slowly maintaining and rebuilding their own version of success.
And one more thing: if you want to talk like a local, pronounce Kevin with a long e – “Keevin.” Alright, now that we’ve got that important particular out of the way, let’s check out the Kevin area’s best attractions, from lakes to hiking to remembering powerful moments in Montana history. Onwards!
The Top 3 Hotels in Kevin
Great Staff and Manger. Comfortable Rooms and Beds...
- A recent guest
Clean, Staff very Helpful and Pleasant...
- A recent guest