Lost Dakota was a small, uninhabited portion of land that was left over after the division andorganization of the large formerDakota Territory into new territories in the late 19th century, which was overlooked by the federal government for years.[1]
Lost Dakota was approximately 11 square miles (28 km2) in size, roughly a third the size ofManhattan. Theexclave was located at thetripoint between the current states ofIdaho,Wyoming, andMontana.[2] Lost Dakota was located 360 miles (580 km) west of the territory, which by then consisted of thecurrent Dakota states. Its borders ran along theContinental Divide, parallel 44°30' North, and the34th meridian west from Washington.
Officially, the land was still a remote part of the Dakota Territory; however, it had been forgotten bythe government, wiped from any potential public view that it could have had for around five whole years due to faulty maps and surveys.[3][4] It has retrospectively been speculated to have been a superb tactical area forcriminals to escape thelaw from, due to its forgotten location and lack of development; however, there is no evidence proving that criminals ever sought refuge in the exclave.[4][5] In 1873, it was annexed and thereby incorporated intoGallatin County,Montana Territory,[6] and has remained part of that county in the state of Montana ever since. Lost Dakota is extremely distant from settlement to this day and is completely undeveloped. It is without a street, road, or even a footpath as of 2010, and lacks any signs or maps to locate the uninhabited area.[7][8] It is also reportedly "plagued" bygrizzly bears.[9]
44°28′27″N111°03′00″W / 44.4740671°N 111.05°W /44.4740671; -111.05