The reservation
communities of Crow Agency, Saint Xavier,
Yellowtail (Fort Smith), Lodge Grass, Wyola,
and Pryor are known for their own
uniqueness. The Crow Tribe recognizes two
districts that originally were named by
Bureau of Indian Affair (BIA) agents a
century ago. The community of Crow Agency is
referred to as Reno District, and Saint
Xavier and Fort Smith are called the Big
Horn District.
Climate
The climate on the
reservation varies from humid above 7,000
feet in the Bighorn Mountains, with 24
inches of annual precipitation, to semi-arid
around 2,900 feet near Hardin, with 12
inches of annual precipitation. Vegetation
varies from conifer forests to grasslands.
Approximately 75% of the precipitation falls
from March through July. The frost-free
period (growing season) ranges from 115 days
at Busby, 123 days at Hardin, 126 days at
Wyola, to 135 days at Crow Agency. The last
spring frost occurs as late as May 24 and
frost may occur as early as September 16th.
This portion of Montana enjoys "Indian
Summers" which frequently extend into
November. This is a time of warm sunny days
and cool evenings. The mean annual
temperature is 45.5 degrees Farenheit (F)
with a summer high of 110 and a winter low
of –48 degrees F.
