Montana's Hi-Line Community

Recreation, Work force, Logistics, Communications, Transportation, Regulations, and Cost

The Hi-Line Area

The Hi-line of Montana is the string of towns that follows the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad across the top of Montana's high plains. The people that live in Northern Montana are independent hard working people. They spend their spare time enjoying the recreational opportunities that are available. From exploring Glacier National Park, or hunting the Missouri Breaks National Monument, or fishing for walleye on Lake Elwell, or camping at the many state parks. There are many sports to enjoy. Our high quality schools, low crime, and affordable property make it a great place to live and work.

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Work Force: There is a significant number of people employed in low paying jobs that can be attracted by slightly higher wages. A business can target $7-$10 per hour for untrained employees to meet their employment needs. In the winter months local farmers are available for work. These farmers are highly skilled, with an excellent work ethic. Many have college education's and have a broad range of technical expertise.
With the slump in agriculture many young people have left the community looking for work. With a local employer available many of this people would return to work in their home town.
Internet: The seeming remoteness of the area is rapidly shrinking with the advent of the internet. Chester, Joplin, Inverness, and Rudyard all have DSL access. The Joplin Business Campus has T1 installed.

Regulations: Joplin has no zoning, city planners or any other official to bother you. You will have to follow state, county and federal guidelines. You will be dumbfounded at how easy it is to do business on the Hi-line, and we like it that way.

Costs: The biggest advantage to doing business on the HiLine is cost. Commercial and residential property is the cheapest you will find anywhere in the US. With starter homes starting at @ $10,000. You will have to look hard to find anywhere cheaper, where you can leave your doors unlocked at night.

Recreation: Our area is full of recreation possibilities. The summer is dominated by water sports at the Lake Elwell. It is great place to fish, sail, water-ski or camp. The lake has great Walleye and Northern Pike fishing. Below the reservoir the Marias River has excellent cold water fishing, with trout in abundance. Locals also enjoy prairie dog and gopher hunting though out the summer.     Fall is hunting season with hunting opportunities for birds, as well as big game hunting that is the envy of the country. Locally you can hunt elk, turkey, pheasant, upland birds white tail and muley deer. Predator calling is also very popular, with fox, coyote, and bobcat ready for calling. Archery hunting is very popular.
There is something for everyone in Montana. If you are of the artistic persuasion there is always an art show, choir or exhibit within driving distance. The area is proud to be able to attract many artists to perform . Chester is home to the Liberty County Council and maintains a former church building for exhibits and performances.
   Montana is also home to many winter activities, with legendary skiing and snowmobiling. Some of my favorite memories of childhood involved sledding in the coulees. Ice fishing is popular with those of a hardy disposition.
It seems like you can do just about anything in a two hour radius from Joplin. Glacier/Waterton International Peace Park is close enough to visit for the day. Warning: a trip to Glacier will make you homesick for glacier for months to come. It's vast mountains, rivers, and peace will make an impression on your soul. Yellowstone National Park is about a five hour drive with similar spectacular views, and world famous wildlife. The entire Rocky Mountain front is at your disposal including beautiful Banff, Alberta in the Canadian Rockies. Locally the Sweet Grass Hills rise out of the prairie. These islands of the prairie are only a twenty minute drive from Chester. Don't let the "Hills" part fool you. These hills are just shy of 7000 ft. You can see elk, deer, moose and bison in the hills. The view from the Sweet Grass Hills is spectacular. You can often see into Canada over 90 miles. You can see the fields unfold beneath you all the way to the horizon. The sunset you see in the Wicks Trading Post logo is a view of the Hills. The sunsets are almost always spectacular.   Living in Montana, will leave your soul well fed.

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Supplier of hunting and shooting supplies, vintage car parts, antique tractors, as well as a full line of car and truck parts.

Disclaimer: www.cheapmontanaland.info, Wicks Trading Post, Mark Wicks, J-I Development Board, are not real estate agents. Our only purpose is to promote rural montana. The Joplin school building is owned by Chester Joplin Inverness Public Schools. This site and the J-I Development Board can not make any binding contracts on this building. Our involvement is as a mediator only. All deals are solely between the CJI school district the buyer . All information is deemed to be reliable, but should be independently verified.
Please understand this, our interest is in building our community. If you have any questions, please feel free to call and discuss our role.

Site owned an maintained by Mark Wicks
406-355-4444

The Hi-Line Area The Hi-line of Montana is the string of towns that follows the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad across the top of Montana's high plains. The people that live in Northern Montana are independent hard working people. They spend their spare time enjoying the recreational opportunities that are available. From exploring Glacier National Park, or hunting the Missouri Breaks National Monument, or fishing for walleye on Lake Elwell, or camping at the many state parks. There are many sports to enjoy. Our high quality schools, low crime, and affordable property make it a great place to live and work.
Click the links	Work Force: There is a significant number of people employed in low paying jobs that can be attracted by slightly higher wages. A business can target $7-$10 per hour for untrained employees to meet their employment needs. In the winter months local farmers are available for work. These farmers are highly skilled, with an excellent work ethic. Many have college education's and have a broad range of technical expertise. With the slump in agriculture many young people have left the community looking for work. With a local employer available many of this people would return to work in their home town. Internet: The seeming remoteness of the area is rapidly shrinking with the advent of the internet. Chester, Joplin, Inverness, and Rudyard all have DSL access. The Joplin Business Campus has T1 installed. Regulations: Joplin has no zoning, city planners or any other official to bother you. You will have to follow state, county and federal guidelines. You will be dumbfounded at how easy it is to do business on the Hi-line, and we like it that way. Costs: The biggest advantage to doing business on the HiLine is cost. Commercial and residential property is the cheapest you will find anywhere in the US. With starter homes starting at @ $10,000. You will have to look hard to find anywhere cheaper, where you can leave your doors unlocked at night. Recreation: Our area is full of recreation possibilities. The summer is dominated by water sports at the Lake Elwell. It is great place to fish, sail, water-ski or camp. The lake has great Walleye and Northern Pike fishing. Below the reservoir the Marias River has excellent cold water fishing, with trout in abundance. Locals also enjoy prairie dog and gopher hunting though out the summer. Fall is hunting season with hunting opportunities for birds, as well as big game hunting that is the envy of the country. Locally you can hunt elk, turkey, pheasant, upland birds white tail and muley deer. Predator calling is also very popular, with fox, coyote, and bobcat ready for calling. Archery hunting is very popular. There is something for everyone in Montana. If you are of the artistic persuasion there is always an art show, choir or exhibit within driving distance. The area is proud to be able to attract many artists to perform . Chester is home to the Liberty County Council and maintains a former church building for exhibits and performances. Montana is also home to many winter activities, with legendary skiing and snowmobiling. Some of my favorite memories of childhood involved sledding in the coulees. Ice fishing is popular with those of a hardy disposition. It seems like you can do just about anything in a two hour radius from Joplin. Glacier/Waterton International Peace Park is close enough to visit for the day. Warning: a trip to Glacier will make you homesick for glacier for months to come. It's vast mountains, rivers, and peace will make an impression on your soul. Yellowstone National Park is about a five hour drive with similar spectacular views, and world famous wildlife. The entire Rocky Mountain front is at your disposal including beautiful Banff, Alberta in the Canadian Rockies. Locally the Sweet Grass Hills rise out of the prairie. These islands of the prairie are only a twenty minute drive from Chester. Don't let the "Hills" part fool you. These hills are just shy of 7000 ft. You can see elk, deer, moose and bison in the hills. The view from the Sweet Grass Hills is spectacular. You can often see into Canada over 90 miles. You can see the fields unfold beneath you all the way to the horizon. The sunset you see in the Wicks Trading Post logo is a view of the Hills. The sunsets are almost always spectacular. Living in Montana, will leave your soul well fed.