The town of Fort Peck is a creation of government engineers. It was created to be the headquarters for the construction and operation of the Fort Peck Dam which began as a WPA project in October 1933. The dam project brought thousands of Depression-poor people from all over the country to Montana in hopes of earning living. More than 7,000 men and women signed on to work on the dam in 1934 & 1935. Employment peaked at 11,000 in 1936. Eighteen boomtowns, some being shanty towns, sprang up in the vicinity, and the area grew from a population of a few hundred to a population of nearly 40,000. After the dam was completed in 1940, the population shrank back to a few hundred people. A visit to the museums in the area will provide this information and much more. You do need to visit the Fort Peck Interpretive Center & Museum.
The town takes its name from the old trading post which was located there. In 1867, Col. Campbell K. Peck and Comdr. E. H. Durfee established an Indian agency and trading post a few miles from the present dam site. The fort was named for Colonel Peck.
Fort Peck has a very comfortable, well-maintained residential area. The area has permanent residences, and second home residences for many northeast Montana residents, as the lake provides an abundance of recreational opportunities.
Camping, food and lodging facilities are available in the area.
a personal sketch
See Disclaimer @ Eastern Montana .. a perspective of a former resident and frequent visitor