By VICTOR VELLA
Aside from The Republic of Malta, Europe, there exist three other Maltas in the USA, located in Idaho, Ohio, and Montana. None of them are remotely connected to their namesake in the Mediterranean. Because of their relatively small population counts, and for lack of any historic or cultural ties to the island of Malta, it is unlikely that any of them have residents of Maltese lineage. Nevertheless, it is interesting to provide some insight of these communities, and to account why they came to be named Malta.
Malta, Idaho, lies 200 miles South East of Boise, the state capital. The small country town has a population of about 170. The remote village is surrounded by the majesty of the Black Pine Mountains. At an elevation of 4410 feet, it is rich with grazing lands and dotted with dairy farms. Agriculture is the mainstay industry producing potatoes, beets, alfalfa and several other crops. The town has 2 gas stations, 2 grocery stores, 1cooperative, and 1 café which serves as the unofficial town center for gossip and other social functions. Nobody in Malta, Idaho, claims Maltese ancestry. Most likely few of the residents have ever heard of Malta, Europe. The vast majority of the townsfolk are Mormons. There appears to be no historic connection to the island of Malta, other than its name. It came about when the postal authorities noted that the high grass waved like water, thus Malta came to mind.
180 years ago, in 1816, a group of good and dedicated pioneers in Ohio, made their homes in a serene setting with a beautiful background of the Muskingum river. One of the community leaders, Simeon Pool suggested the name Malta Village, in remembrance of his visit to the island. He was much impressed by the beauty of the place and the legendary Maltese hospitality. He hoped that Malta Village, Ohio, would be just as blessed. The 1821 original town plan consisted of 114 lots. By 1883, 38 more lots were added. Numerous other subdivisions were made through 1972. The Malta Post-Office was established in 1829. The first school house was built in 1838. Flat-bottomed river boats were the primary source of transportation until the whistle of the steamers was replaced by the whistle of the train. With a current population of around 700, Malta Village, Ohio, boasts many stores, millenaries, tanneries, salt works, restaurants, factories and professional offices. Major religious denominations are Methodist, Episcopalian, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. There is no link between Malta Village, Ohio and Malta, Europe. To my knowledge no people of Maltese lineage reside at the Malta Village, Ohio.
The City of Malta is the seat of Phillips county on the eastern edge of North Central Montana, bordering the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is 200 miles from Great Falls. Overall climate is semi-arid with temperatures ranging from an extreme low of -40 to +103 degrees! Average annual precipitation is 13 inches. Malta, Montana, and the surrounding countryside offer primeval geology, abundant wildlife, big game trophy hunting, world class fishing and breathtaking scenery. Land use is mainly farming and ranching. Current population stands at approximately 2340. The city is 109 years old. It all started in 1887 when the St.Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway decided to provide names for several of their sidings. Siding 54 consisted of a small trading post, a boxcar station, a water tank, and a shack occupied by the sole railway employee. There were no other buildings or structures in what was to become Malta, Montana. The naming of sidings on the Great Northern occurred at the company’s general offices in St.Paul, by the spin of a world globe. A blindfolded employee was instructed to put his finger down at random. Various twirls produced names like Glasgow, Zurich, Kremlin, etc. When it came to Siding 54, the finger of fate rested on Malta.
Malta, Montana, was started in 1892, but incorporated in 1909 with about 500 inhabitants. It became a rowdy place for cowboys and sheepherders in search of rest and recreation. Saloons outnumbered businesses. A red-light district helped liven things up for the rambunctious lot. The first school opened in 1892. The first Catholic church was built in 1902. Malta, Montana, became a parish in 1916. In 1910, a great migration occurred by thousands of homesteaders in search of free land and farming opportunities. Malta, Montana, prospered as the town grew rapidly to accommodate the new-comers. The nation-wide depression of 1930, along with several severe droughts resulted in the mass migration of farmers by the Roosevelt Administration to more fertile lands through the USA, a number of whom settled in Malta, Montana. The city is still a cow town, with beef, sheep, hogs, poultry and bees significantly contributing to the local economy. It is among the most attractive little cities in Montana, with paved streets, an abundance of fresh well-water, and a well-oiled modern infrastructure. It has a thriving business community, great stores, many churches, and excellent schools. Other amenities include a library, a hospital, a fire department, and many first-class recreational facilities.
Malta people like their Maltese counterparts are cordial and friendly. They enjoy entertaining visitors and friends. Perhaps their very active Chamber of Commerce may entertain the idea of seeking a sister city in Malta, Europe. After all St.Paul has common ties to both Siding 54 and the jewel of an island I call home.
Acknowledgment: This article would not have been possible without the contributions of Maryln Lightfoot, Idaho, Trudy Clemens, Ohio, and Anne M. Boothe, Montana.
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