In the 1860's, the first recorded permanent settlers were located in the Chestnut Valley near the present town of Cascade, and on June 30, 1867, Fort Shaw was established on the Sun River west of the "great falls of the Missouri" to protect travelers between Fort Benton and Helena, and from there was freighted by wagons to Helena. The post was an important stopping point en route, but as more people began to inhabit the area, the need for military protection was significantly reduced, so in 1891 the garrison was abandoned. In 1881 the townsite of Great Falls was surveyed by Paris Gibson, and the city incorporated in 1888. In September of 1887, Cascade County was organized from parts of Chouteau, Lewis and Clark and Meagher counties.

CCCD works closely with NRCS. NRCS has programs available to assist producers with such projects as stock water tanks.

Agriculture in the District was entirely devoted to ranching before the advent of the railroad in 1887. By 1918, most of the arable land had been developed into farms and continuous cropping was the acceptable method of farming. In the 1920's farmers began to adopt alternate crop-fallow as a more reliable system of farming.

In the early 1930's the mounting problems of soil erosion, floods, and dust storms resulted in Congress passing Public Law 46 in 1935. This law declared soil and water conservation and wise land use a national policy. However, there was a missing link in making the wheels of this policy turn, so in 1937 the President wrote governers of the states recommending legislation allowing landowners to form soil and water conservation districts. The President's recommendation was followed through, resulting in 2950 conservation districts representing all 50 states, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Cascade County has five Huterite Colonies located within it's boundaries

In 1944 the Sun River Soil Conservation District was activated. It covered the irrigated area along the Sun River, including parts of Teton and Lewis and Clark Counties as well as a portion of Cascade County. And, in 1946, the balance of Cascade County was organized into the Cascade Soil and Water Conservation District. George Grosskopf of Armington and Bowen Conrad of Cascade were the first two supervisors appointed by the State Soil Conservation Committee and Harold Shane, Ted Pettyjohn, and A.P. Anderson were elected to serve the newly formed district. Anderson served as the first chairman. These same supervisors served until 1964 when Dale Marxer was elected to the Board. Dale is still a faithful, hard-working member of the board.

Long-time Supervisor Dale Marxer

In 1960 the two districts merged as one, the Cascade County Soil and Water Conservation District. In 1971 the District adopted its current name , the Cascade County Conservation District.

The Crooked Falls Managed Natural Area was established in 1972.

The District is located at the southern apex of the Golden Triangle area of Montana. It is bordered on the south by the Big Belt and Little Belt Mountains and on the east by the Highwood Mountains. It covers an area of 1,701,760 acres, extending 66 miles wide, east to west, and 66 miles long, north to south.

A producer taking a moisture sample of his field.