Coulson, Montana

The Steamboat City on the Yellowstone

Before the iron horse roared through the Yellowstone Valley, the river itself was the primary artery of commerce and transportation. Steamboats navigated its waters, bringing supplies, people, and a semblance of civilization to the rugged frontier. It was in this context that Coulson emerged as a pivotal hub.

Founded in 1877 on the north bank of the Yellowstone River, approximately one mile east of present-day downtown Billings, Coulson was named after the Coulson Steamboat Packet Company. This company was a major player in the river trade, operating steamers like the Josephine and the Far West, which had storied careers traversing the upper Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers. The settlement's founders harbored great hopes of prosperity, envisioning Coulson as a thriving steamboat city that would dominate the region's commerce.

The location of Coulson was strategic. It was situated at a point on the Yellowstone River that was generally considered the furthest feasible navigable point for steamboats coming upriver, particularly during lower water conditions. This made it a natural transshipment point for goods destined for interior Montana, and a gateway for resources flowing out.

A Rough and Ready Frontier Town

Coulson was a classic Wild West town, characterized by its rough-and-tumble nature. It was a place where saloons and dance halls flourished, and disputes were often settled with a gun. It's said that the famous mountain man and frontiersman John "Liver-Eating" Johnson even served as a lawman in Coulson, a testament to the town's need for order amidst its boisterous activity. The town quickly established a cemetery, aptly named Boot Hill, because many of its interred were said to have "died with their boots on." Today, Coulson's Boot Hill Cemetery is one of the few tangible remnants of the original settlement within the modern city limits of Billings.

Early settlers and businesses were drawn to Coulson by the promise of economic opportunity. Perry W. (Bud) McAdow, a prominent early figure, established a sawmill in the area. The town served as a stage stop, facilitating overland travel and communication in the Yellowstone Valley.

The Arrival of the Northern Pacific Railway and Coulson's Demise

The destiny of Coulson, however, was inextricably linked to the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railway (NPR). While Coulson residents optimistically believed their town would become the railroad's primary hub, the NPR had other plans. The railway, chartered by Congress in 1864 with a massive land grant, was in the business of creating its own towns, strategically located on its odd-numbered land sections to maximize profits.

The NPR's surveyors identified a more favorable location about two miles west of Coulson, where they possessed contiguous land sections. This site offered ideal conditions for a new town, with better access to potential irrigation and a strategic position for future expansion. Thus, in 1882, the Northern Pacific Railway established the town of Billings, named after Frederick H. Billings, a member of the railroad's land company and later its president.

The founding of Billings signaled the beginning of the end for Coulson. For a brief period, the two towns existed side-by-side, and there was even a trolley line connecting them. However, the economic gravitational pull of the railroad was undeniable. Businesses and residents quickly began to relocate from Coulson to the burgeoning new town of Billings. The NPR's decision to bypass Coulson was a death knell for the steamboat town. Without the railway's presence, Coulson lost its primary economic advantage and reason for existence.

The Absorption into Billings and Lasting Legacy

As Billings rapidly grew into the regional economic and transportation hub it is today, Coulson gradually dwindled. Its buildings and infrastructure were dismantled or simply faded away. By the 1930s, the last remnants of the original town had largely disappeared, and Coulson was fully absorbed into the expanding city of Billings.

Despite its brief existence, Coulson left an indelible mark on the history of the Yellowstone Valley. Its role as a crucial steamboat landing pre-dated the railroad era and demonstrated the early economic viability of the region. Today, Coulson's legacy is primarily preserved in a few key ways:

Coulson Park: A Billings city park, Coulson Park sits on the riverbank where the original settlement once stood. It serves as a natural area and a historical site, offering a connection to the past. The park's master plan envisions further development to enhance recreational opportunities and commemorate its historical significance.

Boot Hill Cemetery: Located within Billings' city limits, Boot Hill Cemetery is the only remaining physical evidence of Coulson's early frontier settlement. It serves as a quiet reminder of the lives lived and lost in this rugged, ephemeral town.

Historical Records and Markers: Various historical societies, museums, and historical markers in the Billings area continue to tell the story of Coulson, ensuring its place in the narrative of Montana's development.

The story of Coulson and Billings is a classic example of how technological advancements, particularly the railroad, dramatically reshaped the American West. While Coulson represented the era of riverine commerce, Billings symbolized the new age of rail, ultimately supplanting its predecessor and establishing itself as the dominant force in the region. Coulson, the "steamboat city," may have vanished, but its memory remains a vital part of Billings' rich and dynamic history.

Sources:

Billings Parks and Recreation. "Coulson Park." https://www.billingsparks.org/location/coulson/

Wikipedia. "Coulson, Montana." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulson,_Montana

The Historical Marker Database. "Steamboat City on the River." https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=168157

Yellowstone County Museum. "The Steamer Josephine." http://www.ycmhistory.org/the-steamer-josephine

Yogoseo.com. "History of Billings MT | Chronology of Yellowstone Valley Development." https://yogoseo.com/billings-mt-history/

MTGenWeb. "Billings & Laurel Original Founders - Yellowstone County MTGenWeb." https://www.mtgenweb.com/yellowstone/people/founders.html

WorldAtlas. "Billings, Montana." https://www.worldatlas.com/cities/billings-montana.html