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List of municipalities in Montana facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Montana in United States
Map of the United States with Montana highlighted

Montana is a large state located in the Western United States. It's known for its wide-open spaces! Even though Montana is the 4th largest state by land area, it has one of the smallest populations in the U.S., with about 1.08 million people living there as of 2020.

Montana is divided into 56 counties. Within these counties, there are 129 special areas called municipalities. These municipalities are basically the cities and towns where people live. While they only cover a small part of Montana's land, most of the state's population lives in these areas. The local governments in these cities and towns have important powers. They can create local laws, manage money, and even buy private land for public projects like roads or schools.

How Montana Classifies Its Cities and Towns

In Montana, cities and towns are put into different groups based on how many people live in them. This helps decide what kind of government they have.

Towns and Cities: What's the Difference?

  • The smallest places are called towns.
  • Larger places are called cities.
  • A place can become a town if at least 300 people or two-thirds of its registered voters agree.

City Classes by Population

Cities are divided into three classes:

  • Third Class City: These cities have between 1,000 and 5,000 people.
  • Second Class City: These cities have between 5,000 and 10,000 people.
  • First Class City: These are the largest cities, with more than 10,000 people.

Sometimes, if a city's population is close to the edge of a class (like between 9,000 and 10,000), they might get to choose if they want to be a First or Second Class city. The same goes for places between 5,000 and 7,500 people, or between 1,000 and 2,500 people.

Unincorporated Places

Some places in Montana are not officially cities or towns. These are called unincorporated places, like census-designated places. They are managed by the county government, not by their own city or town government.

Montana's Biggest and Smallest Places

The largest city in Montana by population is Billings, with 117,116 residents. On the other end, the smallest municipality is Ismay, with only 17 residents!

When it comes to land size, Anaconda is the largest municipality. It's a special type of city that's combined with its county, covering about 736.53 square miles. The smallest places by land area are Rexford and Flaxville, each covering only 0.10 square miles.

List of cities and towns

  • Largest cities and towns in Montana by population
  • Skyline of Billings

    Downtown Billings, Montana's largest municipality by population

  • Downtownof Missoula

    Missoula, Montana's second largest municipality by population

  • Great Falls, Montana

    Great Falls, third largest municipality by population in Montana

  • Downtown Bozeman

    Downtown Bozeman, Montana's fourth largest municipality by population

  • Uptown Butte

    Uptown Butte, fifth largest municipality by population in Montana

  • Montana State Capitol Helena

    Montana State Capitol in Helena, capital city of Montana

  • Havre Montana RR Station

    Havre railroad station and the sculpture "U.S. − Canada Friendship"

  • Downtown Anaconda

    Downtown Anaconda, the largest city in Montana by land area

  • Downtown Miles City

    Downtown Miles City, Montana's eleventh largest municipality by population

       County seat        State capital and county seat

Name Type County Population
(2020)		 Population
(2010)		 Change Land area
(2010)		 Population density
sq mi km2
Alberton Town Mineral 452 420 &10000000000000007619047+7.6% 0.57 1.5 793.0/sq mi (306.2/km2)
AnacondaCounty seat Consolidated city-county Deer Lodge 9,421 9,298 &10000000000000001322865+1.3% 736.53 1,907.6 12.8/sq mi (4.9/km2)
Bainville Town Roosevelt 271 208 &10000000000000030288461+30.3% 1.02 2.6 265.7/sq mi (102.6/km2)
BakerCounty seat City Fallon 1,802 1,741 &10000000000000003503733+3.5% 0.97 2.5 1,857.7/sq mi (717.3/km2)
Bearcreek Town Carbon 91 79 &10000000000000015189873+15.2% 0.12 0.31 758.3/sq mi (292.8/km2)
Belgrade City Gallatin 10,460 7,389 &10000000000000041561781+41.6% 3.25 8.4 3,218.5/sq mi (1,242.7/km2)
Belt Town Cascade 510 597 Template:Number table sorting/negative−14.6% 0.35 0.91 1,457.1/sq mi (562.6/km2)
Big Sandy Town Chouteau 605 598 &10000000000000001170568+1.2% 0.44 1.1 1,375.0/sq mi (530.9/km2)
Big TimberCounty seat City Sweet Grass 1,650 1,641 &10000000000000000548446+0.5% 0.92 2.4 1,793.5/sq mi (692.5/km2)
BillingsCounty seat City Yellowstone 117,116 104,170 &10000000000000012427762+12.4% 43.41 112.4 2,697.9/sq mi (1,041.7/km2)
BoulderCounty seat Town Jefferson 1,201 1,183 &10000000000000001521555+1.5% 1.13 2.9 1,062.8/sq mi (410.3/km2)
BozemanCounty seat City Gallatin 53,293 37,280 &10000000000000042953326+43.0% 19.12 49.5 2,787.3/sq mi (1,076.2/km2)
Bridger Town Carbon 662 708 Template:Number table sorting/negative−6.5% 0.80 2.1 827.5/sq mi (319.5/km2)
BroadusCounty seat Town Powder River 456 468 Template:Number table sorting/negative−2.6% 0.34 0.88 1,341.2/sq mi (517.8/km2)
Broadview Town Yellowstone 139 192 Template:Number table sorting/negative−27.6% 0.26 0.67 534.6/sq mi (206.4/km2)
Browning Town Glacier 1,018 1,016 &10000000000000000196850+0.2% 0.27 0.70 3,770.4/sq mi (1,455.8/km2)
ButteCounty seat Consolidated city-county Silver Bow 34,494 33,525 &10000000000000002890380+2.9% 716.25 1,855.1 48.2/sq mi (18.6/km2)
Cascade Town Cascade 600 685 Template:Number table sorting/negative−12.4% 0.52 1.3 1,153.8/sq mi (445.5/km2)
ChesterCounty seat Town Liberty 847 847 0.0% 0.48 1.2 1,764.6/sq mi (681.3/km2)
ChinookCounty seat City Blaine 1,185 1,203 Template:Number table sorting/negative−1.5% 0.51 1.3 2,323.5/sq mi (897.1/km2)
ChoteauCounty seat City Teton 1,721 1,684 &10000000000000002197149+2.2% 1.83 4.7 940.4/sq mi (363.1/km2)
CircleCounty seat Town McCone 591 615 Template:Number table sorting/negative−3.9% 0.78 2.0 757.7/sq mi (292.5/km2)
Clyde Park Town Park 332 288 &10000000000000015277777+15.3% 0.32 0.83 1,037.5/sq mi (400.6/km2)
Colstrip City Rosebud 2,096 2,214 Template:Number table sorting/negative−5.3% 4.47 11.6 468.9/sq mi (181.0/km2)
Columbia Falls City Flathead 5,308 4,688 &10000000000000013225255+13.2% 2.05 5.3 2,589.3/sq mi (999.7/km2)
ColumbusCounty seat Town Stillwater 1,857 1,893 Template:Number table sorting/negative−1.9% 1.32 3.4 1,406.8/sq mi (543.2/km2)
ConradCounty seat City Pondera 2,318 2,570 Template:Number table sorting/negative−9.8% 1.25 3.2 1,854.4/sq mi (716.0/km2)
Culbertson Town Roosevelt 753 714 &10000000000000005462184+5.5% 0.60 1.6 1,255.0/sq mi (484.6/km2)
Cut BankCounty seat City Glacier 3,056 2,869 &10000000000000006517950+6.5% 0.99 2.6 3,086.9/sq mi (1,191.9/km2)
Darby Town Ravalli 783 720 &10000000000000008750000+8.8% 0.58 1.5 1,350.0/sq mi (521.2/km2)
Deer LodgeCounty seat City Powell 2,938 3,111 Template:Number table sorting/negative−5.6% 1.44 3.7 2,040.3/sq mi (787.8/km2)
Denton Town Fergus 205 255 Template:Number table sorting/negative−19.6% 0.76 2.0 269.7/sq mi (104.1/km2)
DillonCounty seat City Beaverhead 3,880 4,134 Template:Number table sorting/negative−6.1% 1.76 4.6 2,204.5/sq mi (851.2/km2)
Dodson Town Phillips 125 124 &10000000000000000806451+0.8% 0.19 0.49 657.9/sq mi (254.0/km2)
Drummond Town Granite 272 309 Template:Number table sorting/negative−12.0% 0.53 1.4 513.2/sq mi (198.1/km2)
Dutton Town Teton 303 316 Template:Number table sorting/negative−4.1% 0.31 0.80 977.4/sq mi (377.4/km2)
East Helena City Lewis and Clark 1,944 1,984 Template:Number table sorting/negative−2.0% 1.73 4.5 1,123.7/sq mi (433.9/km2)
EkalakaCounty seat Town Carter 399 332 &10000000000000020180722+20.2% 1.04 2.7 383.7/sq mi (148.1/km2)
Ennis Town Madison 917 838 &10000000000000009427207+9.4% 0.77 2.0 1,190.9/sq mi (459.8/km2)
Eureka Town Lincoln 1,380 1,037 &10000000000000033076181+33.1% 1.01 2.6 1,366.3/sq mi (527.5/km2)
Fairfield Town Teton 759 708 &10000000000000007203389+7.2% 0.31 0.80 2,448.4/sq mi (945.3/km2)
Fairview Town Richland 896 840 &10000000000000006666666+6.7% 0.97 2.5 923.7/sq mi (356.6/km2)
Flaxville Town Daniels 63 71 Template:Number table sorting/negative−11.3% 0.10 0.26 630.0/sq mi (243.2/km2)
ForsythCounty seat City Rosebud 1,647 1,777 Template:Number table sorting/negative−7.3% 0.99 2.6 1,663.6/sq mi (642.3/km2)
Fort BentonCounty seat City Chouteau 1,449 1,464 Template:Number table sorting/negative−1.0% 2.07 5.4 700.0/sq mi (270.3/km2)
Fort Peck Town Valley 239 233 &10000000000000002575107+2.6% 0.86 2.2 277.9/sq mi (107.3/km2)
Froid Town Roosevelt 195 185 &10000000000000005405405+5.4% 0.28 0.73 696.4/sq mi (268.9/km2)
Fromberg Town Carbon 392 438 Template:Number table sorting/negative−10.5% 0.48 1.2 816.7/sq mi (315.3/km2)
Geraldine Town Chouteau 207 261 Template:Number table sorting/negative−20.7% 0.52 1.3 398.1/sq mi (153.7/km2)
GlasgowCounty seat City Valley 3,202 3,250 Template:Number table sorting/negative−1.5% 1.43 3.7 2,239.2/sq mi (864.6/km2)
GlendiveCounty seat City Dawson 4,873 4,935 Template:Number table sorting/negative−1.3% 3.32 8.6 1,467.8/sq mi (566.7/km2)
Grass Range Town Fergus 110 110 0.0% 0.15 0.39 733.3/sq mi (283.1/km2)
Great FallsCounty seat City Cascade 60,442 58,505 &10000000000000003310828+3.3% 21.79 56.4 2,773.8/sq mi (1,071.0/km2)
HamiltonCounty seat City Ravalli 4,659 4,348 &10000000000000007152713+7.2% 2.53 6.6 1,841.5/sq mi (711.0/km2)
HardinCounty seat City Big Horn 3,818 3,505 &10000000000000008930099+8.9% 2.57 6.7 1,485.6/sq mi (573.6/km2)
Harlem City Blaine 769 808 Template:Number table sorting/negative−4.8% 0.43 1.1 1,788.4/sq mi (690.5/km2)
HarlowtonCounty seat City Wheatland 955 997 Template:Number table sorting/negative−4.2% 0.58 1.5 1,646.6/sq mi (635.8/km2)
HavreCounty seat City Hill 9,362 9,310 &10000000000000000558539+0.6% 3.28 8.5 2,854.3/sq mi (1,102.1/km2)
HelenaCounty seat City Lewis and Clark 32,091 28,190 &10000000000000013838240+13.8% 16.35 42.3 1,962.8/sq mi (757.8/km2)
Hingham Town Hill 131 118 &10000000000000011016949+11.0% 0.17 0.44 770.6/sq mi (297.5/km2)
Hobson City Judith Basin 179 215 Template:Number table sorting/negative−16.7% 0.24 0.62 745.8/sq mi (288.0/km2)
Hot Springs Town Sanders 557 544 &10000000000000002389705+2.4% 0.38 0.98 1,465.8/sq mi (565.9/km2)
HyshamCounty seat Town Treasure 276 312 Template:Number table sorting/negative−11.5% 0.21 0.54 1,314.3/sq mi (507.5/km2)
Ismay Town Custer 17 19 Template:Number table sorting/negative−10.5% 0.42 1.1 40.5/sq mi (15.6/km2)
Joliet Town Carbon 577 595 Template:Number table sorting/negative−3.0% 0.30 0.78 1,923.3/sq mi (742.6/km2)
JordanCounty seat Town Garfield 356 343 &10000000000000003790087+3.8% 0.34 0.88 1,047.1/sq mi (404.3/km2)
Judith Gap City Wheatland 110 126 Template:Number table sorting/negative−12.7% 0.38 0.98 289.5/sq mi (111.8/km2)
KalispellCounty seat City Flathead 24,558 19,927 &10000000000000023239825+23.2% 11.64 30.1 1,711.9/sq mi (661.0/km2)
Kevin Town Toole 154 154 0.0% 0.34 0.88 452.9/sq mi (174.9/km2)
Laurel City Yellowstone 7,222 6,718 &10000000000000007502232+7.5% 2.14 5.5 3,374.8/sq mi (1,303.0/km2)
Lavina Town Golden Valley 136 187 Template:Number table sorting/negative−27.3% 1.00 2.6 136.0/sq mi (52.5/km2)
LewistownCounty seat City Fergus 5,952 5,901 &10000000000000000864260+0.9% 5.32 13.8 1,118.8/sq mi (432.0/km2)
LibbyCounty seat City Lincoln 2,775 2,628 &10000000000000005593607+5.6% 1.91 4.9 1,452.9/sq mi (561.0/km2)
Lima Town Beaverhead 212 221 Template:Number table sorting/negative−4.1% 0.53 1.4 400.0/sq mi (154.4/km2)
LivingstonCounty seat City Park 8,040 7,044 &10000000000000014139693+14.1% 6.02 15.6 1,335.5/sq mi (515.6/km2)
Lodge Grass Town Big Horn 441 428 &10000000000000003037383+3.0% 0.24 0.62 1,837.5/sq mi (709.5/km2)
MaltaCounty seat City Phillips 1,860 1,997 Template:Number table sorting/negative−6.9% 1.06 2.7 1,754.7/sq mi (677.5/km2)
Manhattan Town Gallatin 2,086 1,520 &10000000000000037236842+37.2% 1.93 5.0 1,080.8/sq mi (417.3/km2)
Medicine Lake Town Sheridan 244 225 &10000000000000008444444+8.4% 0.40 1.0 610.0/sq mi (235.5/km2)
Melstone Town Musselshell 126 96 &10000000000000031250000+31.3% 0.69 1.8 182.6/sq mi (70.5/km2)
Miles CityCounty seat City Custer 8,354 8,410 Template:Number table sorting/negative−0.7% 3.34 8.7 2,501.2/sq mi (965.7/km2)
MissoulaCounty seat City Missoula 73,489 66,788 &10000000000000010033239+10.0% 27.51 71.3 2,671.4/sq mi (1,031.4/km2)
Moore Town Fergus 194 193 &10000000000000000518134+0.5% 0.24 0.62 808.3/sq mi (312.1/km2)
Nashua Town Valley 301 290 &10000000000000003793103+3.8% 0.66 1.7 456.1/sq mi (176.1/km2)
Neihart Town Cascade 43 51 Template:Number table sorting/negative−15.7% 1.99 5.2 21.6/sq mi (8.3/km2)
Opheim Town Valley 75 85 Template:Number table sorting/negative−11.8% 0.21 0.54 357.1/sq mi (137.9/km2)
Outlook Town Sheridan 84 47 &10000000000000078723404+78.7% 1.30 3.4 64.6/sq mi (24.9/km2)
PhilipsburgCounty seat Town Granite 841 820 &10000000000000002560975+2.6% 0.80 2.1 1,051.3/sq mi (405.9/km2)
Pinesdale Town Ravalli 805 917 Template:Number table sorting/negative−12.2% 1.29 3.3 624.0/sq mi (240.9/km2)
Plains Town Sanders 1,106 1,048 &10000000000000005534351+5.5% 0.59 1.5 1,874.6/sq mi (723.8/km2)
PlentywoodCounty seat City Sheridan 1,669 1,734 Template:Number table sorting/negative−3.7% 1.17 3.0 1,426.5/sq mi (550.8/km2)
Plevna Town Fallon 179 162 &10000000000000010493827+10.5% 0.59 1.5 303.4/sq mi (117.1/km2)
PolsonCounty seat City Lake 5,148 4,488 &10000000000000014705882+14.7% 4.14 10.7 1,243.5/sq mi (480.1/km2)
Poplar City Roosevelt 758 810 Template:Number table sorting/negative−6.4% 0.28 0.73 2,707.1/sq mi (1,045.2/km2)
Red LodgeCounty seat City Carbon 2,257 2,125 &10000000000000006211764+6.2% 2.80 7.3 806.1/sq mi (311.2/km2)
Rexford Town Lincoln 78 105 Template:Number table sorting/negative−25.7% 0.10 0.26 780.0/sq mi (301.2/km2)
Richey Town Dawson 164 177 Template:Number table sorting/negative−7.3% 0.24 0.62 683.3/sq mi (263.8/km2)
Ronan City Lake 1,955 1,871 &10000000000000004489577+4.5% 1.19 3.1 1,642.9/sq mi (634.3/km2)
RoundupCounty seat City Musselshell 1,742 1,788 Template:Number table sorting/negative−2.6% 1.34 3.5 1,300.0/sq mi (501.9/km2)
RyegateCounty seat Town Golden Valley 223 245 Template:Number table sorting/negative−9.0% 0.69 1.8 323.2/sq mi (124.8/km2)
Saco Town Phillips 159 197 Template:Number table sorting/negative−19.3% 0.33 0.85 481.8/sq mi (186.0/km2)
ScobeyCounty seat City Daniels 999 1,017 Template:Number table sorting/negative−1.8% 0.76 2.0 1,314.5/sq mi (507.5/km2)
ShelbyCounty seat City Toole 3,169 3,376 Template:Number table sorting/negative−6.1% 6.03 15.6 525.5/sq mi (202.9/km2)
Sheridan Town Madison 694 642 &10000000000000008099688+8.1% 1.02 2.6 680.4/sq mi (262.7/km2)
SidneyCounty seat City Richland 6,346 5,191 &10000000000000022250048+22.3% 2.66 6.9 2,385.7/sq mi (921.1/km2)
St. Ignatius Town Lake 768 842 Template:Number table sorting/negative−8.8% 0.56 1.5 1,371.4/sq mi (529.5/km2)
StanfordCounty seat Town Judith Basin 403 401 &10000000000000000498753+0.5% 0.44 1.1 915.9/sq mi (353.6/km2)
Stevensville Town Ravalli 2,002 1,809 &10000000000000010668877+10.7% 0.98 2.5 2,042.9/sq mi (788.8/km2)
Sunburst Town Toole 333 375 Template:Number table sorting/negative−11.2% 0.24 0.62 1,387.5/sq mi (535.7/km2)
SuperiorCounty seat Town Mineral 830 812 &10000000000000002216748+2.2% 1.04 2.7 798.1/sq mi (308.1/km2)
TerryCounty seat Town Prairie 562 605 Template:Number table sorting/negative−7.1% 0.71 1.8 791.5/sq mi (305.6/km2)
Thompson FallsCounty seat City Sanders 1,336 1,313 &10000000000000001751713+1.8% 1.73 4.5 772.3/sq mi (298.2/km2)
Three Forks City Gallatin 1,989 1,869 &10000000000000006420545+6.4% 1.44 3.7 1,381.3/sq mi (533.3/km2)
TownsendCounty seat City Broadwater 1,787 1,878 Template:Number table sorting/negative−4.8% 1.58 4.1 1,131.0/sq mi (436.7/km2)
Troy City Lincoln 797 938 Template:Number table sorting/negative−15.0% 0.76 2.0 1,048.7/sq mi (404.9/km2)
Twin Bridges Town Madison 330 375 Template:Number table sorting/negative−12.0% 0.96 2.5 343.8/sq mi (132.7/km2)
Valier Town Pondera 530 509 &10000000000000004125736+4.1% 0.92 2.4 576.1/sq mi (222.4/km2)
Virginia CityCounty seat Town Madison 219 190 &10000000000000015263157+15.3% 0.95 2.5 230.5/sq mi (89.0/km2)
Walkerville Town Silver Bow 639 675 Template:Number table sorting/negative−5.3% 2.23 5.8 286.5/sq mi (110.6/km2)
West Yellowstone Town Gallatin 1,272 1,271 &10000000000000000078678+0.1% 0.80 2.1 1,590.0/sq mi (613.9/km2)
Westby Town Sheridan 167 168 Template:Number table sorting/negative−0.6% 0.54 1.4 309.3/sq mi (119.4/km2)
White Sulphur SpringsCounty seat City Meagher 955 939 &10000000000000001703940+1.7% 1.01 2.6 945.5/sq mi (365.1/km2)
Whitefish City Flathead 7,751 6,357 &10000000000000021928582+21.9% 6.43 16.7 1,205.4/sq mi (465.4/km2)
Whitehall Town Jefferson 1,006 1,038 Template:Number table sorting/negative−3.1% 0.67 1.7 1,501.5/sq mi (579.7/km2)
WibauxCounty seat Town Wibaux 462 589 Template:Number table sorting/negative−21.6% 1.08 2.8 427.8/sq mi (165.2/km2)
Winifred Town Fergus 172 208 Template:Number table sorting/negative−17.3% 0.50 1.3 344.0/sq mi (132.8/km2)
WinnettCounty seat Town Petroleum 188 182 &10000000000000003296703+3.3% 0.98 2.5 191.8/sq mi (74.1/km2)
Wolf PointCounty seat City Roosevelt 2,517 2,621 Template:Number table sorting/negative−4.0% 0.87 2.3 2,893.1/sq mi (1,117.0/km2)
Total towns 76 — 38,130 37,333 &10000000000000002134840+2.1% &&&&&&&&&&&&&049.&1000049.01 126.9 778.0/sq mi (300.4/km2)
Total cities 53 — 549,663 494,659 &10000000000000011119579+11.1% &&&&&&&&&&&01685.5700001,685.57 4,365.6 326.1/sq mi (125.9/km2)
Total 129 — 587,793 531,992 &10000000000000010489067+10.5% &&&&&&&&&&&01734.5800001,734.58 4,492.5 338.9/sq mi (130.9/km2)

See also

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