Hesper, Montana Explained

Official Name:Hesper, Montana
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:Montana#USA
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Montana
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Yellowstone
Area Footnotes:[1]
Population As Of:2010
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population Total:N/A
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Timezone:Mountain (MST)
Utc Offset:-7
Timezone Dst:MDT
Utc Offset Dst:-6
Elevation Ft:3327
Coordinates:45.7417°N -108.7086°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:59106
Area Code:406
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:772359

Hesper is an unincorporated community in western Yellowstone County, Montana, United States. It is located northeast of Laurel and west of Billings. Hesper appears on the Mossmain U.S. Geological Survey Map.

History

Hesper was established in 1917 as a town adjoining the Hesper ranch and is also the name of the school district. The name Hesper or Hesperus, is the evening star, and according to old mythology, the king of the western land. The name has Masonic roots. The community is named after the Hesper Farm, founded by Ignatius Daniel O'Donnell.[3]

In its heyday, the depot in Hesper served as a hub for surrounding farms and ranchers in the area. However, by the 1940s the town began to lose importance and declined.

Most of the original township itself is no longer in use, with many of the original structures leveled or abandoned. The community is home to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch and is now considered a subdivision of the Billings Metro Area.

The former Hesper School District is currently the Elder Grove Elementary School District and is still in operation today, serving grades kindergarten through eight.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2011-05-14.
  3. Web site: Hesper Montana .