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Fergus County, Montana

96 topographic sheets cover 81 settlements here, and 48 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

48 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Montana within the United States
Fergus County within Montana

What the record shows

  • 800 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 48 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 36 buildings, 9 districts, 1 structure, 1 site and 1 object.
  • 4 of the 48 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 81 populated places in this county; 81 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

48

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
Anderson Housebuilding199392001770
Ayers Housebuilding198686000061
Bright Housebuilding199392001766
Broadway Buildingbuilding198585001406
Clark-Cardwell Housebuilding198686000063
Culver Studiobuilding198080002412
Draft Horse Barn, Fergus County Fairgroundsbuilding2017100001895
Fergus County High Schoolbuilding198585001409
Fergus County Improvement Corporation Dormitorybuilding198080002413
First Presbyterian Churchbuilding198686000065
Gamble-Robinson Company Warehousebuilding2017100000888
Frank Hagadone Homesteaddistrict200908001384
Abraham and Mary Walton Hogeland Housebuilding200707000465
House at 301 Eighth Avenue, Southbuilding198686000066
House at 324 W. Corcoranbuilding199392001773
House at 618 West Janeauxbuilding198686000062
House at 805 W. Watsonbuilding199392001767
House at 809 W. Watsonbuilding199392001768
House at 813 W. Watsonbuilding199392001769
Huntoon Residencebuilding198585001408
Judith Place Historic Districtdistrict198888000465
Lewis Housebuilding199392001765
Lewistown Carnegie Librarybuilding198080002411
Lewistown Central Business Historic Districtdistrict198585001405
Lewistown Merchantile Companybuilding198686000064
Lewistown Satellite Airfield Historic Districtdistrict200000000162
Lewistown Satellite Airfield Historic District (Boundary Increase II)district200706001247
Lewistown Satellite Airfield Historic District (Boundary Increase)district200404000979
Lewistown Silk Stocking Districtdistrict198585001407
Manley's General Storebuilding2024100011024
Manley's General Storebuilding2024100011024
Masonic Templebuilding197979001401
Mill Housebuilding199392001764
N-Bar Ranchbuilding199191000881
Naylor Brothers Ranch Historic Districtdistrict200808001261
Gus Nelson Homesteaddistrict201111000093
Reed and Bowles Trading Postbuilding201010000520
Reed's Fort Post Officebuilding201010000545
Fred Robinson Bridgestructure201212000171
Rocky Pointsite197575001082
Schroeder Hospitalbuilding199392001771
St. James Episcopal Church and Parish Housebuilding197878001683
St. Joseph's Hospitalbuilding197878001684
St. Leo's Catholic Churchbuilding198282003163
St. Wenceslaus Catholic Churchbuilding201414000221
Stafford's Grocerybuilding201616000141
Symmes Park Missileobject2021100006312
US Post Office and Federal Building-Lewistownbuilding198686000684

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

354 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 354 of them, burning about 27,520 acres. 253 started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural253
Missing data/not specified/undetermined45
Equipment and vehicle use27
Recreation and ceremony13
Debris and open burning11
Power generation/transmission/distribution1
Smoking1
Railroad operations and maintenance1
Other causes1
Misuse of fire by a minor1

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
15 August 2015Natural4,472 acresFergus CountyTROPHY RIDGE
8 September 1994Missing data/not specified/undetermined4,217 acresHelena - Lewis and Clark National ForestWINDY POINT
24 July 2006Natural2,000 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictBOX ELDER
23 July 2005Natural1,968 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictKNOX
12 November 2007Power generation/transmission/distribution1,470 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictSOUTH MOCCCASINS
3 September 2018Other causes1,095 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictROSE CREEK
7 August 2020Natural1,036 acresFergus CountyJUDITH RIVER ROAD 2
19 August 2014Natural1,033 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictBLAKESLEE

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

Storms, 1956 to 2025

60 of 515 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 515 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 3 injuries and about $4,902,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail251
Thunderstorm Wind193
Tornado27
Heavy Rain21
Flood11
Funnel Cloud7
Flash Flood5

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
August 1999Tornado (F2)Lewistown3 hurt, $4,000,000NUMEROUS HAIL REPORTS 1 TO 2 INCHES...ONE WIND ESTIMATE AHEAD OF TORNADO 87KT
June 2023Flash Flood(Lwt)Lewiston Muni A$200,000Fergus County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management reported portions of Casino Creek Road washed out from heavy rain and flooding of the creek. The road was washed out completely in at least two locations, per a later NWS survey. Many cattle fields along the creek were also flooded.
May 2011FloodLewistown Muni Arpt$125,000Wild Rose Road washed out.|Faron Hill Road washed out.|Middle Fork Road washed out.|Giltedge Road washed out.|Highway 87S from mile marker 31 to 32 a dam was breached.|Highway 191N between Roy and Lewistown road damaged due to a sink hole.|Many homes affected and a shelter was set up in Lewistown for flood victims.
July 2002Tornado (F2)Hilger$100,000A severe thunderstorm moved across the northern half of Fergus County during the late afternoon hours on the 8th. This storm produced a widespread area of one to two inch hail from Brooks to Roy, with wind gusts over 70 mph. When the storm was just north of Brooks, a tornado developed. This tornado was on the ground for several miles, but remained over rural areas of Fergus County. However, this tornado did hit three residences, causing damage to houses and several barns. A few mobile homes were also damaged and one grain elevator near Moulton was toppled.
June 1994HailBig Sandy$50,000A severe thunderstorm moved from near Gilford southeast into southeast Fergus County. The hail damage was three miles wide and over 26 miles long.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindBig Sandy$50,000A severe thunderstorm moved from near Gilford southeast into southeast Fergus County. The hail damage was three miles wide and over 26 miles long.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindLewis & Clark$50,000Some trees were blown down and some out building damaged.
August 1994Thunderstorm WindRoy$50,000Thunderstorm winds blew off a large section of shed roof.
May 1994HailHilger$50,000no account filed
May 1994Thunderstorm WindHilger$50,000no account filed
August 1998Tornado (F1)Moore$35,000no account filed
June 2023Flash FloodGlengarry$25,000Fergus County Sheriff's Office reported portions of Cottonwood Creek Road washed out from flooding.
June 1996Tornado (F2)Denton$25,000no account filed
June 1976Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 2023FloodLewistown$10,000Big Spring Creek south of Lewistown came out of its banks in several areas, resulting in flooding. Several small parks and boat entrances were closed and underwater as a result. Nearby and surrounding tributaries also flooded.
July 2000Thunderstorm WindHilger$10,000Barn blown down.
July 2000HailDenton$5,000Windows broken...solar panels destroyed.
July 1998Thunderstorm WindValentine$5,000GARAGE AND OLD BUILDING BLOWN OVER
July 1994Thunderstorm WindLewistown$5,000Several trees were blown down.
May 1994HailLewistown$5,000no account filed
August 1998Tornado (F0)Moore$4,000no account filed
July 2025Thunderstorm WindLewistown$3,000Trees down along the Lewistown Trail System blocking the trail. Time estimated based on radar.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindGrassrange$3,000no account filed
June 1999Tornado (F0)Lewistown$3,000no account filed
June 1988Tornado (F0)not stated$2,500no account filed
June 1971Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
September 2000HailWinifred$2,000Damage to house and vehicle.
August 2004Thunderstorm WindSuffolk$2,000no account filed
July 1999Tornado (F0)Denton$2,000no account filed
July 2025HailPiper$1,000Spotter reported hail between 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter. The spotter also noted the hail punched a hole into their deck.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindMoore$1,000Spotter reported tree limbs up to 8 inches in diameter blown off of their cottonwood tree. Time estimated by radar.
July 2000Thunderstorm WindLewistown$1,0000.75 inch hail and 52kt wind gust...funnel cloud...windows broke out of house.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindLewistown$500Corrects previous thunderstorm wind dmg report from 1 NW Lewistown. Public reported on social media that an abandoned lumber shop collapsed due to the thunderstorms with photos of debris across the property. Time estimated based on radar.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindHoosac-Montana DOT sensor East of Denton (MTDEN) gusted to 58 mph.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindSuffolk-Ambient sensor Hilltop0 measured a 66 mph gust.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindWinifred-Montana mesonet station Woodhawk (acewinif) measured a 60 mph gust.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindRoy Jct-Mesonet station JPKM8 Judith Peak RAWS measured a 65 mph wind gust. Time of gust estimated given station reports once per hour.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindLewistown Holland Ar-Montana Mesonet station Forestgrove N (acefores) measured a 59 mph wind gust.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindRoy-AWOS station K1OM Oscar measured a 68 mph wind gust.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindRoy-MT DOT sensor Bohemian Corner (MTBOH) measured a 61 mph wind gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindDanvers-Ambient weather station. Sustained winds of 47 mph at the time of observation.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindRoy Jct-Estimated wind gusts near 60 mph. Apple tree took a hit.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindLewistown Holland Ar-Montana mesonet sensor Forestgrove N.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindRoy-Roy E hydromet peak gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindGrassrange Clark Arp-Weather underground station near Grass Range.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindRoy-AWOS station K1OM Oscar. Peak gust for the thunderstorm at this sensor.
August 2025HailGrassrange-Spotter estimated hail up to an inch in size.
August 2025HailGrassrange-Report received of a wind shield cracked from falling hail.
June 2025HailRoss Fork-Trained spotter reports golf ball size hail.
June 2025HailDanvers-Report from social media. Ground was almost completely covered with hailstones ranging from quarter to golf ball size. Time estimated based on radar.
June 2025HailDanvers-Patrol car traveling along Highway 81 received substantial hail damage. Location and time estimated based on radar.
June 2025Hail(Lwt)Lewiston Muni A-Trained spotter reports egg to tennis ball size hail. Images were provided.
June 2025HailForestgrove-Time estimated based on radar imagery.
June 2025HailGrassrange Clark Arp-Report from mping.
June 2025HailGrassrange-Hail ranging from pea size to half dollar size fell for about 5 minutes.
June 2025HailGrassrange-Report from mping.
June 2025HailGrassrange-Report originated from spotter network.
June 2025HailGarneill-Trained spotter reported quarter size hail.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindSuffolk-MT Mesonset station Christina W.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindWinifred Arpt-Social media image received showing damage to metal roofing.

Mines and quarries

162 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 162 workings inside this county. 16 still produce and 146 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Gold67
Silver31
Lead22
Gypsum-Anhydrite9
Clay8
Gold, Silver7
Iron6
Sand and Gravel, Construction6
Copper5
Silver, Zinc5
Limestone, Dimension5
Silver, Gold5
Fluorine-Fluorite3
Lead, Silver3

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
America MineSilver, Zinc, LeadOccurrence
Armells Producer ClaimLead, Silver, Zinc, GoldPast Producer
Big Grassy GroupGold, Silver, TelluriumProspect
Black Bull MineSilver, Copper, Gold, Lead, ZincProducer1885
Blue GooseGold, Zinc, SilverProspect
Christensen BariteBarium-BariteProspect
DepressionDiatomite, SilverProspect
Federal Reserve GroupSilver, Lead, GoldPast Producer
GlobeLead, Zinc, Silver, Gold, CopperPast Producer
Horeshoe and MuleshoeGold, Silver, CopperProspect
Iron Chancellor MineLead, Zinc, Silver, CopperPast Producer
KendallSilver, Gold, TungstenPlant1890, 1988
Montago MineGold, Copper, SilverPast Producer
MountclairCopper, Gold, Lead, Silver, ZincProspect
Myranda ClaimGold, Silver, LeadPast Producer
No. 4 MineGold, Silver, Lead, Zinc, CopperPast Producer
Northern PacificLead, Fluorine-Fluorite, Coal, CopperProspect
Old NelsonLead, Gold, Silver, ZincPast Producer
S & P MiningLead, Silver, Copper, ZincProspect
Sheep Mountain MineGold, Silver, Lead, CopperPast Producer
Spotted Horse MineGold, Silver, Lead, Copper, Tellurium, ZincProducer1881
Surprise Stone QuarryStoneProducer
Sutter MineCopper, Silver, IronPast Producer1884, 1916
Tindall MinesVanadiumOccurrence
Unnamed Limestone OccurrenceLimestone, GeneralOccurrence
West Armell's CreekIron, ManganeseOccurrence
White & Gilpatrick ClaimsLead, Zinc, CopperProspect
Whiteware ClayKaolinOccurrence1936
Copper-Lead No. 3Copper, Lead, ZincOccurrence
Fergus County Silica Sand DepositSilica, Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProspect
Judith Mtn. DepositsGold, Silver, Fluorine-FluoriteOccurrenceFluorite, Sylvanite
Paradise Ranch QuarryCalciumPast Producer
Rocky ButteCalciumOccurrence
South MoccasinGold, Silver, Fluorine-FluoriteOccurrenceFluorite
Unnamed Hot SpringGeothermalProducer
Unnamed LocationSilicaOccurrence
Warm SpringGeothermalProducer
Big Push MineGold, Lead, SilverOccurrence
Fluorspar DepositFluorine-FluoriteOccurrence
Geis MineGold, Lead, SilverPlant1985, 1987
High HopeLead, ZincProspect
MatthewsGold, Lead, SilverPast Producer
North Star GroupSilver, ZincOccurrence
Parsons Lead-Zinc ProspectLead, ZincUnknown
Unnamed LocationFluorine-FluoriteOccurrence
Unnamed LocationFluorine-FluoriteOccurrence
AccidentLead, Silver, GoldPast Producer
Castle ButteLimestone, DimensionOccurrence
Copper Elk #5, 6, 7, 8, 9 GroupSilver, GoldProspect
Dexter Gulch LimestoneLimestone, DimensionOccurrence
Great Falls and Judith PropertyLead, Silver, ZincProspect
Hamilton Copper ProspectCopper, SilverProspect
Hamilton Copper Queen GroupCopper, GoldProspect
Homestake ProspectLead, Silver, GoldOccurrence
JusticeLead, Silver, GoldProspect
Lead Chief and Lead Chief No. 2Lead, Silver, ZincPast Producer
Limestone OccurrenceLimestone, DimensionOccurrence
Limestone OccurrenceLimestone, DimensionOccurrence
Limestone OccurrenceLimestone, DimensionOccurrence
Republic MineLead, Silver, ZincPast Producer
Slag DumpLead, Silver, ZincUnknown
UrbanaCopperProspect
War Eagle MineLead, Silver, ZincPast Producer
Casino Creek ConcreteSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Independents Nos. 3 & 4IronOccurrence
Iron KingIronProspect
Konitz #1Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Little Meadow Gulch DepositIronUnknown
Maxwell PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Mcdonald Sand and Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
North Moccasin MtIronOccurrence
Plum Creek DepositIronOccurrence
Welkers Sand & GravelSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Blue BellLead, Gold, SilverProspect
Bonanza GroupGold, SilverProspect
Cumberland MineGold, SilverPast Producer1885
Jay Dee No. 3Gold, SilverProspect
Two Lady No. 7Gold, SilverOccurrence
Warm SpringsGold, SilverProducerChalcopyrite, Fluorite, Galena, Sphalerite
Kootenai Formation ClaysClayOccurrence
Lewiston PitClayProducer
Lewistown Brick & Tile Co.ClayPast Producer
Unnamed LocationClayOccurrence
Unnamed LocationClayOccurrence
Unnamed LocationClayOccurrence
Unnamed LocationClayOccurrence
Whiteware Clay DepositClayProspect
Gyp BasinGypsum-AnhydriteOccurrence
Hanover Gypsum PlantGypsum-AnhydritePast Producer
Hanover MineGypsum-AnhydritePast Producer1916
Hanover MineGypsum-AnhydriteOccurrence
Piper DepositGypsum-AnhydriteOccurrence
Shoemaker MineGypsum-AnhydriteProducer1905, 1916
U.S. Gypsum Co. MineGypsum-AnhydriteProducer
United States Gypsum's PropertyGypsum-AnhydritePast Producer
Unnamed LocationGypsum-AnhydriteOccurrence
Big SpringLead, SilverProspect
Birmingham ProspectSilver, LeadOccurrence
CaveSilver, LeadProspect
Copper Elk MineLead, SilverPast Producer
Allen Silver ClaimsSilver, GoldProspect
Bay HorseSilver, GoldProspect
Black HawkGold, SilverProspect
BoulderSilverProspect
CollarSilverProspect
CumberlandGold, SilverPast Producer
Edwards MineGold, SilverPast Producer
Gilt Edge MineGold, SilverPast Producer1883
Golden and Dawes Lode ClaimsGold, SilverProspect
Lucky StrikeSilver, GoldProspect
Maginnis MineGold, SilverPast Producer1880, 1881
Old GloryGold, SilverProspect
Pilgrim ProspectSilverProspect
Silver BullionSilver, GoldProspect
Silver QueenSilverOccurrence
Tail Holt MineGold, SilverPast Producer
The Get Even ClaimSilver, GoldProspect
Thomas ClaimsGold, SilverProspect
Voltaire MineGold, SilverProspect
Vulcan and ErieGold, SilverOccurrence
Western Mines Corp.SilverPast Producer
WocasekSilverUnknown
Abby MineGoldProspect
Alpine Gulch PlacerGoldUnknown
Armells Creek PlacerGoldProspect
Barnes-KingGoldPast Producer
Big SixGoldProspect
Big Six MineGoldPast Producer
Black DiamondGoldOccurrence
Butcher Knife MineGoldProspect
Chicago GulchGoldProspect
Clara May and EllaGoldProspect
Dog Creek PlacerGoldProspect
First National MineGoldOccurrence
Golden Armells and Armells BonanzaGoldProspect
Golden DiscoveryGoldProspect
Golden JackGoldProspect
GoodwinGoldOccurrence
H and HGoldProspect
HardscrambleGoldOccurrence
HazzardGoldOccurrence
Hilger MillGoldPast Producer
HorseshoeGoldOccurrence
Iron Gulch PlacerGoldProspect
Last ChanceGoldProspect
LinsterGoldProspect
Maiden Creek PlacerGoldProspect
MammothGoldProspect
Mcclure Gulch and Bed Rock GulchGoldOccurrence
New YearGoldPast Producer
North MoccasinGoldProducerChalcopyrite, Galena, Limonite, Malachite, Pyrite, Smithsonite, Sphalerite
North Moccasin MineGoldPast Producer
North Moccasin ProjectGoldProducer
P. K. MineGoldProspect
Peerless ClaimGoldProspect
Plum Creek PlacerGoldProspect
Red Rock MineGoldOccurrence
Ruby GulchGoldProspect
SantiagoGoldPast Producer
SheGoldProspect
Whisky GulchGoldPast Producer
White ElephantGoldProspect

Every populated place in the county

81

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 Fergus 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.