It’s no exaggeration to say that there’s not much to the tiny town of Pony. Although it was once known as the “metropolis of the thousand,” this former mining community is now home to only about 100 people. Still, if you’re ever in the area, Pony is definitely worth checking out.

Pony is located in northeastern Madison County, about 27 miles southwest of Three Forks.
Flickred! / Flickr
The town was settled in the 1860s and was named after one of its early miners, Tecumseth Smith, who was nicknamed "Pony" because of his small stature.
Flickred! / Flickr
By the late 1800s, about 5,000 people lived here.
But mining operations started to decline in the early 1900s, and by 1922, they had all but shut down.
Flickred! / Flickr
The population declined quickly.

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These days, Pony is best known for its 192-acre historic district.
Flickred! / Flickr
The Pony Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and a number of the buildings date all the way back to the boom era.
There may not be much to Pony, but there is a bar that has stood the test of time... this is Montana, after all.
Pony Bar
The Pony Bar was known as McKittrick Hall when it was built in 1877, eventually becoming a "house of ill repute" before officially becoming a bar in the early 1900s. These days, it's the town's gathering place, serving cheap drinks and tasty food.
For such a diminutive town, Pony hosts a lot of annual events.
Pony Homecoming Club Facebook
Pony Bar's annual Rubber Duck Races, Pony Days and the Pony Fiddle Fest are just a few of the fun festivities.
Every Montanan should visit Pony.
The Pony Bar Facebook
If nothing else, it will remind you of a simpler time, and it's a great spot to go to get away from it all.

Have you ever been to Pony? Here are 8 more historic towns in Montana to check out.

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