Big Horn County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,124. The county seat is Hardin. The county, like the river and the mountain range, is named after the bighorn sheep in the Rocky Mountains. The county was founded in 1913.
It is located on the southern boundary of the state. Most of the area is part of the Crow Indian Reservation. Reservation poverty affects the county, which is the second-poorest county in the state.
History
On June 25, 1876, the Battle of Little Bighorn began. The Battle is also known as the Battle of the Greasy Grass to the Lakota and other Plains Indians.
The combatants were warriors of the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, battling the 7th Regiment of the US Cavalry, along with their Crow, and Arikara scouts. The battle was an overwhelming victory for the Lakota and Cheyenne. The death of Custer and his troops became a rallying point for the United States to increase their efforts to force native peoples onto reservation lands.
Law and government
The county has several jurisdictions, each with its own regulations and law enforcement agencies. The Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Nations are administered by the tribes. Little Bighorn Battlefield and the Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area are regulated by the National Park Service. The remainder of the county falls under the State of Montana.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.4%) is water. It is the fifth-largest county in Montana by land area. Most of the county's land area is Indian reservations: The Crow Indian Reservation covers 64.2 percent of its area, while the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation covers another 6.37 percent.
The county is home to the Big Horn, Pryor and Wolf mountain ranges.
Major highways
- 20px Interstate 90
- 20px U.S. Highway 87
- 20px U.S. Highway 212
- 20px Montana Highway 47
- Montana Highway 313
- Montana Highway 314
Adjacent counties
- Carbon - west
- Yellowstone - northwest
- Treasure - north
- Rosebud - northeast
- Powder River - east
- Sheridan County, Wyoming - south
- Big Horn County, Wyoming - southwest
National protected areas
- Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (part)
- Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Big Horn County has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.