Beaverhead County is the largest county by area in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,371. Its county seat is Dillon. The county was founded in 1865.

Much of the perimeter of the county is the Continental Divide, including its entire border with the state of Idaho. The divide heads east into Montana at the county border with Ravalli County, between Lost Trail Pass and Chief Joseph Pass.

History

The county name is derived from a rock formation, which the Shoshone described as being shaped like a beaver's head.

The original county seat was the gold-mining town of Bannack. In 1881 it was moved to Dillon.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.3%) is water. It is the largest county in Montana by area.

Beaverhead impact structure is in the area.

The Big Hole River (formerly called Wisdom River) runs through the county.

Adjacent counties

  • Ravalli County - northwest
  • Deer Lodge County - north
  • Silver Bow County - north
  • Madison County - east
  • Fremont County, Idaho - southeast
  • Clark County, Idaho - south
  • Lemhi County, Idaho - west

Major highways

National protected areas

  • Beaverhead National Forest (part)
  • Big Hole National Battlefield
  • Nez Perce National Historical Park (part)
  • Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

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Economy

Beaverhead County is one of the largest cattle and hay producing areas of Montana. Barrett's Minerals, one of the world's largest talc mines, calls Beaverhead County home. In 2009, Barrett Hospital and Healthcare was the largest private employer in the county.

Education

The University of Montana Western is in Dillon.

Communities

City

  • Dillon (county seat)

Town

  • Lima

Census-designated places

  • Argenta
  • Dell
  • Dewey
  • Glen
  • Grant
  • Jackson
  • Lakeview
  • Maverick Mountain
  • Wisdom
  • Wise River

Other unincorporated communities

  • Apex
  • Barretts
  • Bond
  • Dalys
  • Elkhorn Hot Springs
  • Ford
  • Kidd
  • Monida
  • Polaris
  • Red Rock

Former communities

  • Armstead - flooded by Clark County Reservoir in 1964
  • Bannack (presently a National Historic Monument and site of Bannack State Park)
  • Hecla
  • Lion City

Notable people

  • Joseph Poindexter, later Territorial Governor of Hawaii, served as County Attorney here .
  • Thomas Savage (1915-2003) spent his childhood and teen years on his family's ranch in Beaverhead County. His experiences there informed his best known novels, The Power of the Dog and The Sheep Queen .

See also

  • List of lakes in Beaverhead County, Montana
  • List of mountains in Beaverhead County, Montana
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Beaverhead County, Montana

References

  • Official page
  • Chamber of Commerce page