It was developed in the early twentieth century at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station of the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture at Dubois, Idaho,[1] and is named after the Targhee National Forest which surrounds it.

It is a dual-purpose breed, with heavy, medium-quality wool and good meat production characteristics.

[2] It is kept mainly in Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota,[3] and is reared primarily for wool.

Development of this breed for the Western ranges of the U.S. began as early as 1900.

Each ewe will average a 10 lb (4.5 kg) to 14 lb (6.3 kg) fleece; it has a fibre diameter of 21 to 25 micrometers and a spinning count of 64 to 58.