City Directories
City Directories have information on property owners and occupants, organized by both address and name. These are available to browse in person in our Reference Room. Some directories are available on Ancestry.com.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
The Sanborn Company prepared thousands of maps for over 200 towns in Montana from the late-nineteenth through the mid-twentieth centuries. Visit us to browse our collection in person or access the Sanborn Maps online through the Library of Congress.
Local Histories
County histories and other local histories often have information about properties and land owners. Search our catalog or view the digitized collection of local histories on the Montana History Portal.
Historical Newspapers
Newspapers contain stories about almost every topic, including the construction of new buildings. Browse our newspaper holdings and access our digitized newspapers on our newspaper page.
Census Records & Genealogical Records
There are various places to look for information about property occupants. Consider searching U. S. Census records through the National Archives or looking at death records, marriage records, cemetery records, and other genealogical information. Most of our genealogical records are available on Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org. They are also available in person by visiting our Reference Room. For specific questions, please contact us by submitting a research request.
Library & Archives Collections
Our Vertical Files contain miscellaneous information on thousands of topics and people in Montana and are available by visiting our Reference Room. In addition, our other collections may have information helpful for property research, such as business records, oral histories, and photographs.
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