The Northern Pacific Railroad was the main reason why Glendive City was built. During the time when the railroad was being built, many people lived in tents or in log cabins with dirt roofs. Once the railroad reached the area, the population of Glendive began to increase and the city's economy began to flourish. By 1882, there were over fifty buildings in the city, including five hotels, two general merchandise establishments, two dry goods stores, a blacksmith, a baker, and a livery stable.
The median age of residents in Glendive, MT is 39.3 years old. This is younger than the national average and is attributed to the fact that the city is becoming more diversified. Foreign-born residents in Glendive are primarily from Canada and Mexico, while residents from the Philippines total over two hundred and six hundred. This diversity reflects the growing international population of the city, with the number of foreign-born residents outnumbering native-born residents.
At the turn of the century, few utilities had been built, causing the city to become a major supply center for the stock industry. In addition to hauling water to residences in barrels, some residents built windmills to pump water. Others built tanks on the upper floors of their houses, which were fed by gravity. The railroads had hoped that a forty-foot drop would be sufficient for drainage, but this didn't happen, and many streets were filled with water.