List of counties in Montana

This is a list of the counties in the U.S. state of Montana. There are 56 counties in the state.

Counties of Montana
LocationState of Montana
Number56
Populations485 (Petroleum) – 155,634 (Yellowstone)
Areas718 square miles (1,860 km2) (Silver Bow) – 5,543 square miles (14,360 km2) (Beaverhead)
GovernmentCounty government
Subdivisionscities, towns, townships, unincorporated communities, Indian reservations, census designated place

Montana has two consolidated city-counties—Anaconda with Deer Lodge County and Butte with Silver Bow County. The portion of Yellowstone National Park that lies within Montana was not part of any county until 1978, when part of it was nominally added to Gallatin County, and the rest of it to Park County.

Montana's postal abbreviation is MT and its FIPS state code is 30.

Counties

The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, which is used by the United States government to uniquely identify counties, is provided for each county. The FIPS code for each county links to census data for that county.

County
 FIPS code[1] County seat[2] Est.[2] Origin Etymology Population[3] Area Map
Beaverhead County 001 DillonFebruary 2, 1865Original CountyBeaverhead Rock in the Jefferson River, which is shaped like a beaver's head.[4] 9,345 5,543 sq mi
(14,356 km2)
Big Horn County 003 HardinJanuary 13,1913Rosebud County, Yellowstone CountyBighorn sheep in the area.[5][6] 13,282 4,995 sq mi
(12,937 km2)
Blaine County 005 ChinookFebruary 29, 1912Chouteau CountyJames G. Blaine (1830-1893), United States Secretary of State and presidential candidate.[7] 6,619 4,226 sq mi
(10,945 km2)
Broadwater County 007 TownsendFebruary 9, 1897Jefferson County, Meagher CountyCharles A. Broadwater (1840-1892), a pioneer in the area and colonel in the United States Army.[8] 5,667 1,192 sq mi
(3,087 km2)
Carbon County 009 Red LodgeMarch 4, 1895Park County, Yellowstone CountyCoal deposits in the area.[6] 10,399 2,048 sq mi
(5,304 km2)
Carter County 011 EkalakaFebruary 22, 1917Fallon CountyThomas Henry Carter (1854-1911), a U.S. Senator from Montana.[9] 1,169 3,340 sq mi
(8,651 km2)
Cascade County 013 Great FallsSeptember 12, 1887Chouteau County, Meagher CountyGreat Falls of the Missouri River. 81,366 2,698 sq mi
(6,988 km2)
Chouteau County 015 Fort BentonFebruary 2, 1865Original CountyJean Pierre Chouteau (1758-1849) and his son Pierre Chouteau, Jr. (1789-1865). They were part of the Chouteau fur-trading family. 5,894 3,973 sq mi
(10,290 km2)
Custer County 017 Miles CityFebruary 2, 1865Original CountyOriginally Big Horn County,[10] renamed February 16, 1877 for George Armstrong Custer 12,092 3,783 sq mi
(9,798 km2)
Daniels County 019 ScobeyAugust 30, 1920Sheridan County, Valley CountyMansfield A. Daniels (1858 - 1919), an early rancher and storekeeper 1,793 1,426 sq mi
(3,693 km2)
Dawson County 021 GlendiveJanuary 15, 1869Unorganized landsAndrew Dawson, a trapping official and major in the United States Army 9,518 2,373 sq mi
(6,146 km2)
Deer Lodge County 023 AnacondaFebruary 2, 1865Original CountyDeer Lodge Valley, which in turn was either named for the Native American name "Lodge of the White-tailed Deer" or a salt lick where deer came in droves 9,150 737 sq mi
(1,909 km2)
Fallon County 025 BakerDecember 9, 1913Custer CountyBenjamin O'Fallon, a Federal Native American agent 3,108 1,620 sq mi
(4,196 km2)
Fergus County 027 LewistownMarch 12, 1885Chouteau County, Meagher CountyAndrew Fergus (1850 - 1928), one of the first settlers in the county 11,442 4,339 sq mi
(11,238 km2)
Flathead County 029 KalispellFebruary 6, 1893Missoula CountyFlathead Native Americans 103,806 5,099 sq mi
(13,206 km2)
Gallatin County 031 BozemanFebruary 2, 1865Original CountyAlbert Gallatin (1761-1849), the United States Secretary of the Treasury at the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition 114,434 2,507 sq mi
(6,493 km2)
Garfield County 033 JordanFebruary 7, 1919Dawson CountyJames A. Garfield (1831-1881), the twentieth President of the United States 1,309 4,668 sq mi
(12,090 km2)
Glacier County 035 Cut BankFebruary 17, 1919Teton CountyGlacier National Park, which borders the county 13,696 2,995 sq mi
(7,757 km2)
Golden Valley County 037 RyegateOctober 4, 1920Musselshell County, Sweet Grass CountyProbably named in a promotional attempt to lure settlers to the area 852 1,175 sq mi
(3,043 km2)
Granite County 039 PhilipsburgMarch 2, 1893Deer Lodge County, Missoula CountyNamed for the granite rock which is common in the area's mountains and also held the area's rich gold and silver ore; the old mining town of Granite shared the name.[11] 3,209 1,728 sq mi
(4,475 km2)
Hill County 041 HavreFebruary 22, 1912Chouteau CountyJames J. Hill (1838-1916), a leading railroad tycoon 16,596 2,896 sq mi
(7,501 km2)
Jefferson County 043 BoulderFebruary 2, 1865Original CountyThomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the third President of the United States 11,558 1,657 sq mi
(4,292 km2)
Judith Basin County 045 StanfordDecember 10, 1920Cascade County, Fergus CountyThe Judith River which was in turn named by William Clark for Julia "Judith" Hancock, whom he would later marry 1,991 1,870 sq mi
(4,843 km2)
Lake County 047 PolsonMay 11, 1923Flathead County, Missoula CountyFlathead Lake 29,099 1,494 sq mi
(3,869 km2)
Lewis and Clark County 049 HelenaFebruary 2, 1865Original CountyOriginally Edgerton County), renamed March 1, 1868 for Meriwether Lewis and William Clark 69,432 3,461 sq mi
(8,964 km2)
Liberty County 051 ChesterFebruary 11, 1920Chouteau County, Hill CountyThe sentiment of the inhabitants when the county was formed soon after World War I 2,359 1,430 sq mi
(3,704 km2)
Lincoln County 053 LibbyMarch 9, 1909Flathead CountyAbraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865), the 16th President of the United States 19,125 3,613 sq mi
(9,358 km2)
McCone County 055 CircleFebruary 20, 1919Dawson County, Richland CountyGeorge McCone (1853 - 1929), a Montana state senator who helped create the county 1,694 2,643 sq mi
(6,845 km2)
Madison County 057 Virginia CityFebruary 2, 1865Original CountyJames Madison (1751-1836), the fourth President of the United States and the Secretary of State at the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition 7,820 3,587 sq mi
(9,290 km2)
Meagher County 059 White Sulphur SpringsNovember 16, 1867Chouteau County, Gallatin CountyThomas Francis Meagher (1823-1867), an acting Governor of the Montana Territory 1,853 2,392 sq mi
(6,195 km2)
Mineral County 061 SuperiorAugust 7, 1914Missoula CountyMany mines and mining prospects within the county 4,316 1,220 sq mi
(3,160 km2)
Missoula County 063 MissoulaFebruary 2, 1865Original CountySupposedly a contraction of the Flathead word, "im-i-sul-e-etiku", meaning "by or near the place of fear or ambush", a reference to Hell Gate Canyon, in which Flathead Native Americans were sometimes attacked by Blackfeet 119,600 2,598 sq mi
(6,729 km2)
Musselshell County 065 RoundupFebruary 11, 1911Fergus County, Meagher County, Yellowstone CountyThe Musselshell River, named in turn by the Lewis and Clark Expedition presumably due to mussels found on its banks 4,651 1,867 sq mi
(4,836 km2)
Park County 067 LivingstonFebruary 23, 1887Gallatin CountyNearby Yellowstone National Park 16,606 2,656 sq mi
(6,879 km2)
Petroleum County 069 WinnettNovember 24, 1924Fergus CountyThe production of petroleum at Cat Creek 513 1,654 sq mi
(4,284 km2)
Phillips County 071 MaltaFebruary 5, 1915Blaine County, Valley CountyBenjamin D. Phillips (1857 - 1926), a leading rancher and early pioneer in the county 4,074 5,140 sq mi
(13,313 km2)
Pondera County 073 ConradFebruary 17, 1919Chouteau County, Teton CountyOriginally pend d'oreille, French words meaning "ear pendant"; the name was changed to a form resembling the phonetic spelling to avoid confusion with the lake and town of the same name in Idaho and of a county in Washington. 5,972 1,625 sq mi
(4,209 km2)
Powder River County 075 BroadusMarch 7, 1919Custer CountyThe Powder River, named in turn for the gunpowder-like sand on its shores 1,716 3,297 sq mi
(8,539 km2)
Powell County 077 Deer LodgeJanuary 31, 1901Deer Lodge CountyMount Powell, which in turn was named for John Wesley Powell (1834-1902), the early environmentalist and explorer 6,968 2,326 sq mi
(6,024 km2)
Prairie County 079 TerryFebruary 5, 1915Dawson County, Fallon CountyThe county's location on the Great Plains 1,087 1,737 sq mi
(4,499 km2)
Ravalli County 081 HamiltonFebruary 16, 1893Missoula CountyAnthony Ravalli (1812 - 1884), a Jesuit missionary who came to the area in 1845 43,806 2,394 sq mi
(6,200 km2)
Richland County 083 SidneyMay 27, 1914Dawson CountyNamed so as to depict fertile soil, in an attempt to lure in settlers 10,913 2,084 sq mi
(5,398 km2)
Roosevelt County 085 Wolf PointFebruary 18, 1919Sheridan CountyTheodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), the 26th President of the United States 11,059 2,356 sq mi
(6,102 km2)
Rosebud County 087 ForsythFebruary 11, 1901Custer CountyThe Rosebud River, which was named for the many wild roses along its banks 9,063 5,012 sq mi
(12,981 km2)
Sanders County 089 Thompson FallsFebruary 7, 1905Missoula CountyWilbur Fiske Sanders (1834-1905), a pioneer, vigilante, and U.S. Senator from Montana 11,844 2,762 sq mi
(7,154 km2)
Sheridan County 091 PlentywoodMarch 24, 1913Valley CountyPhilip Sheridan (1831-1888), Civil War general 3,424 1,677 sq mi
(4,343 km2)
Silver Bow County 093 ButteFebruary 16, 1881Deer Lodge CountySilver Bow Creek; there are multiple theories explaining how the creek was named 34,915 718 sq mi
(1,860 km2)
Stillwater County 095 ColumbusMarch 24, 1913Carbon County, Sweet Grass County, Yellowstone CountyStillwater River, ironically named for its very fast current 9,534 1,795 sq mi
(4,649 km2)
Sweet Grass County 097 Big TimberMarch 5, 1895Meagher County, Park County, Yellowstone CountyThe abundant sweet grass in the county 3,710 1,855 sq mi
(4,804 km2)
Teton County 099 ChoteauFebruary 7, 1893Chouteau CountyThe Teton Range which is in turn named for the French word for 'nipple', teton. 6,162 2,273 sq mi
(5,887 km2)
Toole County 101 ShelbyMay 7, 1914Hill County, Teton CountyJoseph Toole (1851 - 1929), the first and fourth Governor of Montana 4,853 1,911 sq mi
(4,949 km2)
Treasure County 103 HyshamFebruary 7, 1919Rosebud CountyNamed promotionally to attract new settlers 679 979 sq mi
(2,536 km2)
Valley County 105 GlasgowFebruary 6, 1893Dawson CountyMuch of the county lies within the valley of the Milk River 7,437 4,921 sq mi
(12,745 km2)
Wheatland County 107 HarlowtonFebruary 22, 1917Meagher County, Sweet Grass CountyThe many wheat fields in the county 2,236 1,423 sq mi
(3,686 km2)
Wibaux County 109 WibauxAugust 17, 1914Dawson County, Fallon County, Richland CountyPierre Wibaux (1858-1913), a pioneer and cattleman 1,034 889 sq mi
(2,302 km2)
Yellowstone County 111 BillingsFebruary 26, 1883Custer CountyThe Yellowstone River, named in turn for the yellow rocks found along its shores 161,300 2,635 sq mi
(6,825 km2)

Previous counties

Extinct counties

County equivalents

See also

References
  1. "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA.gov. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  2. National Association of Counties. "NACo - Find a county". Archived from the original on 2005-04-21. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
  3. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Selected Age Groups by Sex for the United States, States, Counties, and Puerto Rico Commonwealth and Municipios: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". American FactFinder. U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  4. Muntmyler, L. E. (April 1914). "An Enjoyable Water Trip?". Hunter-Trader-Trapper. Columbus, Ohio: A. R. Harding: 52.
  5. Greene, Jerome (2008). Stricken Field: The Little Bighorn Since 1876 (Hardcover). Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 263. ISBN 978-0-8061-3791-9.
  6. Hill, Thomas (1915). The Open Door To Independence. Chicago, Illinois: Hill Standard Book Company. p. 225.
  7. Fay, Robert; Branson, Carl (1959). "Oklahoma Geological Survey" (PDF). Ogs.edu.
  8. Guidebook … Annual Field Conference (13): 143. 1962. Townsend, Montana lies in the central part of Townsend Valley at an elevation of 3833 and is the county seat of Broadwater County. The town was named for an official of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The county was named for Colonel Charles A. Broadwater, an early pioneer. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. "Carter County Montana". www.cartercountymt.info. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  10. Big Horn County, Montana Territory was not the same county as present day Big Horn County, Montana.
  11. "Montana Place Names from Alzada to Zortman". Montana Place Names Companion Website. Montana Historical Society and Montana State Library. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
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