BlockBefore

Phillips County, Montana

79 topographic sheets cover 44 settlements here, and 7 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

7 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Montana within the United States
Phillips County within Montana

What the record shows

  • 352 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 7 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 4 buildings, 1 structure, 1 object and 1 district.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 44 populated places in this county; 44 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

7

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
H. Earl Clack Service Stationbuilding199494000863
Edwards & McLellan Blockbuilding2022100007498
Milk River Bridgestructure2025100012497
Phillips County Carnegie Librarybuilding198080002428
Saco Mercantilebuilding199797001452
Sleeping Buffalo Rockobject199696000548
Zortman Ranger Station Historic Districtdistrict2025100011723

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

321 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 321 of them, burning about 113,845 acres. 189 started naturally and 5 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural189
Missing data/not specified/undetermined51
Equipment and vehicle use29
Recreation and ceremony16
Debris and open burning16
Smoking6
Arson/incendiarism5
Fireworks3
Power generation/transmission/distribution3
Railroad operations and maintenance3

The five largest, by the area the report gives. One of them was set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
3 July 2017Missing data/not specified/undetermined11,172 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictJULY
3 August 1994Natural11,067 acresCharles M. Russell National Wildlife RefugeCK CREEK
24 August 2012Arson/incendiarism10,924 acresMalta Field OfficeESTER LAKE
31 July 2012Natural9,468 acresCharles M. Russell National Wildlife RefugeWELLS
9 September 2005Natural6,778 acresCharles M. Russell National Wildlife RefugeSHEEP
9 September 2005Natural6,689 acresCharles M. Russell National Wildlife RefugeHEARTLAND
18 July 2006Natural6,580 acresMalta Field OfficeLARB CREEK
23 November 2017Missing data/not specified/undetermined6,500 acresPhillips CountyLOWER BLACK COULEE

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

Storms, 1957 to 2026

60 of 610 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 610 reports for this county, causing no deaths, no injuries and about $1,568,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail276
Thunderstorm Wind247
Flood38
Tornado14
Heavy Rain14
Flash Flood13
Funnel Cloud6
Wildfire2

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
June 2011Tornado (EF1)Saco$300,000A farm/ranch was significantly damaged by a tornado and damaging downburst winds. The storm stripped trees bare, four car garages were either destroyed or damaged. A 1000 gallon fuel tank that was filled that day was blown off it's stand. The houses received significant damage from hail and the high winds,and the majority of the windows on the two homes were busted out by the wind and hail. A 2x6 piece of lumber was blown and implanted into the side of one of the houses. The majority of the damage was downstream with the storm system. The peak gust was recorded at 86 mph before the sensor was destroyed. Quarter size hail fell with the storm as well, wiping out nearby field. The NWS did not receive the tornado report until a month after the event, but radar data verified the possibility of a tornado, and the property owner verified seeing a funnel cloud come from the sky prior to seeking shelter.
May 1980Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
June 1979Tornado (F0)not stated$250,000no account filed
June 2005HailMalta$100,000The large hail caused roof, siding, window, and gutter damage to eight houses.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindPhillips$80,000A total of 19 three-phase poles and 11 single phase were reported damaged. This included poles broken at ground level, as well as cross arms broken and wires snapped. The radar indicated a bow echo through the area and wind speeds are estimated. Damage is estimated at $75k to 80k.
July 2004HailSaco$75,000The hail broke vehicle windows and caused damage to several roofs. Crop damage was also reported.
May 2002Thunderstorm WindZortman$75,000A line of thunderstorms produced severe winds across southern Phillips County. The damaging winds were generally less than 70 mph, but one RAWS site at Zortman did measure a 74 mph gust. A group of researchers just north of the UL Bend had significant damage to trailer they were using to stay in while conducting research. Three trailers were completely toppled, and another had the side caved in.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindZortman$50,000Outflow from thunderstorms 10 to 15 miles south produced wind damage. The strong wind lasted about 30 to 40 seconds. A camper was blown approximately 30 yards and destroyed. Branches were twisted off of trees and power lines were downed by the wind. The roofs were blown off of two barns.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindZortman$50,000A thunderstorm wind gust blew a Ford Bronco SUV into a house and downed 5 power poles in Zortman. Several trees and a sign were also blown down by the wind.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindLandusky$50,000Thunderstorm wind gusts in Landusky blew away 2 grain bins and blew down a wooden building and 20 acres of hay. There was also a roof blown off a building in Landusky.
July 1999HailMalta$30,000no account filed
August 2007Tornado (EF1)Malta$25,000Several outbuildings on the property were leaning to the east, and shingles were found at least 100 yards away. A refrigerator was flipped off the front porch of a house, and water was sucked up out of a four foot tall pool in the back yard. A windmill was also twisted and a steer barn collapsed. Based on the NWS damage survey the damage was estimated as EF1 where the steer barn collapsed, and the remainder of the damage was estimated at EF0.
July 2000Thunderstorm WindMalta$25,000Ranch lost new 40' by 60' building as well as having 1400 pound hay bales blown around and equipment blown over.
June 1991Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1991Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1991Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 2005Thunderstorm WindMalta$20,000A mobile home was tossed upside down and onto a barbed wire fence.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindContent$20,00060 mph wind gust blew roof off barn 15 miles south of Content.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindZortman$20,000A thunderstorm wind gust 4 miles north of the Manning Corral RAWS site blew a roof off of a barn and blew down 2 power poles.
June 1996Thunderstorm WindDodson$15,000no account filed
August 1999Flash FloodSouthwest Portion$10,000Four to six inches of rain fell rapidly over southwest Phillips county along the Missouri River. The heavy rain caused copious amounts of runoff along the Missouri Breaks. Water rapidly running down the hill toward Fred Robinson Bridge caused washouts along Hwy 191.
June 2005HailMalta$7,000Significant car damage with the back window of a vehicle smashed out.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindMalta$5,000Wind gusts of up to 87 mph downed several trees in Malta and caused some damage to fences and to a horse trailer. A tree branch fell against one house tearing the power leads loose and cutting electricty to a couple of homes.
June 2005HailDodson$5,000Large hail caused damage to a vehicle
July 1998Flash FloodContent$5,000Coop observer and trained spotter in Content could not make it home the night of July 3rd due to the road being washed out from water running across it. When the observer arrived home, she found that 1400 pound hay bales had been moved by flowing water and a bundle of 200 wood fence posts had been swept away.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindLivingston$5,000A weather spotter reported 60-70 mph winds. Shingles were blown off of his roof.
May 1994Thunderstorm WindMalta$5,000Several trees were blown down.
August 1998Thunderstorm WindSaco$3,000A spotter north of Saco reported winds to 75 miles an hour. The microburst uprooted cottonwood trees and moved a pick up topper 100 yards.
June 1999Thunderstorm WindSaco$3,000no account filed
July 1999Thunderstorm WindSaco$3,000no account filed
July 2014Thunderstorm WindSun Prairie$2,000Local newspaper reported two power poles were knocked down. Power failure continued for two hours.
May 2008FloodZortman$1,000Flooding was observed on a few area dirt roads resulting in portions of the road surfaces washing out.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindSun Prairie$1,000A roof was blown off a shed.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindMalta$1,000A shed roof was blown off a distance of 100 yards, and the north door of the shed was blown off. There were numerous tree limbs down. A cottonwood limb was ignited by lightning, but did not start a fire.
June 2006HailWhitewater$1,000The hail was accompanied by 30 to 35 mph wind and it caused damage to the siding on a house.
June 1996Thunderstorm WindMalta$1,000no account filed
April 2026Thunderstorm WindMalta South Dot-The Malta South US-191 DOT site (MTMAL) measured a 60 mph wind gust.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindLoring-Occurred at the Loring SW Hydromet site.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindHarb-Occurred at the Saco South Hydromet site.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindMalta South Dot-Occurred at the Malta South DOT sensor.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindSaco-Wind gust occurred at Montana DOT near Saco.
June 2025Heavy RainSaco-Penny size hail (0.75 inch) accompanied the heavy rain. One gauge recorded 1.25 inches, the second gauge recorded 1.50 inches, with standing water in driveway.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindWagner-Spotter reported pea sized hail, heavy rain, and estimated winds winds of 50 to 60 mph.
July 2025HailMalta South Dot-Quarter size hail estimated from webcam imagery from the Malta South US-191 DOT site.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindSun Prairie-Trained spotter reported multiple 6-inch diameter tree limbs broken off, in addition to heavy rain. Wind speed estimated at 60 mph.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindSun Prairie-Cooperative observer reported limb damage from multiple cottonwood trees, intense lightning, heavy rain, and estimated winds gusts of 55-60 mph.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindManning Corral Raws-A wind gust of 63 mph was recorded at the Manning Corral Dogtown RAWS site.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindHarb-A wind gust of 60 mph was measured at the Saco S HydroMet site (Montana Climate Office Mesonet).
August 2025Heavy RainLoring-The HydroMet station Loring SW (LORM8) from the Montana Climate office measured 1.85 inches of rain, mainly during a few hours in the afternoon.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindMalta South Dot-The Malta South US-191 DOT site (MTMAL) measured a 59 mph wind gust.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindHays Dot-The Hays MT-66 DOT site (MTHAY) measured a 69 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindMalta South Dot-The BLM Zortman E mesonet station (MTM38) measured a 61 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindMalta Arpt-A 62 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured at the Malta Airport AWOS site (KM75).
May 2024Tornado (EFU)Whitewater-The public sent a video of a short lived landspout tornado. Path dimensions and times are estimated.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindManning Corral Raws-The Manning Corral Dogtown RAWS site (MCDM8) measured a 61 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindSaco-The Saco US-2 DOT site (MTSCO) measured a 69 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindHarb-The Saco S. Montana mesonet site measured a 58 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindHays Dot-The MT-66 Hays DOT site (MTHAY) measured a 58 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
July 2024HailMalta South Dot-Public reported hail up to the size of golf balls.
April 2023FloodDodson-The Milk River at Dodson (DMRM8) rose above its flood stage of 23 feet at 5:45 PM on April 12th. The river then crested at 23.47 feet at 7:15PM on April 12th. The river would go below flood stage at 8:30 PM on April 12th before rising back above flood stage at 3:00 PM on April 14th. The river would fall below flood stage at 4:20 PM on April 14th.

Mines and quarries

76 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 76 workings inside this county. 8 still produce and 68 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Gold34
Clay16
Silver15
Sand and Gravel, Construction9
Abrasive4
Fluorine-Fluorite3
Zeolites, Diamond3
Fire Clay (Refractory)3
Gold, Silver2
Bentonite2
Stone, Crushed/Broken2
Copper, Zinc1
Iron, Manganese, Fluorine-Fluorite1
Lead1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Antone PeakFluorine-Fluorite, Gold, Lead, SilverOccurrence
Badger KingGold, Tellurium, Fluorine-FluoriteProspect
Bailey GroupGold, Silver, LeadUnknown
Camp ProspectLead, Zinc, Silver, Gold, CopperProspect
Frank MineGold, Silver, Lead, ZincUnknown
Gold Bug MineGold, Silver, Copper, ZincPast Producer1893, 1894
Gold Bug MineGold, Silver, Iron, Manganese, Fluorine-FluoritePast ProducerGold, Limonite, Sylvanite
Hal 1Abrasive, Diamond, ZeolitesOccurrence
Jack DeuceSilver, Gold, LeadPast Producer
Little Warm SpringsGeothermalProducer
Lucky MaudGold, Copper, Lead, SilverPast Producer
Surprise MineGold, Silver, TelluriumOccurrence
Unnamed MolybdenumMolybdenumOccurrence
C. M. Russell Game Range Mill SiteBentoniteUnknown
Cow Creek ClaysClay, BentoniteOccurrence
Limestone OccurrenceStone, Crushed/BrokenOccurrence
Ruby Gulch GroupGold, Silver, Fluorine-FluoriteProducer1897, 1903
Unnamed LimestoneStone, Crushed/BrokenOccurrence
August MineGold, Silver, Fluorine-FluoritePast Producer1893
Dike 2Abrasive, Zeolites, DiamondUnknown
Hal 18/19Abrasive, Zeolites, DiamondOccurrence
Hal 40Abrasive, Zeolites, DiamondOccurrence
Malta MineFire Clay (Refractory)Producer
Malta PlantFire Clay (Refractory)Producer
West MineFire Clay (Refractory)Producer
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 PitsSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Alder MineGold, SilverPast Producer
HawkeyeGold, SilverUnknown
Humbolt MineGold, SilverUnknown
IndependentGold, SilverOccurrence
Linda Kay MineGold, SilverPast Producer
Little Rockies Mining CoGold, SilverUnknown
PinkeyeGold, SilverOccurrence
Ruby Gulch MineGold, SilverProducer
U.S. Exploration GroupGold, SilverProspect
Unnamed MineGold, SilverUnknown
War EagleGold, SilverOccurrence
Zortman MineGold, SilverPast Producer1975, 1979
Brazil Creek PitClayProducer
Clay PitClayOccurrence
Unnamed BentoniteClayProspect
Unnamed BentoniteClayProspect
Unnamed BentoniteClayProspect
Unnamed BentoniteClayOccurrence
Unnamed BentoniteClayProspect
Unnamed BentoniteClayOccurrence
Unnamed BentoniteClayProspect
Unnamed BentoniteClayOccurrence
Unnamed BentoniteClayProspect
Unnamed BentoniteClayProspect
Unnamed ClayClayOccurrence
Unnamed ClayClayOccurrence
Unnamed ClayClayOccurrence
AlabamaGoldProspect
Alder GulchGoldPast Producer
August MineGoldPast Producer
Beaver MineGoldOccurrence
Blue Rock PlacerGoldUnknown
Camp Creek PlacerGoldUnknown
Cow Creek PlacersGoldOccurrence
Grouse GulchGoldUnknown
Little BenGoldUnknown
Lodgepole CreekGoldUnknown
Rock CreekGoldUnknown
Ruby Creek PlacerGoldUnknown
South Fork of Peoples CreekGoldUnknown
Sullivan CreekGoldUnknown
Zortman - LanduskyGoldProducerFluorite, Sylvanite

Every populated place in the county

44

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 Phillips 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.