Crossroads

The Montana landscape is an essential aspect of the novel Crossroads and of Devney Perry’s writing more broadly. Montana is situated in the heart of the Mountain West subregion of the United States. The landscape is defined by its proximity to the Rocky Mountain range, which extends from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada down to New Mexico in the United States. Montana is known as “Big Sky Country” because its open terrain and high elevation make the sky appear larger and the horizons more distant than in many other places. Montana’s landscape includes parts of the northern Great Plains, which make an ideal location for cattle ranching and some kinds of farming. Montana has a low population density of about 7.7 people per square mile (for comparison, California’s population density is about 250 people per square mile), which defines it as a quiet, semi-isolated, open space full of possibility. Many people travel there for its fishing, hiking, and skiing opportunities or for a chance to reconnect with nature. Glacier National Park and a small portion of Yellowstone National Park are located in Montana, drawing tourists and researchers from across the world. The state’s connection to nature makes it home to diverse wildlife such as elk, bears, and bison. The state’s name, “Montana,” translates to “Mountain” from the Spanish word. It is also home to the largest freshwater lake in the United States, Flathead Lake.

Montana’s culture is largely based on the ranching culture of the region. The state is home to over 2.5 million cows, meaning that more than twice as many cows as humans live there. The state is filled with vast grasslands that make it an ideal place for ranching, and the ranching culture in Montana extends back to the mid-1800s. Ranching is a major aspect of Montana’s economy, history, and cultural identity. During the late 1800s, cattle freely roamed the region, but harsh winters forced ranchers to adapt and confine their cattle more often. Many of the ranches in Montana are family owned and have been passed down through the generations, making ranching a cultural legacy of the region. Montana also continues to celebrate the cowboy/Western lifestyle through ranching, music, rodeos, and traditions surrounding food and clothing. 

Despite these deep roots, life has become steadily harder for many Montana ranchers over the past century. A handful of corporations, including Tyson Foods and Cargill, has come to dominate the industry, placing intense economic pressure on smaller-scale beef producers and making it harder for ranches to sustain themselves (Riesinger, Russ. “Montana Cattle Ranchers Struggling Despite Record Beef Profits.” Q2, 17 Feb. 2022). Meanwhile, especially in areas near the Rocky Mountains and Glacier National Park, an influx of real-estate buyers from outside the state has driven up land values, prompting many struggling ranchers to sell off much or all of their land. Others have turned to alternate sources of income, including tourism. The status of the Haven River Ranch, as a dual-purpose cattle ranch and tourist resort, reflects this shifting economic reality.