The town of Manhattan, 10 miles west of Belgrade, MT and 12 miles east of Three Forks, MT, was platted with the malting industry in mind and included grain elevators and a malting house. Though some malt stayed in Montana for local brewers, most of Manhattan's malt was sent to the US east coast by train. 

Manhattan Montana's barley and irrigation operation's labor mostly came from the Netherlands, and by 1893 a sufficient supply of Dutch had settled in the region to sustain this new, water intensive industry.

The labor for the barley and irrigation operations mostly came from the Netherlands and by 1893 a sufficient supply of Dutch had settled in the region to sustain this new, water intensive industry. With the creation of a railroad spur and an overflow of Dutch settlers in Manhattan, the town of Amsterdam, Montana, also mostly composed of Dutch settlers, formed in 1911 with many homes built on the rolling hills a few miles to the south.

To this day, Amsterdam, MT has never been incorporated and, thus, still receives its mail via the Manhattan, Montana zip code 59741, as does Churchill, MT. In 1950 seed potato farming began and in the ensuing years it has grown to be recognized as one of Manhattan's major agricultural products. Local seed farmers sell their potatoes locally and nationally, making Manhattan, Amsterdam, and Churchill, Montana the potato capital of Montana. Today, pototoes, dairy, wheat, and beef are the surrounding area's main agricultural products.

Manhattan, Montana has retained the small town, ranching aura that has characterized the west for decades. Some day Manhattan may also become the home of a fully sustainable "green community," named Amsterdam Village. Slated for sometime in the future this single family residential development will have building lots, green homes and townhouses, a neighborhood commercial enterprise, and an independent living retirement center. Stay tuned...

Manhattan welcomes families, is a darling little enclave surrounded by farm and ranch acreage, recreational property, and open land. The region is home to world-class fly-fishing, hunting, golfing, horseback-riding, river-rafting, skiing, hiking, sight-seeing, camping, birding, and a host of other sports, recreational, and retirement opportunities.

Manhattan is only about 25 minutes from Bozeman, Montana. Live in Manhattan, work in Bozeman, receive the best of both country and small city life!