Ennis (pop. about 1,000, elev. 4,927 feet) is known for its superb fishing, for all the cowboys that come to town on the weekends, and for its lively Fourth of July rodeo [1] and popular October Wild Game Cook-off [1].
Originally founded as a supply station for the gold towns of Virginia City and Nevada City shortly after gold was discovered in Alder Gulch, ranching has become Ennis’s economic mainstay.
Many of the area’s ranches are now owned by wealthy investors who hire real ranchers to manage and run the cattle (or buffalo, as in the case of Ted Turner’s nearby ranch). Anglers flock to Ennis in the summer, when they outnumber the cowboys on Main Street.
Ennis’s Main Street, not long ago a small strip with a couple of rancher bars, a café, and a fly-fishing shop, is now lined with gift and antique shops and real estate offices.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/montana/the-missouri-headwaters-and-south-central-montana/three-forks-and-the-madison-river-/events-0