The population of Sand Coulee City was 2,950 people in the 1900 census. But this number cannot be derived from the city alone, as the area around Sand Coulee is largely rural. The city's growth can be attributed to two major factors. First, Sand Coulee was a coal town in the early 1880s, which was used by the Great Northern Railway to connect the Twin Cities of Minnesota to the Pacific Northwest. Second, Sand Coulee was a thriving community of pioneers who built schools, churches, and institutions to maintain a good quality of life for their families.
Second, Sand Coulee was small. The city was only a quarter mile long and wide, allowing for easy travel between neighborhoods. Because it is small in size, Sand Coulee could accommodate as many as 896 city residents. This is about as large as sixty-four Great Falls city blocks and eight square blocks. The city had no water supply until the 1950s, and today, it still has no city hall.
Third, Sand Coulee had numerous historical buildings, including the company store and other company buildings. It also had seventeen saloons at one time. There were also numerous non-company stores. Miners shared the common occupation of mining, but they were also divided by nationality. As a result, the city was known as a melting pot. And in terms of history, it is interesting to note that a town called Sand Coulee is also the site of a pigs in blanket festival.