What a difference a century makes - The picture on top, taken nearly 100 years ago from atop B-Hill, shows a developing Broadus nestled on a sagebrush flat. A picture taken from the same location earlier this week shows a fully fledged, modern center of commerce for the now 100 year old Powder River County. As a point of reference, note the old bank building in both photos, which is now the Senior Center and Top of the Stairs Dance Studio.
Powder River County turned 100 on St. Patrick's Day, marking a century of independence from Custer County.
On March 17th of 1919, Powder River County was broken off from Custer County to become its own county, with the county commissioners originally meeting at Olive.
Contention ensued as to the location of the permanent county seat, and during this same time period, from 1919 to 1920, Broadus took off as a town in its own right. Broadus soon had a bank, hotel, lumber company, and a number of permanent houses.
During this period, the forerunner of the Powder River Examiner - The Broadus Independent was established in Broadus, while The Olive Branch newspaper was published in Olive for a short period.
A vote was held in 1920 for the location of the permanent county seat, with Olive receiving 198 votes, Broadus 1,624 votes, Powderville 1 vote, Selway 1 vote, and Sigmund 1 vote. The rest, as they say, is history.
Over the next few months, The Powder River Examiner will be detailing some of the reasoning of why and how Powder River County came to be.
Festivities to mark the anniversary will culminate in the Powder River County 100 Year Centennial Celebration, to be held July 4th through the 7th in Broadus. Watch the paper for more info regarding the celebration, and in the meantime, raise a toast to the county's one hundred year jubilee.
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