Shelby, Montana

Shelby is a small Montana town spanning just over 6 miles and located in Toole County. It is also the county seat, even though the town started out as a small railroad community that branched out into agriculture.

The town also expanded into other avenues economically once the oil had been discovered in the 1930s, and some oil and gas are still produced in Shelby today.

With a population not much clear of the 3,000 mark, the small Montana town sitting at the junction of US Highway 2 and Interstate 15 gets passing trade from plenty of drivers heading in the direction of central regions from the east to Glacier National Park.

This includes anyone on the way to Canada–the border of which is just 35 miles south from here.

Shelby has been through the boom-and-bust cycles typical of the Hi-Line area quite well, sustaining itself in no small part by the agriculture and ranching made possible by the rich grain land surrounding the former cattle town.

It achieved some degree of exposure for the world heavyweight boxing match featuring Jack Dempsey that was somehow organized and hosted in the small town in the 1920s.

This event was largely through the efforts of a local businessman who wanted to try and stir up interest in his own real estate concerns by attracting visitors and potential investors to Shelby. Apparently, all didn’t turn out as planned with the event, especially from a financial aspect–but it did bring some publicity to the town.

A visitor center was even built for the famous Fourth of July 1923 heavyweight bout. You can watch the fight in its entirety here.

Shelby is just over an hour from Montana’s Great Falls and less than two hours from the east entrance of Glacier National Park. And while it’s true many people on the way to these places may stop off at Shelby to fill up the tanks, there is a little bit more here worth staying longer in the area to see or do.

The Marias River runs through the town, which obviously attracts some recreation, as do the variety of other outdoor activities with scenic views.

The downtown area of Shelby is somewhat quaint, with its selection of eateries and retail outlets along with museums and other attractions.

The Top 3 Hotels in Shelby