GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Montana Geographic Names Advisor

Geographic Name Change Request

Change Halfbreed Rapids to Pine Island Rapids
Cascade County, Montana

Status = Approved

Description rapids, 100 m (320 ft) wide, located along the Missouri River, 3.2 km (2 mi) NE of Chisholm Mountain, 53 km (33 mi) SW of Great Falls
Location 47°10’55”N, 111°48’21”W
PLSS Location Sec 36, T17N,R2W
Proposal to change a name considered by some to be derogatory
Proponent Bob Brown, Montana Secretary of State
Not alfbreed Rapids, Lone Pine Rapids, Pine Island Rap
Administrative area None
Previous BGN Action None
See also 38502
GNIS ID 772074
Local Usage None found
Published Halfbreed Rapids (USGS 1961, 1984, 1991), Lone Pine Rapids (Lewis and Clark Journals, Moulton, 1983), Pine Island Rapid (Lewis and Clark Atlas, ca. 1814)
roposal, to change the name of Halfbreed Rapids to Pine Island Rapids, was submitted by the Secretary of State of Montana, “on behalf of the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and all of the members of [the Senate and the House]”. In March 2003, the Senate and House passed Joint Resolution 22, “requesting the Board on Geographic Names to rename Halfbreed Rapids on the Missouri River as “Pine Island Rapids”, the name given by members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition”. The Resolution further stated, “Whereas, the word “halfbreed” is “generally regarded as an offensive term because often used contemptuously”, according to Webster’s New World Collegiate Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2001)”. The rapids in question are located along the Missouri River, approximately 53 km (33 mi) southwest of the center of the City of Great Falls, 11 km (7 mi) southwest of Cascade, and in the vicinity of the small community of Hardy. The rapids were mentioned, but not named in the journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, but Gary Moulton in his 1983 reprinting of the journals, referred to them as “probably the later Half-Breed, or Lone Pine, Rapids, in Cascade County, the Pine Island Rapid of Atlas map 62.”). The Montana Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission has passed a resolution in support of the proposed change. The Secretary of State was asked whether there was any intention of making official the name Pine Island for the island located immediately upstream of the rapids, but no response has been received. There is just one other feature in Montana known to be named “Pine Island”; a school named Pine Island School was once located in Golden Valley County.

Montana Geographic Names Advisor Recommendation - Support (Friday, September 12, 2003)
Domestic Names Committee Decision Date - Thursday, July 8, 2004
Domestic Names Committee Discussion - This proposal, to change the name of Halfbreed Rapids to Pine Island Rapids, was submitted by the Secretary of State of Montana, “on behalf of the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and all of the members of [the Senate and the House]” (see Attachment A, #3). A motion was made and seconded to approve the change.

Vote: 8 in favor
0 against
0 abstentions

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