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Petroleum County, Montana

42 topographic sheets cover 14 settlements here, and 5 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

5 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Montana within the United States
Petroleum County within Montana

What the record shows

  • 111 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 5 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 3 buildings, 1 object and 1 district.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 14 populated places in this county; 14 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

5

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
Cat Creek Oil Field Signobject201514001127
Howard Lepper Memorial Hallbuilding2020100005396
Lewistown Satellite Airfield Historic District (Boundary Increase III)district201010000066
Winnett Blockbuilding200909000815
Winnett Schoolbuilding199595000383

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

224 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 224 of them, burning about 136,408 acres. 188 started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural188
Missing data/not specified/undetermined19
Equipment and vehicle use9
Debris and open burning3
Recreation and ceremony3
Power generation/transmission/distribution2

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
21 August 2010Natural27,898 acresCharles M. Russell National Wildlife RefugeRAT PATCH
16 July 2006Natural23,000 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictSODA CREEK FIRE
24 July 2012Natural12,160 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictWOLF CREEK
1 August 2019Natural11,128 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictRIDGETOP
11 September 1996Missing data/not specified/undetermined10,031 acresCharles M. Russell National Wildlife RefugeALKALIE
19 July 2017Natural7,808 acresCharles M. Russell National Wildlife RefugeCRYING
2 July 2015Natural5,762 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictALEX CAMP ROAD
10 August 2006Natural4,524 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictDOVETAIL

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

Storms, 1962 to 2026

60 of 225 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 225 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 1 injury and about $1,037,700 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail115
Thunderstorm Wind72
Flood17
Tornado8
Flash Flood7
Wildfire2
Heavy Rain2
Lightning1
Funnel Cloud1

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 1998LightningWinnett1 killed, 1 hurtOne man died after lightning struck him and a friend while the two were bow hunting. The two were hunting between Crooked Creek and Barrel Springs when a thunderstorm moved overhead. The two took cover under a tree. Lightning struck the pair knocking both unconscious. When the one man awoke he tried to revive his friend and then went for help. Help arrived in the remote area about two hours after the strike. The second man was pronounced dead at 9:50 p.m.
August 2014FloodWinnett$515,000Over 5 to 10 inches of rainfall fell in a four day period. This caused massive flooding in area creeks and streams. The most significant damage was from Flatwillow Creek into the Musselshell River. Cooperative weather observers noted it was the highest they had ever seen the water on Flatwillow Creek, including the 2011 flood season. It was high enough that the USGS gage on Flatwillow Creek was washed out and is gone, and the Flatwillow Road bridge was also washed out. The County DES coordinator reported over 30 locations with damages to culverts, roads and bridges with damages of at least $515,000.
June 2016HailWinnett$500,000Petroleum County Emergency Manager reported hen egg sized hail, wind gusts to 50 mph, trees downed, roofs and siding damaged, and power outages. Event also resulted in 1 injury: A man was blown off his horse and later transported with injuries to Billings, MT.
July 1999Thunderstorm WindWinnett$20,000no account filed
August 1962Tornado (F2)not stated$2,500no account filed
July 2008Thunderstorm WindWinnett$200Eight inch diameter tree limbs were found snapped off and scattered on a nearby road.
April 2026Thunderstorm WindWinnett-The Winnett MT-200 DOT site (MTWIN) measured a 64 mph wind gust.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindWinnett-Occurred at the Mosby NW site.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindTeigen-The War Horse NW site (Montana Climate Office) recorded a wind gust of 62 mph.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindTeigen-The wind gust occurred at the Winnett Southwest MCO mesonet.
June 2025HailWinnett-Quarter-sized hail, heavy rain and 70 mph wind gusts caused considerable tree damage in Winnett.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindWinnett-Quarter-sized hail, heavy rain and 70 mph wind gusts caused considerable tree damage in Winnett.
June 2025HailWinnett-Hail up to the size of golf balls fell with winds of 30-40 mph.
June 2025HailWinnett-Golfball size hail was reported by Public.
June 2025HailWinnett-Large hail about 3.5 inches in diameter, lasted for about 15 mins.
June 2025HailWinnett-Ping pong ball size hail broke windows and damaged vehicles.
June 2025HailWinnett-A storm chaser measured multiple hailstones of 2.5 inches in diameter (tennis ball size) with a ruler. Report relayed through social media.
July 2025HailFlatwillow-Public reported hen egg size hail.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindWinnett-Trained spotter measured a 60 mph wind gust.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindWinnett-A wind gust of 63 mph was measured by the Winnett MT-200 DOT site.
July 2025HailWinnett-Trained spotter reported golf ball size hail.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindWinnett-Trained spotter reported a 60 mph wind gust.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindFlatwillow-A wind gust of 66 mph was measured at the Mosby South HydroMet site (Montana Climate Office network).
August 2025Thunderstorm WindWinnett-Trained spotter reported trees swaying significantly and estimated wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph along with pea sized hail.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindTeigen-The War Horse NW HydroMet site (WRHM8) from the Montana Climate Office Mesonet recorded a 59 mph wind gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindTeigen-The War Horse NW HydroMet site (WRHM8) from the Montana Climate Office Mesonet recorded a 61 mph wind gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindWinnett-The Winnett MT-200 DOT site (MTWIN) recorded a 59 mph wind gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindWinnett-The Mosby NW HydroMet site (MOBM8) from the Montana Climate Office Mesonet recorded a 60 mph wind gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindDry Blood Creek Raws-The Dovetail / Valentine E HydroMet site (VLTM8) from the Montana Climate Office Mesonet recorded a 64 mph wind gust.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindWinnett-The Mosby NW mesonet site (MOBM8) measured a 58 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
June 2023Flash FloodFlatwillow-Law enforcement reported water flowing over the roadway on U.S. Highway 87 at mile marker 22.
July 2023HailWinnett-The public reported hail up to the size of quarters.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindWinnett-Law enforcement reported trees up to 36 inches in diameter being blown down.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindDry Blood Creek Raws-The Dry Blood Creek RAWS site (DBCM8) recorded a 71 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
July 2022HailWinnett-Public reported hail up to the size of quarters.
July 2022FloodWinnett-Petroleum County Sheriff reported water covered roads and fields around and in the town of Winnett.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindWinnett-A trained spotter estimated a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph. Heavy rainfall and pea size hail covering the ground was also observed.
July 2022HailWinnett-Petroleum County Sheriff reported hail up to the size of quarters, blown into drifts.
June 2021HailFlatwillow-Public reported, via Facebook, quarter size hail located off of US Highway 87, five miles north of the Musselshell County line. Time estimated from radar.
August 2021HailTeigen-Public reported half dollar size hail.
August 2021HailWinnett-Public reported, via Facebook, quarter size hail.
August 2021HailWinnett-Law enforcement reported quarter size hail on Montana Highway 200, 2 miles east of Winnett.
August 2021FloodWinnett-Petroleum County Dispatch reported some water coming out of a coulee 2 miles east of Winnett.
May 2020HailWinnett-The Petroleum County Emergency Manager reported hail stones up to the size of golf balls.
July 2020HailWinnett-Petroleum County Emergency Manager reported hail up to the size of half dollars.
July 2020Tornado (EF0)Dry Blood Creek Raws-Petroleum County dispatch and Emergency Manager relayed a public report of a brief, rain-wrapped, weak tornado northwest of Winnett. No damage was found.
July 2020Tornado (EF0)Winnett-Petroleum County dispatch relayed a public report of a brief, weak gustnado spun up out of severe thunderstorm outflow winds southwest of Winnett. Time estimated from radar.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindChain Buttes Raws-At the Lewsotwn Port #1 RAWS site (TR464), a 62 mph wind gust was recorded.
August 2019HailFlatwillow-Public reported hail up to the size of golf balls.
August 2019HailWinnett-Trained spotter reported, via social media, tea cup size hail stones (3 inches in diameter).
August 2019HailFlatwillow-Trained spotter reported quarter size hail, along with heavy rain and trees bending in the wind.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindWinnett-Trained spotter reported wind damage in the town of Winnett, including power lines and trees blown down, and a roof ripped off a house. Time estimated by radar.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindDry Blood Creek Raws-Trained spotter measured a 63 mph wind gust.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindWinnett-A 78 mph wind gust was measured at the Winnett Handar site (GGWWT).
June 2019HailFlatwillow-Public reported golf ball size hail. Time estimated from radar.
June 2019HailFlatwillow-Petroleum County DES Coordinator estimated hail up to the size of quarters still on the road, twenty minutes after the storm passed.
May 2019FloodWinnett-In response to the heavy rain from the previous few days, Petroleum County DES Coordinator reported that many creeks and streams across most of southern Petroleum County were running out of their banks and crossing multiple county roads. Times are estimated.
March 2018FloodWinnett-During the evening of March 12st, at the Mosby river forecast point (MSBM8) along the Musselshell River, an ice jam suddenly caused the river level to briefly rise above the flood stage of 10 feet at 5:24 PM MST. Even though the river fell back down below 10 feet just 9 minutes later, at 5:33 PM MST, it quickly rose above 10 feet again at 6:14 PM MST. The river crested at 11.53 feet at 6:59 PM MST. As the ice jam cleared, the river fell back down below flood stage at 7:20 PM MST.
June 2018FloodWinnett-The Musselshell River at Mosby (MSBM8) rose above the flood stage of 10 feet at 12:05 pm MST on June 1st, crested at 11.1 feet at 3:55 pm MST that same day, then fell back down below 10 feet at 7:07 am MST on June 2nd.
June 2018HailDry Blood Creek Raws-Trained spotter reported quarter size hail.

Every populated place in the county

14

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 Petroleum 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.