Winifred finds its origin as a railroad station. Platted into 17 townships of 712 square miles along the Missouri River to the north, a thousand families showed up to work the 160-acre homesteads. However, after a few years they gave up and now the northern half of this area consists of about 25 ranches. Discovery of natural gas provides for the future of the area. .
Winifred is located in central Montana, north of Lewistown on Highway 236.