Powder River County, Montana

Powder River County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,694. Its county seat is Broadus.

History

Powder River County's area was probably first entered by Europeans when French trappers worked its streams in the early 1800s. In 1865 the federal government sent soldiers (Powder River Expedition) to the Powder River country to combat Native Americans from the Cheyenne, Lakota Sioux, and Arapaho tribes. September 1865 saw several skirmishes (Powder River Battles) near present-day Broadus. On March 17, 1876, the Battle of Powder River occurred in the south-central part of the county, about southwest of Broadus.

Powderville was the area's first established settlement; it began operating on November 1, 1878, as the Powder River Telegraph Station on a line connecting Fort Keogh to Deadwood, South Dakota. On April 5, 1879, the Mizpah Creek Incidents began near the Powderville telegraph station.

Custer County was organized in early 1877, consisting of most of SE Montana Territory. In February 1900, the Broadus Post Office opened. In October 1918 the first edition of the area's first newspaper appeared. On March 17, 1919, Powder River County was formed from southern Custer County. In a 1920 election, Broadus was chosen as the county seat.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.02%) is water.

Major highways

20px U.S. Highway 212
20px Montana Highway 59

Transit

Powder River County Transit provides demand-response services throughout the county.

Adjacent counties

Custer County - north
Carter County - east
Crook County, Wyoming - southeast
Campbell County, Wyoming - south
Sheridan County, Wyoming - southwest
Big Horn County - west
Rosebud County - northwest

National protected area

Custer National Forest (part)

Demographics

Communities

Town

Broadus (county seat)

Census-designated place

Biddle

Unincorporated communities

Bay Horse
Belle Creek
Cameron Crossing
Coalwood
Elkhorn Crossing
Epsie
Moorhead
Olive
Otter
Powderville
Sayle
Sonnette
Willow Crossing

Notable people

Jess Lockwood, 2017 and 2019 PBR World champion
Lee Randall, Republican member of the Montana House of Representatives (2009–2017)
Ronnie Rossen, World Champion PRCA Bull rider (1961, 1966)
Jason Evans, six-time National Steer Roping Finals qualifier
Steve Held, professional actor, rancher, and Democratic candidate for Montana's 2nd congressional district in the 2024 U.S. House of Representatives election in Montana