Named Giffen in 1881, after Nat McGiffen, the town’s name changed to Sand Coulee when the McGiffens left the area.[6] In 1883 Sand Coulee Coal Company, a coal mining company, was established. Recognizing the potential, James J. Hill purchased the company and renamed it Cottonwood Coal Company. The town slowly withered when the railroad switched to diesel engines in the 1930s.[6]
Centerville Public Schools educates students from kindergarten through 12th grade. They serve the communities of Sand Coulee, Centerville, Tracy and Stockett.[8]Centerville High School is a Class C school. They are known as the Miners.[9]
^ ab"Sand Coulee". Montana Place Names Companion. Montana Historical Society. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2021.