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Hill County, Montana

59 topographic sheets cover 33 settlements here, and 9 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

9 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Montana within the United States
Hill County within Montana

What the record shows

  • 297 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 9 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 8 buildings and 1 district.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 33 populated places in this county; 33 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

9

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
Carnegie Public Librarybuilding198686001934
H. Earl Clack Housebuilding198585003385
Havre Residential Historic Districtdistrict198989001630
Heltne Oil Companybuilding199494000865
Kiwanis Meeting Hallbuilding201010000133
Northern Montana College Girls Residence Hallbuilding2024100010160
Officer's Amusement Hallbuilding198989000040
US Post Office and Courthouse-Havre Mainbuilding198686000682
Young-Almas Housebuilding198080002421

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

771 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 771 of them, burning about 30,672 acres. 54 started naturally and 138 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning248
Arson/incendiarism138
Missing data/not specified/undetermined82
Fireworks82
Misuse of fire by a minor73
Natural54
Equipment and vehicle use47
Recreation and ceremony18
Other causes12
Smoking10
Power generation/transmission/distribution6
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
27 August 2017Missing data/not specified/undetermined18,915 acresRocky Boy's AgencyEAST FORK
30 March 2012Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,034 acresMalta Field OfficeBIG STRETCH
30 March 2012Natural1,760 acresRocky Boy's AgencyBILLY RANCH FIRE
16 July 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,300 acresHill CountyFDH-MTLG12-64
24 August 1999Debris and open burning1,200 acresRocky Boy's AgencySHIRLEY
27 August 2020Equipment and vehicle use1,000 acresHill CountyFDH-MTLG12-294
26 August 2017Equipment and vehicle use600 acresNortheastern Land Officenot named
30 July 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined500 acresHill CountyFDH-MTLG12-97

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

Storms, 1955 to 2025

60 of 343 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 343 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 1 injury and about $4,062,750 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind200
Hail112
Heavy Rain11
Tornado7
Flood6
Funnel Cloud5
Flash Flood2

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
September 2004Thunderstorm WindHavre1 hurt, $10,000no account filed
April 2023FloodLaredo$2,000,000Mountain snowpack in the Milk River basin melted out very quickly and contributed significant flooding. Virtually the entire Milk River system flooded in a matter of days as a result, starting near the headwaters in Hill County. Big Sandy Creek near Havre crested at 12.07 feet on April 13, which (as of entry) was the fourth highest crest on record. Route 50 was greatly flooded as well as some businesses . Farther north, Lodge Creek below McRae Creek approached Major Flood stage before cresting at 10.59 feet on April 18th. Much of rural northern Hill County experienced flooding as a result. The Milk River gauge near Havre remained below flood stage, although river levels did come out of their banks farther east, ultimately impacting eastern portions of Havre.
May 2024FloodRocky Boy$1,210,000Hill County Department of Emergency Services and MT Department of Emergency Services reported flooding in and around the Bears Paw Mountains. Total damage done totaled $1,205,267. The main expenses were to roads & bridges ($368,000) and to parks, recreational, or other facilities ($836,000).
May 1980Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
June 1998Flash FloodHavre$233,000no account filed
June 2003Thunderstorm WindHavre$200,000no account filed
June 1994HailGildford$50,000no account filed
August 2023Thunderstorm WindHingham$45,000A 40 x 60 metal shed destroyed from collapsing thunderstorm wind gusts. Nearby observations recorded wind gusts in excess of 70 mph.
August 1999Thunderstorm WindBox Elder$40,000OVERTURNED A TRAILER...DAMAGED FENCES AND ROOFS
June 2022Thunderstorm WindHaure Afs$20,000Two power poles snapped at the base. Road signs reported to be blown over.
August 1992Tornado (F0)not stated$2,500no account filed
June 2004Thunderstorm WindHingham$1,000no account filed
September 2004HailSimpson$1,000no account filed
July 1962Tornadonot stated$250no account filed
May 2025Thunderstorm WindRudyard-Mesonet station EW1931 Rudyard measured a 63 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
May 2025Thunderstorm Wind(Hvr)Havre City-Co A-ASOS station KHVR Havre Airport measured a 61 mph wind gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindCold Stone-Mesonet station EW1937 Goldstone peak gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindSimpson-Montana mesonet station Kremlin NW peak gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindInverness-Montana mesonet station Inverness N peak gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindGildford-Mesonet station GW6391 Gildford 10n peak gust.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindSimpson-Mesonet station GW6392 Gildford 15n measured a 59 mph wind gust.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindInverness-MT DOT weather station (Inverness US-2 MP 337.6) measured a 58 mph wind gust.
July 2025Flood(Hvr)Havre City-Co A-Broadcast Media reposted photos and videos of flooding in the town of Havre due to a thunderstorm producing heavy rainfall. Emergency managers reported that the flooding was confined to the town of Havre and water rose up to 3.25 on streets. No specific damages or injuries were reported due to the flood.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindSimpson-Montana mesonet station Simpson peak gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindHavre-Montana mesonet station Lake Thubadeau W peak gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindInverness-Mesonet station GW4079 Inverness 10 SE.
August 2025Thunderstorm Wind(Hvr)Havre City-Co A-ASOS station KHVR Havre Airport initial severe gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindAssinniboine-MT mesonet southwest of Havre.
August 2025Thunderstorm Wind(Hvr)Havre City-Co A-Peak gust at Asos station KHVR Havre Airport.
August 2025HailHavre-Social media picture of hail approximated to be 1.25 inches or a bit larger 1 mile south of Havre. Time estimated using radar.
August 2025Thunderstorm Wind(Hvr)Havre City-Co A-ASOS station KHVR Havre Airport. Peak gust at the asos.
July 2024Thunderstorm Wind(Hvr)Havre City-Co A-ASOS station KHVR measured a severe caliber gust.
July 2024HailHavre-Public report of golf ball to baseball sized hail that lasted about ten minutes. Hail completely covered the ground.
July 2024HailHaure Afs-Public report from social media. Location was estimated based on the report time given by the public and radar data.
July 2024HailHavre-Reported via social media with images. Time estimated via radar.
July 2024HailHavre-Facebook report.
July 2024HailHavre-Social media report showing golf ball to egg sized hail that lasted for about 12 minutes. 0.2 inches of rain with the storm.
July 2024HailHavre-Quarter to golf ball sized hail was reported by a trained spotter. Hail was reported to be completely covering the ground.
September 2024Thunderstorm Wind(Hvr)Havre City-Co A-ASOS station KHVR Havre Airport measured a 54 kt gust.
September 2024Thunderstorm Wind(Hvr)Havre City-Co A-ASOS station KHVR Havre Airport measured a 54 kt gust.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindRudyard-Mesonst station GW3530 Rudyard 11 S measured a severe caliber gust.
August 2024Thunderstorm Wind(Hvr)Havre City-Co A-ASOS station KHVR Haver Airport measured a severe caliber gust.
June 2023Funnel CloudBox Elder-Public submitted photos of a funnel cloud near Rocky Boy, taken from Highway 87.
June 2023Tornado (EFU)Box Elder-Broadcast media submitted photos of tornado across rural Hill County. Two additional funnel clouds were filmed near the ongoing tornado. Due to limited access to the touchdown area, no storm survey was able to be conducted. Movement was to the west/northwest and was associated with a strengthening thunderstorm.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindFresno-Recorded by automated system on southeast end of Fresno Reservoir.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindRudyard-Measured by site EW1931 Rudyard.
August 2023Thunderstorm Wind(Hvr)Havre City-Co A-Measured by Havre Airport ASOS station khvr.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindHaure Afs-Mesonet station kmthavre60.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindCold Stone-Mesonet fw1664 Hingham.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindCold Stone-An Ambient weather station measured a 70 mph gust in northern Hill county.
September 2022Thunderstorm WindInverness-Mesonet station MTINV Inverness reported 68 knot wind gust.
July 2022HailCold Stone-Public report of 1.5 inch hail 15 miles N of Rudyard.
July 2022Thunderstorm Wind(Hvr)Havre City-Co A-Trained spotter reported lightning, pea sized hail, with a rain rate of 3-5 in/hr. Sustained winds of 70 mph, with a 90 mph gust.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindHavre-Trained spotter reported 81 mph wind gust 1 mile ENE of Havre.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindCold Stone-Gust measured at mesonet station FW1664 Hingham.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindCold Stone-Wind gust measured at mesonet station EW1937 Goldstone.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindCold Stone-Gust measured via an Ambient sensor.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindHaure Afs-Public report of two power poles snapped at the base on mt highway 232 at mile marker 21. Additionally, signs were reported to be blown over. Time estimated via radar.
June 2022Heavy RainRocky Boy-Spotter reported 3.5 inches rain accumulation.
June 2022Thunderstorm Wind(Hvr)Havre City-Co A-ASOS station khvr Havre Airport.

Mines and quarries

17 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 17 workings inside this county. 2 still produce and 15 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction10
Lead2
Niobium (Columbium)1
Zinc, Zirconium, Niobium (Columbium), Uranium, Copper, Lead, Titanium, Metal1
Aluminum1
Silver1
Arsenic, Gold, Silver1
Stone, Crushed/Broken1
Uranium1
Tantalum, Niobium (Columbium), Vermiculite1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Nepheline OccurrencesAluminumOccurrence
Number OneUranium, Tantalum, Niobium (Columbium), VermiculiteProspect
Rainbow ClaimsSilver, LeadOccurrence
Rainbow ClaimsLead, Arsenic, Gold, SilverProspect
Rocky Boy StockNiobium (Columbium)Occurrence
UnnamedZinc, Zirconium, Niobium (Columbium), Uranium, Copper, Lead, Titanium, MetalOccurrencePyrite, Pyrrhotite
UnnamedStone, Crushed/BrokenOccurrence
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 PitsSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Havre Sand and Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Warhawk Rambo PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

33

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 Hill 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.