Businesses

Photo courtesy: Sten Iversen

Arlee Church

Photo courtesy: Bill Kuney

Scenery Overview

Arlee was named for Alee, a Salish chief. The spelling "Arlee" is peculiar to English: the Indian world, which means "red night," has no "r." The town and post office (est. 1885) serve as a trading center for people of the Jocko Valley and Flathead Indian Reservation. Charlo, chief of the Flatheads, refused to move to the reservation in conformance with the treaty of 1855 at Grass Valley, but some of the Indians decided to go despite Charlo's decree, and they chose Alee as leader. (from Cheney’s Names on the Face of Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company)