Colstrip, Montana

Colstrip is a city in Rosebud County, Montana, United States. The population was 2,346 at the 2000 census. Established in 1924 and incorporated as a city in 1998, Colstrip is the largest city in Rosebud County with 25% of the total population. Colstrip's primary industry is coal mining and electricity production. To the north of Colstrip there is an experimental coal gasification plant. For the Sports Illustrated Magazine's 50th anniversary, it named Colstrip the top sports town in Montana. The primary way to travel to Colstrip is by driving. See the video Coal Strip Tease for a driving tour of Colstrip.

I simply loved Colstrip, Montana. The hills, the snow, the coal, the coal. I'm just guessing but I'm petty sure the coal is how Colstrip got its name. But it's a beautiful place. If you like snow that looks like cold dirt.

I got this cool virtual driving tour at the gift center in the middle of town.



I would say this is a very accurate depiction of Colstrip. Not only in how it looks but at the rate in which you might see it as well. You see, Colstrip is a blue collar mining town through and through. They have a lot of miners there and miners work long hours. People who work long hours for little pay sometimes take crystal methamphetamines. In the case of Colstrip it's more than sometimes. This place should be called Crankstrip. They have so many speedsters here the children aren't even born with the capacity to grow teeth.

But, that not withstanding it's a very nice town with the cleanest carpets I've ever seen. They have a few parks and good schools and it reminds me of the time I had a dream where red dirt just kept eating me alive.

There are three registered sex offenders in Colstrip.