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Located
on Interstate Highway l5 and along the Missouri River about 9 miles from
Great Falls, MT you will find the small community of Ulm, MT.
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The area was originally a large ranch holding of William "Billy" Ulm, thus the name of our town. Billy was born in Clinton, Indiana in l828 and
one of sixteen children. He came to Montana in l865 after freighting between
Salt Lake City and Montana. Later he bought sheep, cattle and horses many of
which became part of his Ulm ranch. He was a life long bachelor, businessman and
rancher dying in
l90l as the victim of an accident with a runaway team near his
Ulm home. Billy was buried in Great Falls at the Highland Cemetery. |
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As the railroad made its way through in
l886, the community began to grow and in September l889 the original townsite
of Ulm was given by David and Mary Churchill who were both friends and
neighbors of Billy's. This offered 45 lots in 6 blocks for the upstart
of the community. The town enjoyed its prosperous years, but as transportation
improved, Ulm settled into a quiet community of about 200 people, most
commuting to their Great Falls jobs. Today we are listed at 750 people which includes
nearby subdivisions and probably the Fairhaven Hutterite Colony of l20
plus residents.
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In the early days the Ulm area was one of
the sites of St. Peter's Mission which was located one mile south of present
day Ulm on Churchill Bend. It was founded by Father Giorda in l863 and
later was moved to its final site near Cascade, MT.
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Ulm Pishkun State Park is just off the interstate
exit at Ulm and is just 3 and l/2 miles NW. The Pishkun means "deep
kettle of blood" and is thought to be one of the oldest buffalo jumps
known anywhere. It is nearly one mile in length making it the largest
bison kill site in North America.
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In l997 some Ulm folks gathered area histories and
published them in a 475 page, hard bound book featuring Ulm, Gore Hill,
Flood and Riverdale. Copies of the book are still available and may
be purchased by inquiring at Ulm History Committee, Box l23, Ulm, MT 59485.
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