Established as a homesteading community in the early 1900s, several Mennonites were among the area’s first settlers. In 1919, more homesteaders arrived, predominantly of Scandinavian lineage. Based upon its residents’ heritages, Larslan was a religious community, and in 1918, a post office was opened to meet the needs of a growing community.
However, farming on the small land proved difficult, and most of the community’s families were quite poor, living in tarpaper shacks. When the Great Depression began, drought and dust storms plagued Larslan, forcing many residents to flee the community. However, some residents persevered and larger farms were established in the area after the Great Depression ended.
Photo Gallery Northeast Montana
