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Judith Basin County, Montana

73 topographic sheets cover 26 settlements here, and 3 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

3 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Montana within the United States
Judith Basin County within Montana

What the record shows

  • 345 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 3 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 2 buildings and 1 district.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 26 populated places in this county; 26 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

3

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
Judith River Ranger Stationdistrict199292000333
Meadowbrook Stock Farmbuilding199291001938
Wood Lawn Farmbuilding199392001762

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

138 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 138 of them, burning about 21,141 acres. 84 started naturally and 1 was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural84
Recreation and ceremony19
Missing data/not specified/undetermined16
Equipment and vehicle use9
Debris and open burning4
Smoking2
Power generation/transmission/distribution2
Arson/incendiarism1
Railroad operations and maintenance1

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
2 September 2020Equipment and vehicle use5,642 acresJudith Basin CountyLOUSE CREEK
3 October 2020Missing data/not specified/undetermined5,309 acresHelena - Lewis and Clark National ForestYOGO
5 October 2020Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,858 acresCascade CountyTOWER FIRE
2 February 2020Power generation/transmission/distribution2,700 acresJudith Basin CountyEAGLE ROCK ROAD
2 August 2000Natural1,300 acresHelena - Lewis and Clark National ForestLOST FORK RIDGE
21 June 2007Natural1,146 acresHelena - Lewis and Clark National ForestMIDDLE FORK
2 August 2008Natural743 acresHelena - Lewis and Clark National ForestRUSSIAN FLATS
28 July 1999Natural564 acresHelena - Lewis and Clark National ForestSPRING CREEK

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

Storms, 1955 to 2025

60 of 247 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 247 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 1 injury and about $905,250 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail149
Thunderstorm Wind57
Tornado16
Heavy Rain9
Funnel Cloud6
Flood5
Wildfire4
Flash Flood1

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
July 1965Tornado (F2)not stated1 hurt, $25,000no account filed
April 1994Tornado (F2)Stanford$500,000The Bill Skelton ranch was hit by two tornadoes. Damage was extensive. A barn roof made from 8 to 12 inch logs was carried away. A two foot in diameter cottonwood tree was snapped five feet above the ground. A 24-foot horse trailer was picked up and carried 65 yards landing on its top and it hit and damaged a tractor enroute. A 1.5 ton truck was tipped over and an out building made from heavy beams and spiked down was twisted and moved. A mobile home was lifted and a large fuel tank was deposited under it. Several one ton hay bales were moved 20-30 yards. Golf ball-sized hail fell ahead of the tornadoes and covered the ground to a depth of five inches.
May 1977Tornadonot stated$250,000no account filed
May 2011FloodRaynesford$50,000Several roads were washed out including the Utica area and areas south of Stanford and Hobson.
April 1994Tornado (F2)Stanford$50,000The Bill Skelton ranch was hit by two tornadoes. Damage was extensive. A barn roof made from 8 to 12 inch logs was carried away. A two foot in diameter cottonwood tree was snapped five feet above the ground. A 24-foot horse trailer was picked up and carried 65 yards landing on its top and it hit and damaged a tractor enroute. A 1.5 ton truck was tipped over and an out building made from heavy beams and spiked down was twisted and moved. A mobile home was lifted and a large fuel tank was deposited under it. Several one ton hay bales were moved 20-30 yards. Golf ball-sized hail fell ahead of the tornadoes and covered the ground to a depth of five inches.
May 1977Tornadonot stated$25,000no account filed
July 2000HailRaynesford$5,000Damaged cars.
July 1957Tornado (F1)not stated$250no account filed
June 2025Thunderstorm WindGeyser-Mesonet station MTGYS Geyser measured a 50 kt gust.
June 2025HailHobson-Spotter reports golf ball to egg size hail. Tree damage was also observed.
June 2025HailHobson-Golf ball to egg size hail reported. Additionally, hail damage to vehicle and campers was reported.
June 2025HailMoccasin-Report from social media showed golf ball sized hail as well as significant damage to outdoor play equipment and shattered skylights and windows. Time estimated from radar.
June 2025HailUtica-Post event report received via social media. Size estimated from photo of hail in the palm of a hand.
June 2025HailBenchland-Public report of quarter sized hail around Benchland.
June 2025HailBenchland-Public caller updated with golf ball sized hail a few minutes after initial call.
June 2025HailBenchland-Trained spotter reports hail of quarter size to half dollar size along US-87 between Moccasin and Windham. Damage to automobiles reported as well.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindMoccasin-Mesonet station MTM09 2.1 W Moccasin measured a 60 mph wind gust.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindSipple-Montana mesonet sensor Judith Gap measured a 63 mph wind gust.
September 2025Thunderstorm WindSipple-Report via media: Funnel cloud was observed picking up dust for about 45 seconds and believed to have touched the ground. Location was about 6 mi south of Buffalo and 2 mi west of Garneill. No damages were reported with the landspout.
June 2024HailHobson-Trained spotter reported 1 to 2 inch hail with torrential rainfall. The hail completely covered the ground, making it white.
June 2024HailMoccasin-Quarter-sized hail fell for approximately 20 minutes. Damage to crops observed.
June 2024HailHobson-Trained spotter reports golf ball sized hail.
June 2024HailBenchland-Trained spotter reports 1 inch hail.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindGeyser-MDT sensor MTGYS Geyser measured a severe wind gust.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindMerino-AWOS station K1BM Bravo measured a severe gust.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindMerino-AWOS sensor K1CM Charlie near Geyser measured a 60 mph gust.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindGeyser-Measured at site MTGYS near Geyser.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindWindham-Measured by military AWOS site k1cm Charlie.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindWindham-Awos k1cm Charlie.
July 2022Funnel CloudWindham-Funnel cloud observed halfway to the ground to the northwest of the observers locations (5 miles SW of Windham).
July 2022Heavy RainHobson-Trained spotter reported heavy rainfall from thunderstorms.
July 2022Tornado (EF0)Stanford-A brief and non impactful tornado was observed across Skull Butte. Very low funnel cloud well photographed and documented by spotter. Multiple photos show funnel nearly on the ground. Time of event, path length, and duration derived from spotter information and radar.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindGeyser-Mesonet station MTGYS (Geyser) measured a 58 mph wind gust.
July 2022Funnel CloudRaynesford-Trained spotter driving from Lewistown to Great Falls, indicated the funnel cloud just ESE of Raynesford.
July 2022Funnel CloudStanford-In addition to quarter size hail, funnel cloud was observed due west of spotters locations (5 miles SW of Stanford).
July 2022HailMoccasin-Pictures submitted via social media of golf ball to egg size hail near Moccasin.
July 2022HailHobson-Hail around quarter size falling near Hobson. Report from a storm chaser.
July 2022HailHobson-Trained spotter reported hail up to golf ball size falling in Hobson.
July 2022HailStanford-Trained spotter reported 1 inch hail 5 miles SW near Stanford.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindHobson-Strong wind gusts estimated around 60mph with sustained winds around 30 to 40 MPH.
June 2021HailHobson-Spotter reports 1 to 1.25 inch hail south of Hobson near Black Bull RD.
May 2020Thunderstorm WindGeyser-MDT station at Geyser reports a 52 kt (60 mph) thunderstorm wind gust.
May 2020HailMoccasin-Public reports 1.25 inch diameter hail.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindHobson-Trained spotter estimates 52 kt (60 mph) thunderstorm wind gust by sway of trees, dense blowing dust along with near visibility was also observed.
July 2020HailStanford-Photo of quarter size hail was sent via twitter.
August 2020HailRaynesford-Posted on Twitter.
August 2020HailRaynesford-During a period of time from 450 PM to 500 PM, dime to quarter-size hail fell, along with torrential downpour of large rain drops. Spotter reports the ground partially covered with hail.
August 2020HailGeyser-Quarter-size hail in Geyser for 10 min.
May 2019FloodUtica-Fergus County Sheriff reported flooding near Utica. Exact duration of flooding unknown.
June 2019HailHobson-One inch hail measured by trained spotter.
June 2019HailBenchland-One inch hail measured.
June 2019Tornado (EF0)Benchland-Tornado near Benchland at 510 PM. Classified as an EF0 Tornado with a peak wind estimated between 75 and 85 MPH. It was 400 yards wide and was on the ground for about a quarter of a mile. The tornado lifted near 515 PM.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindMerino-K1BM bravo awos station.
July 2019FloodSipple-Floodwater was flowing across property on West Buffalo Creek. The Floodwaters were up to four feet deep and the floodwater channel was about 100 yards wide.
July 2019HailHobson-Trained spotter reported 1 inch sized hail.
July 2019Heavy RainHobson-Trained spotter reported .74 inches of rain in about 20 minutes.
July 2018HailUtica-Spotter 9-miles southwest of Utica reported quarter-size hail and strong winds.
May 2018Tornado (EF0)Sipple-KRTV received multiple photos of a tornado six-miles southwest of Moore, MT. Tornado moved southward and lasted about five-minutes per observer. Path length and maximum path width were estimated.
June 2018HailBenchland-Spotter reported ping pong ball-size hail 2-miles NW of Benchland.
June 2018HailGeyser-Storm chaser estimated quarter-size hail in Geyser. Vehicle had minor hail damage.

Mines and quarries

144 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 144 workings inside this county. 7 still produce and 137 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Silver67
Lead23
Zinc, Lead20
Lead, Zinc17
Iron13
Clay12
Gold11
Gypsum-Anhydrite11
Copper8
Silver, Lead, Zinc3
Gold, Copper3
Sapphire3
Stone, Crushed/Broken3
Gold, Zinc2

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
BarkerLead, Zinc, SilverProducerGalena, Marmatite, Pyrite, Sphalerite
Bell and Southern BellSilver, Cadmium, Lead, ZincPast Producer
Ben Franklin,Sarsfield,Sheridan CCopper, Gold, Iron, Silver, TungstenPast Producer1882
BessieSulfur, Lead, SilverProspect
Block P MineSilver, Lead, Zinc, Gold, Copper, Tungsten, MolybdenumPast Producer1879, 1880
Blue Dick MineTungsten, Silver, Molybdenum, Iron, Gold, CopperPast Producer1878, 1893
Doktor Kalloch MineZinc, Silver, Gold, Lead, CopperPast Producer1887, 1888
HughesvilleSilver, Copper, Zinc, LeadOccurrenceStockwork
LeonardSilver, Lead, CopperUnknown
Leonard IiCopper, Gold, Iron, Lead, Silver, ZincProspect
Liberty GroupSilver, Lead, Zinc, Gold, Copper, Molybdenum, Tungsten, Cadmium, Arsenic, AntimonyPast Producer1875, 1897
Liberty MineSilver, Lead, Gold, ZincPast Producer
M&M MinesManganeseProspect
May & EdnaLead, Zinc, GoldPast Producer
Middle ForkSilicaProspect
Nancy Lou MineIron, Gold, Silver, CopperOccurrence
New DealCopper, Gold, IronPast Producer
Our Only ChanceGold, Zinc, Silver, Lead, CopperUnknown
Running Wolf DepositTitanium, Metal, Copper, IronProspect1887
Running Wolf Iron DepositsTitanium, IronPast Producer1883, 1956
San Miguel MineSilver, Zinc, Lead, GoldProspect
Sand Coulee Siderite DepositsIron, CoalPast Producer
St. Louis MineLead, Silver, ZincPast Producer
Tiger, Moulton, and T.W. MinesLead, Zinc, SilverPast Producer
Unnamed PumicePumiceOccurrence
Weatherwax and King ClaimsCopper, Gold, Iron, Lead, SilverPast Producer1879
Yogo No. 10 ClaimSilver, Barium-BariteUnknown
Yogo Peak DepositsTungstenOccurrenceScheelite
Yogo Peak MineLead, Iron, ZincPast Producer
Yogo PkTungsten, Gemstone, GoldProducer
Yogo Sapphire MineGemstoneProducer1880, 1895
CaliforniaLead, Gold, ZincPast Producer
Iroquois ProspectIron, Gold, ZincProspect
American Yogo Sapphire MineSapphireProducer1896
Blacktail HillsStone, Crushed/BrokenOccurrence
Iron Cap ClaimIron, Gold, CopperProspect
Lone Tree DomeStone, Crushed/BrokenOccurrence
New Mine Saphire Syndicate MineSapphireProducer1894, 1895
RubySilver, Stone, Crushed/BrokenUnknown
Tiger, Moulton, and Tw GroupSilver, Lead, Zinc, Gold, CopperPast Producer1884, 1890
VortexSapphireProducer
FinlanderCopper, IronProspect
Hill Side No. 3 ClaimCopperUnknown
Lone StarSilver, CopperUnknown
Ole Grendal EtSilver, CopperUnknown
Vancor GroupSilver, CopperUnknown
Yogo No. 11CopperUnknown
Bourke-LarsonGoldPast Producer
Della and Quaker CityGold, LeadPast Producer
Disson DepositGypsum-AnhydriteOccurrence
GoldbugGold, SilverPast Producer
Hughesville ProjectGold, SilverPast Producer
J.W. Sisson Gypsum DepositGypsum-AnhydriteProspect
Kibbey DepositGypsum-AnhydriteOccurrence
King Creek MinesGold, SilverUnknown
Little EmmaGoldPast Producer
Mary Mountain Gypsum MineGypsum-AnhydriteProducer
Pig Eye Basin GypsumGypsum-AnhydriteProspect
Remington DepositGypsum-AnhydriteOccurrence
South Fork PlacerGoldUnknown
T.C. PowerGoldPast Producer
Tiger MineGold, SilverPast Producer
Unnamed GypsumGypsum-AnhydriteOccurrence
Unnamed Gypsum OccurrenceGypsum-AnhydriteOccurrence
Unnamed Gypsum OccurrenceGypsum-AnhydriteOccurrence
Unnamed Gypsum OccurrenceGypsum-AnhydriteOccurrence
Wolf Butte DepositGypsum-AnhydriteOccurrence
Yogo Creek PlacerGoldUnknown
Kolar & Sons Bentonite DepositClayPast Producer
Kolar BentoniteClayProspect
Unnamed ClayClayUnknown
Unnamed ClayClayUnknown
Unnamed ClayClayUnknown
Unnamed ClayClayUnknown
Unnamed ClayClayUnknown
Unnamed Clay OccurerenceClayOccurrence
Unnamed Clay OccurrenceClayOccurrence
Unnamed Clay OccurrenceClayOccurrence
Unnamed Clay OccurrenceClayOccurrence
Unnamed Clay OccurrenceClayOccurrence
DeweyIronOccurrence
Hell Creek ClaimsIronOccurrence
Iron OccurrenceIronOccurrence
Iron Ore Deposits Near Yogo PeakIronOccurrence
Sage Creek Iron DepositIronProspect1949
Skunk Creek DepositIronOccurrence
Whittaker RidgeIronProspect
Willow Creek DepositIronPast Producer1956
Annie E Tunnel of Liberty MineSilver, Lead, ZincProspect
Chesapeake TunnelSilver, Lead, ZincProspect
Danny T Tunnel of Liberty MineSilver, Lead, ZincProspect
Dockter KallochSilver, Lead, ZincPast Producer
HarrisonSilver, Lead, ZincPast Producer
Last Chance Tunnel of Liberty MineSilver, Lead, ZincProspect
Magnolia MineSilver, Lead, ZincProspect
Marcelline Tunnel No. 2 of LibertySilver, Lead, ZincProspect
Mayflower TunnelSilver, Lead, ZincProspect
McvedaSilver, Lead, ZincProspect
Middle Tunnel of May and EdnaSilver, Lead, ZincProspect
OasisSilver, Lead, ZincProspect
Spruce TunnelSilver, Lead, ZincProspect
St. CharlesSilver, Lead, ZincProspect
St. PartickSilver, Lead, ZincProspect
Tiger MineSilver, Lead, ZincPast Producer
August No. 2 Tunnel of Liberty MineSilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
Cape Nome MineSilver, Zinc, LeadPast Producer
Carter ShaftSilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
Double EffSilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
Frances Tunnel of Liberty MineSilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
Lucky StrikeSilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
Main Tunnel of Liberty MineSilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
Marcelline Tunnel No. 1 of LibertySilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
McKinleySilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
Moulton MineSilver, Zinc, LeadPast Producer
Myrtle-NavySilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
ParagonSilver, Zinc, LeadPast Producer
Paragon TunnelSilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
PhilharmonicSilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
PhoenixSilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
Plymouth RockSilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
Queen of the HillsSilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
Shaft of May and EdnaSilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
SinclairSilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
Snow Drift TunnelSilver, Zinc, LeadProspect
Blankenship MineLead, SilverProspect
CarterLead, SilverPast Producer
Christopher ColumbusLead, SilverProspect
Forest LodeSilver, LeadProspect
GalenaSilver, LeadUnknown
Mountainside and Last ChanceSilver, LeadProspect
Oscar HelsingSilver, LeadProspect
Pierce-HigbeeSilver, LeadPast Producer
Pride of the WestLeadPast Producer
Queen Esther ClaimLeadPast Producer
Setter MineSilver, LeadPast Producer
Silver Gulch MineLead, SilverPast Producer
Sir Walter Scott & MysteryLead, SilverPast Producer
SweepstakesSilver, LeadOccurrence
Top HandLead, SilverPast Producer
Woodhurst & MortsonLead, SilverPast Producer
Yankee GirlLead, SilverPast Producer
Eagle Eye ClaimSilverUnknown
Old MackSilverUnknown
Overlook ClaimSilverUnknown

Every populated place in the county

26

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 Judith Basin 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.