Custer County, Montana

Custer County is a county located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 11,867. Its county seat and largest town is Miles City. The county was established after the end of the American Civil War (1861–1865), on June 2, 1865, as one of the nine original counties of the new western federal Territory of Montana, which had been formed the previous May 1864 by the United States Congress, with the approval of 16th President Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865, served 1861–1865). It was originally named Big Horn County of the old Montana Territory, and was renamed on February 16, 1877, in honor of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer (1839–1876), commander of the famous 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, recently massacred and killed in the nearby Battle of the Little Bighorn, in the later portion of the American Indian Wars, the year before in June 1876.

Geography

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

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Custer County has a mostly cold semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

Major highways

20px Interstate 94
20px U.S. Highway 12
20px U.S. Highway 212
20px Montana Highway 59

Transit

Jefferson Lines

Adjacent counties

Prairie County – north
Fallon County – east
Carter County – southeast
Powder River County – south
Rosebud County – west
Garfield County – northwest

Demographics

Economy

Agriculture (dryland farming) and cattle raising provide the bulk of Custer County economy. Miles City serves as the center of commerce in an area extending for 100 miles in every direction. As of 2009 the county's largest employers were Holy Rosary Healthcare, Sanjel USA, Stockman Bank, and Walmart.

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