# 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 34 miles (55 km) 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 3,298 square miles (8,540 km$^2$), of which 3,297 square miles (8,540 km$^2$) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km$^2$) (0.02%) is water.

### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 212
* 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
### 2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 1,694 people living in the county.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,743 people, 755 households, and 505 families in the county. The population density was 0.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.19/km$^2$). There were 1,022 housing units at an average density of 0.3 per square mile (0.12/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 95.0% white, 1.5% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 1.1% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 34.6% were German, 31.0% were American, 15.1% were English, 14.0% were Irish, and 8.6% were Norwegian.
Of the 755 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.1% were non-families, and 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age was 49.3 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,685 and the median income for a family was $50,156. Males had a median income of $27,721 versus $26,250 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,543. About 11.6% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

Powder River County is heavily Republican; it has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1940.
United States presidential election results for Powder River County, Montana :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 963 | 87.07% | 131 | 11.84% | 12 | 1.08% |
| 2020 | 970 | 85.39% | 154 | 13.56% | 12 | 1.06% |
| 2016 | 884 | 83.95% | 127 | 12.06% | 42 | 3.99% |
| 2012 | 833 | 81.11% | 170 | 16.55% | 24 | 2.34% |
| 2008 | 802 | 77.26% | 208 | 20.04% | 28 | 2.70% |
| 2004 | 856 | 83.19% | 154 | 14.97% | 19 | 1.85% |
| 2000 | 860 | 85.32% | 115 | 11.41% | 33 | 3.27% |
| 1996 | 663 | 63.44% | 236 | 22.58% | 146 | 13.97% |
| 1992 | 547 | 47.32% | 258 | 22.32% | 351 | 30.36% |
| 1988 | 815 | 66.15% | 395 | 32.06% | 22 | 1.79% |
| 1984 | 1,066 | 74.60% | 346 | 24.21% | 17 | 1.19% |
| 1980 | 985 | 68.26% | 336 | 23.28% | 122 | 8.45% |
| 1976 | 683 | 55.30% | 429 | 34.74% | 123 | 9.96% |
| 1972 | 844 | 69.35% | 267 | 21.94% | 106 | 8.71% |
| 1968 | 699 | 64.96% | 258 | 23.98% | 119 | 11.06% |
| 1964 | 649 | 59.05% | 449 | 40.86% | 1 | 0.09% |
| 1960 | 665 | 60.18% | 438 | 39.64% | 2 | 0.18% |
| 1956 | 700 | 60.55% | 456 | 39.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 888 | 72.67% | 327 | 26.76% | 7 | 0.57% |
| 1948 | 784 | 60.17% | 480 | 36.84% | 39 | 2.99% |
| 1944 | 650 | 57.17% | 476 | 41.86% | 11 | 0.97% |
| 1940 | 633 | 52.23% | 561 | 46.29% | 18 | 1.49% |
| 1936 | 545 | 40.40% | 758 | 56.19% | 46 | 3.41% |
| 1932 | 515 | 35.52% | 875 | 60.34% | 60 | 4.14% |
| 1928 | 780 | 65.05% | 410 | 34.20% | 9 | 0.75% |
| 1924 | 480 | 48.68% | 123 | 12.47% | 383 | 38.84% |
| 1920 | 955 | 71.27% | 330 | 24.63% | 55 | 4.10% |

## 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