Powder River County

Powder River County, Montana

PO Box 270
Broadus, MT 59317
Phone: (406) 436-2657
Fax: (406) 436-2151

On the southeastern border of MT, southeast of Billings; organized Mar 7, 1919 from Custer County. Name Origin: For the river, which runs diagonally through the county; the river's name comes either from the fine black sand resembling gunpowder that is found along its banks, or from an incident when a group of soldiers were attacked by Indians, and one yelled "hide the powder!"

Area (sq mi):: 3297.94 (land 3297.18; water 0.76) Population per square mile: 0.50
Population 2005: 1,705 State rank: 49 Population change: 2000-20005 -8.20%; 1990-2000 -11.10% Population 2000: 1,858 (White 97.00%; Black or African American 0.00%; Hispanic or Latino 0.60%; Asian 0.10%; Other 2.50%). Foreign born: 0.60%. Median age: 42.10
Income 2000: per capita $15,351; median household $28,398; Population below poverty level: 12.90% Personal per capita income (2000-2003): $17,629-$18,947
Unemployment (2004): 4.00% Unemployment change (from 2000): 2.10% Median travel time to work: 13.20 minutes Working outside county of residence: 12.80%
Cities with population over 10,000: None
See other counties in Montana.