Crow Indian Reservation

Indian Reservation in southeastern Montana, USA, southeast of Billings and along the Wyoming border; area 9,178 sq km/3,544 sq mi; population (1990) 6,400 (74% Indian). The Bighorn and Little Bighorn rivers flow south to north through it, meeting at Hardin. Crow Agency in Big Horn County (population (1990) 1,400) is its headquarters.

The Siouan Crow, an offshoot of the Hidatsa, had moved to this area from Minnesota by the 1770s. They called themselves Absaroka (‘children of the raven’), and were generally friendly to whites. Crow scouts assisted George A Custer at the battle of the Little Bighorn (1876), fought here. The reservation, established in 1868, was then much larger.

The Crow Fair (held every August) and recreation at Bighorn Canyon are tourist attractions.