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Blaine County, Montana

76 topographic sheets cover 43 settlements here, and 8 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

8 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Montana within the United States
Blaine County within Montana

What the record shows

  • 365 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 8 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 6 buildings, 1 site and 1 district.
  • 1 of the 8 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 43 populated places in this county; 43 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

8

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Chief Joseph Battleground of the Bear's Pawsite197070000355
Dave's Texacobuilding199494000862
Ervin Homestead-Gist Bottom Historic Districtdistrict201616000410
Lodgepole Community Hallbuilding200000000148
Lohman Blockbuilding198080002399
Anna Scherlie Homestead Shackbuilding199898001338
St. Paul's Mission Churchbuilding2020100005403
Young Brothers Chevrolet Garagebuilding199494000867

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

1,107 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 1,107 of them, burning about 92,551 acres. 217 started naturally and 24 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural217
Debris and open burning206
Missing data/not specified/undetermined185
Fireworks163
Smoking90
Misuse of fire by a minor73
Equipment and vehicle use70
Recreation and ceremony57
Arson/incendiarism24
Other causes10
Power generation/transmission/distribution9
Railroad operations and maintenance2
Firearms and explosives use1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
14 September 2012Equipment and vehicle use33,318 acresFort Belknap AgencyWELDER
30 July 2006Natural7,963 acresNortheastern Land OfficeMAGGIE FIRE
29 July 2006Natural5,154 acresFort Belknap AgencyHOWARD
13 March 2012Railroad operations and maintenance4,805 acresMalta Field OfficeOUTHOUSE
19 October 2003Equipment and vehicle use3,886 acresFort Belknap AgencyLAKE17
1 August 2014Natural3,670 acresMalta Field OfficeMIDDLE BLACK
9 April 2008Debris and open burning3,000 acresNortheastern Land Officenot named
9 December 2015Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,707 acresFort Belknap AgencyVALLEY ROAD

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1957 to 2025

60 of 252 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 252 reports for this county, causing no deaths, no injuries and about $4,545,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind107
Hail102
Flood17
Tornado7
Heavy Rain7
Funnel Cloud6
Flash Flood5
Wildfire1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 2024FloodFt Belknap Siding$1,070,000MT Department of Emergency services reported $1,071,000 in damages to roads and bridges from the combination of rain and snow melt on the Fort Belknap Reservation in Blaine County.
April 2023FloodChinook$1,000,000Significant flooding occurred along the Milk River across Blaine County. The Rocky Boy SNOTEL station which is the main Milk River basin station peaked later than normal and had over 3.5 times the snow water equivalent that it normally would on April 6 (10.7 of snow water equivalent versus a normal of 3.0). When this thick snowpack melted, virtually the entire Milk River system flooded in a matter of days, as a result. The Milk River near Harlem crested at 23.80 feet on April 12, which as of this entry was the seventh highest river level recorded at this site. Roughly 4,000 aces of irrigation land was flooded. Chinook water plant was surrounded by water. Several roads and homes were impacted.
July 2023HailChinook$1,000,000Several photos submitted on social media of large hail in Chinook. Insurance company reported at least 11 vehicle hail damage claims and 5 homeowners claims. Number of claims likely increased since preliminary reports.
June 1995HailChinnok$1,000,000Golf ball-size hail damaged cars at car dealerships in Chinook. Total damage was estimated at upwards of $1 million.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindSavoy$200,000Significant damage to a farm occurred. Two grain bins were destroyed, two roofs heavily damaged, barns heavily damaged, a few windows were reported to be blown out.
July 2000Thunderstorm WindHarlem$100,000Storage shed destroyed with valuable machinary damaged...machine shop severely damaged.
July 2002Tornado (F1)Chinook$50,000A severe thunderstorm moved across southern Blaine County during the late afternoon hours on the 8th. This storm produced golf ball sized hail, and wind gusts in excess of 100 mph. A tornado developed shortly after 1600 MST. This tornado was short lived, but it did do some crop damage, along with damage to 3 residences. Several barns were destroyed and a few other structures lost roofs. One vehicle suffered major damage.
August 1993HailHogeland$50,000One to nearly three inches of rain fell causing crop damage.
August 1993HailHogeland$50,000One to nearly three inches of rain fell causing crop damage.
March 1997FloodChinook$25,000no account filed
June 1996Thunderstorm WindChinook$500no account filed
May 2025Thunderstorm WindBear Paw-Ambient weather station DBR HQ measured a 63 mph gust.
July 2025HailTurner-Video on social media showed hail size up to 1.75 inches.
July 2025Flash FloodLohman-The river gauge Clear Creek near Chinook MT - USGS-06142400 showed water rose quicky rose above bank full due to a thunderstorm beginning late on the 27th. It crested to 8.36ft early on the 28th. The water receded back into it's bank shortly after in the early morning of the 28th. No reported damages from the flood.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindCherry Ridge-BLM Cherry Ridge peak gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindLohman-Peak wind gust measured by Ambient station PG Ranch.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindFt Belknap Agency-Mesonet station FBLM8 Fort Belknap RAWS. Time of gust is estimated.
July 2024HailHogeland Arpt-Trained spotter reported 1 inch hail.
July 2024HailLodgepole-Public report on Facebook. Egg to tennis ball sized hail caused damage to windows. Time estimated using radar.
July 2024HailLodgepole-Mixed sized hail with the largest being quarters, which fell for about 10 minutes.
July 2024HailChinook-Trained spotter measured 0.11 inches of rain with the thunderstorm.
July 2024HailNorth Fork-Report from Mping.
July 2024HailFt Belknap-Report from Mping.
July 2024HailLodgepole-Lots of baseball sized hail with a few softball sized hail stones mixed in. Lots of wind was reported with the hail. Time approximated by radar. Reported by a storm chaser.
July 2024HailSt Pauls-Facebook report with an image. Location estimated using radar.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindLeroy-RAWS station LBCM8 Little Bullwhacker Creek RAWS. Time was estimated using radar given the sensor reports one peak gust per hour.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindFt Belknap Agency-RAWS station FBLM8 Fort Belknap RAWS measured a 59 mph gust while lightning was in the area. Time was estimated using radar given this sensor only reports one time per hour.
September 2024FloodChinook-Broadcast media reported minor flooding at the Blaine county fairgrounds. Standing water upwards of 6 inches in spots was reported.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindFt Belknap Agency-RAWS sensor FBLM8 Fort Belknap measured a severe gust. Time was estimated given RAWS sensors only report one time per hour.
June 2023FloodLohman-Water levels of Clear Creek near Chinook crested at 8.57 feet on June 4th, which is Major Flood Stage. At the time, this crest value was the third highest crest on record for this location.
April 2023FloodLohman-Significant snowmelt resulted in flooding along Battle Creek, near Chinook. The creek crested on April 12th at 11.94 feet. Several roads across northern and central Blaine County were impacted as a result. Water was reported over Highway 2, west of Chinook, for a time. Runoff from Cypress Hills in southern Canada may have contributed to the flooding.
April 2023FloodLloyd-Significant snowmelt resulted in flooding along Clear Creek. The creek rose approximately four feet over a 24 hour period from April 8th to April 9th, before dramatically subsiding. A nearby reservoir about 3 acres in size filled and flooded within five hours. The river gauge for Clear Creek near Chinook crested at 8.12 feet, with 8.00 feet being the designated beginning of Major Flood Stage. Multiple nearby roads were flooded as a result.
July 2023HailFt Belknap Agency-Co-op observer reported hail of quarter size was covering the ground.
July 2023HailChinook-Photos submitted of hail being measured with a ruler as well as being compared to coins.
July 2023HailChinook-Blaine County Deputy EM reported golf ball size hail at their property.
July 2023HailHarlem-Images submitted of large hail in Harlem.
August 2022Tornado (EF0)Cleveland-Photos submitted to NWS of a tornado on the backside of a single supercell near Ft. Belknap Reservation. Official indicated that the tornado was south of Ft Belknap Agency and near Wild Horse Butte. No known damage was been reported or observed.
June 2022Heavy RainHogeland-Twenty-four hour report from cocorahs.
July 2022HailHays-Pictures relayed via social media of very large hail near Hays. Time of event from radar.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindChinook Hebbelman Ar-Trained spotter reported 61 mph wind gust.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindHarlem-Agrimet site HRLM measured peak gust of 58.3 mph.
July 2022HailSt Pauls-Hail around nickel sized. Time estimated via radar.
July 2022HailHays-Reported half inch to golfball sized hail. mostly just heavy rainfall right now and calm winds.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindChinook-AWOS station KS71 (Chinnok Airport) measured 60 mph wind gust.
July 2021HailHays-A member of the public relayed a report of half dollar sized hail through social media.
July 2021HailHays-A member of the public relayed images of golf ball sized hail through social media.
July 2021Tornado (EFU)Hays-A supercell moved southeast across Blaine County early Tuesday|evening. This storm produced large hail of nearly two inches in|diameter along its path. As the severe storm approached Hays,|rotation strengthened slightly to where a brief tornado occurred.|The tornado occurred over open ranchland to the west of Montana|Highway 66 and, to our knowledge, no damage occurred. The|supercell then started to weaken as it move southeast between Hays|and Lodge Pole with the tornado likely lifting before it reached|Highway 66.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindHogeland Arpt-Time is approximate. Part of tree was taken down.
June 2021HailLeroy-Trained spotter reports 1 inch hail. In addition, 0.5 inches of rain fell with the thunderstorms.
June 2021HailHays-Quarter sized hail reported during the second storm to pass over Hays, MT.
June 2021HailHays-Quarter to ping pong ball sized hail reported in Hays, MT with the third system that tracked through the area. In addition, gusty winds shook the truck the truck. Gusts were estimated to be around 50 MPH.
June 2021HailHays-Public report from Hays, MT of ping pong to tennis ball sized hail when the first system moved through.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindHogeland-Trained spotter reported downed 15 to 20 foot crab apple tree and flag pole due to thunderstorm wind gusts. Nearly an inch of rain fell.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindTurner-Trained spotter reported 3 to 4 foot chunks and larger tree branches were blown down due to thunderstorm wind gusts.
July 2020HailTurner-Member of public reported quarter size hail and gusty winds.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindFt Belknap-RAWS station FBLM8 Fort Belknap measured a 57 kt (66 mph) thunderstorm wind gust.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindFt Belknap Agency-Fort Belknap raws mesonet station fblm8.
June 2019HailAdams Siding-Measured north of Chinook near the Canadian border. Storm is showing signs of rotation with wall cloud, but not dropping anything at the moment. Truck windshield damaged.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindChinook-Spotter reports at least on tree down partially blocking a road south of Chinook.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindFt Belknap Agency-Electricity outage occurred.

Mines and quarries

40 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 40 workings inside this county. 2 still produce and 38 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction18
Lead5
Abrasive5
Silver4
Zeolites, Diamond4
Clay4
Stone, Crushed/Broken3
Gold, Silver2
Lead, Copper1
Zeolites1
Diamond, Zeolites1
Barium-Barite1
Geothermal1
Copper1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Big Warm SpringsGeothermalProducer
Black Diamond ClaimIronProspect
Clay PitClay, ZeolitesOccurrence
Edith M. ClaimCopper, Gold, SilverProspect
Hal 21/22Abrasive, Diamond, ZeolitesOccurrence
Linda, Etal, O'Hanlon MineLead, CopperOccurrenceChalcopyrite, Galena
Rex ClaimGold, SilverOccurrence
Unnamed Lead & BariumLead, Barium-BariteOccurrence
Bear's Paw MineLead, Gold, SilverProspect
Limestone QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Matador DomeStone, Crushed/BrokenOccurrence
Snake Butte QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Dike 1Abrasive, Zeolites, DiamondUnknown
Edison ClaimSilver, LeadProspect
Hal 2, 3Abrasive, Zeolites, DiamondOccurrence
Hal 23124Abrasive, Zeolites, DiamondOccurrence
Hal 32Abrasive, Zeolites, DiamondOccurrence
Linda MineSilver, LeadPast Producer
Silver King ClaimSilver, LeadProspect
Unnamed BentoniteClayOccurrence
Unnamed BentoniteClayOccurrence
Unnamed BentoniteClayOccurrence
Blaine Sand & GravelSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitsSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitsSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Tilleman Pit and PlantSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

43

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Blaine County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.