14. Custer County

When Montana became a territory in 1864, its entire eastern half was designated Big Horn County. So few people lived there, that administration of this vast domain was given to Gallatin County (#6). In fact, the 1870 U.S. Census counted 38 residents, but this grew by 1880 to 2,510. The name of the county also changed after George Armstrong Custer and the US 7th Cavalry were killed at the Battle of the Little Big Horn on June 25, 1876. Big Horn County became Custer County, a name it has held since. Today Custer County is just one of over twenty counties made from the original Big Horn. Its land area today covers 3,783 square miles and has a population density of 3.1 persons per square mile. The 1910 census showed Custer County at its greatest population, 14,123, but the current census count is virtually unchanged since 1990.

The Custer County Court House
Miles City, Montana

Miles City, the county seat, is also the county's largest city, with a 2010 population of 8,123. After the Battle of the Little Big Horn, the country built many forts around eastern Montana, including one at the convergence of the Tongue and the Yellowstone Rivers. The Tongue River Cantonment was moved to higher ground a couple of miles to the west, and became Fort Keogh, named for one of the officers who died along with Custer, Myles Keogh. General Nelson Miles became the commander of Fort Keogh, and in 1877 banished those selling alcohol from his fort. These businessmen took up residence two miles to the east, calling their new home Milestown. The official plat, along with the US Post Office, called the town Miles City.

The only other "town" in Custer County is Ismay, with a population of 25 in the 2010 US Census. Ismay was named for the daughters (Isabella and May) of Albert Earling, an official of the Milwaukee Road (The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad). In 1993, as a publicity stunt, the town agreed to be renamed (temporarily) Joe, and thus honored the football player Joe Montana.

A Custer County Landscape
Taken from Montana Highway 59 south of Miles City

Like the rest of Montana, Custer County is primarily agricultural land. Both cattle and sheep ranching have been important industries, and Miles City is recognized today as the epitome of the Old West. The Miles City Roundup began in 1914, and today, its successor, the Bucking Horse Sale, continues to be one of the biggest draws in the area the third weekend in May each year.

Cattle built Miles City and Custer County, and in its prime, the city evidenced considerable wealth. There are seventeen historical places on the National Register, including two residential districts. Driving through these areas, you quickly become aware that a lot of money went into building the homes and churches of Miles City.

First United Methodist Church
Miles City, Montana

In 1939, a group of cowboy-stockmen founded the Range Riders organization, dedicated to preserving the area's history. In 1941, they opened the Range Riders Museum on the grounds of the original Fort Keogh. Today the complex includes eleven buildings and thousands of artifacts of life on the western prairie.

Miles City is also home of Miles Community College, one of three publicly funded junior colleges in Montana. Founded in 1939, today the college is accredited by the Northwest Association and authorized by the state of Montana to offer Associate of Arts degrees (A.A.), Associate of Science degrees (A.S.), Associate of Science in Nursing degree (A.S.N.), Associate of Applied Science degrees (A.A.S.), and Certificates (C.). In keeping with the area's history, two of the program offerings are Agribusiness and Equine Studies.

Stop Sign at the Range Riders Museum
Miles City, Montana

Photo Information:

Unless otherwise noted, all photographs were taken using a Nikon D80 DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex camera) and a Nikkor 16-85 mm wide angle/tele/zoom lens. All images were processed using Photoshop CS4.

Custer County Sign: Taken 3/25/2010 at the Powder River/Custer County line south of Miles City on Montana Highway 59. Focal length was 85 mm, ISO 125, f /16.0, 1/6 second.

Custer County Courthouse: Taken 3/25/2010 in Miles City, Montana. Focal length was 16 mm, ISO 125, f /9.5, 1/6 second.

Custer County Landscape: Taken 3/25/2010 alongside Montana Highway 59 south of Miles City, Montana. Focal length was 32 mm, ISO 125, f /16.0, 1/15 second.

First Methodist Episcopal Church: Taken 9/9/2007 in Miles City, Montana, using a Sigma 18-50 mm wide angle/tele/zoom lens set at a focal length of 31 mm. ISO 125, f /8.0, 1/8 second.

WHOA!: Taken 9/9/2007 in Miles City, Montana, using a Sigma 18-50 mm wide angle/tele/zoom lens set at 50 mm. ISO 125, f /8.0, 1/20 second.