Fairfield is a town in Teton County, Montana, United States. The population was 759 at the 2020 census. Fairfield is the self-proclaimed "Malting Barley Capital of the World" due to their large crops each year of malt barley.
History
Fairfield began as a station on the Milwaukee Railroad.
Even though the federal government opened Montana to homesteading in 1862, this area was not initially settled. Given Montana's vast and dry landscape, irrigation was necessary. In 1902 irrigation projects began, which did lead to increased grain production. Then in 1903 the Bureau of Reclamation conducted a survey of the area. The potential of the Sun River Valley was deemed so great it was promoted as “the greatest farming country under the dome of Heaven.”
thumb|Freezeout Lake
Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Fairfield has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.
On December 14, 1924, Fairfield set the record for the largest 12-hour temperature drop in the United States when it went from 63 degrees at noon to minus 21 degrees at midnight.
Climate concerns
The recent (2024–present) dry climate has concerned the Fairfield Bench. The G.I.D, which provide water for irrigation in the area, has had to shut off the water from Gibson Dam earlier than usual. Due to this, the whole area has gone dry, impacting many people and animals. Freezout Lake has had record low water levels, affecting important migration. The dry conditions have also caused many homeowners' wells to go dry, as well as the cities. Due to low water levels, the Town of Fairfield has placed water limits. They also attempted to dig a new well in the park, but their attempt was not successful.