Baker, Montana
8 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1953 and the latest in 1981. It stands in the Baker census division. It lies in ZIP code area 59313. The Survey maps it on the Baker quadrangle. 1,802 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 2,936 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Baker
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 2 records
Baker Hotellisted 2005
Fallon County Jaillisted 1998
Population over time
2 figuresBaker grew from 1,741 to 1,802 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1,741 | |
| 2020 | 1,802 | +61 (+4%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
5 surveys from 8 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1953 USGS Miles City quadrangle1:250000, 4 printings
- 1957 USGS Miles City quadrangle1:250000
- 1958 USGS Miles City quadrangle1:250000
- 1981 USGS Baker quadrangle1:24000
- 1981 USGS Baker quadrangle1:100000
Fires near this place
14 since 2008Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 14 fires within 5 miles of Baker between 2008 and 2020, burning about 203 acres in total. 4 started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Equipment and vehicle use | 5 |
| Natural | 4 |
| Fireworks | 2 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 2 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 September 2020 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1.2 acres | Fallon County | LAKE - FALLON |
| 21 September 2020 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1.1 acres | Fallon County | SHELL - FALLON |
| 8 August 2008 | Power generation/transmission/distribution | 185 acres | Miles City Field Office | PENNEL |
| 2 August 2018 | Natural | 1.0 acres | Eastern Land Office | SANDSTONE |
| 14 August 2020 | Natural | under an acre | Fallon County | SANDSTONE - FALLON |
| 7 July 2017 | Equipment and vehicle use | 7.7 acres | Eastern Land Office | KIRSCHTEN |
| 5 July 2016 | Fireworks | 2.0 acres | Eastern Land Office | STRAWBERRY - CUSTER |
| 4 July 2018 | Fireworks | under an acre | Eastern Land Office | UPPER LAKE |
Mines and quarries near this place
3 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 3 workings within 5 miles of Baker: 2 producers, 1 occurrence. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Pumice, Uranium. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox and Neary Ranches | Uranium | Occurrence | ||
| Singer Scoria Pit | Pumice | Producer | ||
| Zion Portable Crusher | Pumice | Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 106 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Baker in 106 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 63 hail, 28 thunderstorm wind, 6 flash flood, 4 funnel cloud. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 1993 | Hail | Baker | $50,000 | Wind damage was widespread across Fallon County. |
| August 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | $5,000 | Wind damage was widespread across Fallon County. |
| August 1993 | Hail | Baker | $5,000 | Wind damage was widespread across Fallon County. |
| July 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | $1,000 | Spotter northeast of Baker reported 4 inch diameter hail and 60+ mph winds. Backyard and frontyard flooded. |
| July 2025 | Hail | Baker | - | Quarter size hail reported. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | Power poles and large trees were downed. |
| June 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | Tree and roof damage was reported. |
| July 2022 | Flash Flood | Baker | - | County DES reported deep standing water and flooding in the town of Baker. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | Several trees were uprooted and power lines were downed. The local farm and fleet store had a number of large stock tanks that traveled about 1/4 mile into town taking out a few fences. In addition, power was out in much of the town. |
| July 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | Several trailers were blown over including a fireworks trailer. There was also brick damage to the top of a building. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | Wind-driven golf ball size hail broke out windows on the west side of numerous homes in the town of Baker. |
| August 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | The Sheriff Dispatch reported that an 18 inch diameter tree was uprooted, along with many tree branches down in Baker from the very strong winds. In addition, tin roofing material was ripped from the firehouse. |
| June 2013 | Flash Flood | Baker | - | Baker received around 1.63 inches of rain. There were reports of flooded streets in town with up to 6 inches of water. Storm drains were having trouble keeping up with the intense rainfall. |
| June 2013 | Flash Flood | Baker | - | A private road was washed out leaving some residents stranded. In addition, the main county road was washed out in some areas. |
| June 2013 | Flash Flood | Baker | - | Sections of Sandstone Road were washed out and impassable leaving residents off of Sandstone Road stranded on their property. |
| August 2013 | Hail | Baker | - | Hail up to golf ball size broke many windows, damaged siding on homes, dented cars, and broke car windows. |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | The public reported an estimated wind gust of 60 mph which resulted in 2 1/2 inch diameter Cottonwood tree branches to be snapped. |
| May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | Fallon County Sheriff reported trees and power lines down along with|heavy rain. |
| May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | A wind tower was knocked over along with several reports of tree damage. |
| May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | No damage was reported. |
| May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | Numerous tree branches were reported down. |
| May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | Trees knocked down along with numerous power outtages. |
| July 2007 | Hail | Baker | - | Nickel to quarter size hail was reported in Baker. |
| July 2007 | Hail | Baker | - | Baseball size hail with a few softball size hailstones were reported just south of Baker. |
| June 2007 | Heavy Rain | Baker | - | Rain from the entire event was 2.43 inches. |
| June 2005 | Funnel Cloud | Baker | - | Small funnel for about two mintues |
| June 2005 | Funnel Cloud | Baker | - | Brief funnel cloud |
| May 2005 | Heavy Rain | Baker | - | 3.59 inches of rain (24 hour total); 1.54 inches fell in one hour |
| June 2005 | Funnel Cloud | Baker | - | Brief funnel cloud |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | Half of a large Cottonwood tree blown off |
| August 2003 | Hail | Baker | - | Hail covered ground. |
| June 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | 5 power poles blown down |
| July 2001 | Hail | Baker | - | Hail covered the ground |
| July 2001 | Flash Flood | Baker | - | Water 4 feet deep in the parks...as well...as running down the streets |
| July 2001 | Tornado (F1) | Baker | - | NWS Post-Storm Damage Assessment Team determined F1 tornado 100 yards wide with a path length of 3/4 of a mile and was on the ground for 5 minutes. Around 6:45 p.m. on July 25th...a supercell thunderstorm developed in Prairie County, Montana and moved southeast into Fallon County inside the WFO Billings County Warning Area. A WFO Billings Post-Storm Damage Assessment Team confirmed that an F2 tornado occurred 13 miles north of Baker, Montana in Fallon County at 7:20 p.m. on July 25, 2001. The tornado moved in a nearly north to south direction and remained just west of Montana Highway 7. The tornado was 200 yards wide, 2 miles long, and was on the ground for approximately 15 minutes. The tornado remained over open range while on the ground and caused no property damage. F2 tornadoes produce wind speeds from 113 to 157 mph. A second tornado developed after the first tornado dissipated. This second tornado occurred 8 miles northeast of Baker, Montana in Fallon County at 7:50 p.m. on July 25, 2001. The tornado moved in a northwest to southeast direction and was located near Johnny Creek. The tornado was 100 yards wide, 3/4 of a mile long, and was on the ground for approximately 5 minutes. The tornado remained over open range while on the ground and caused no property damage. F1 tornadoes produce wind speeds from 73 to 112 mph. |
| July 2001 | Tornado (F2) | Baker | - | NWS Post-Storm Damage Assessment Team determined F2 tornado 200 yards wide with a path length of 2 miles. It was on the ground for 15 minutes over open range west of State Highway 7. |
| July 2000 | Hail | Baker | - | Baseball size hail north of Baker |
| June 1999 | Tornado (F2) | Baker | - | A large tornado which touched down near Ollie Road, about 3 miles east of Montana Highway 7. The tornado travelled north to County Road 616 then northwest over Beaver Creek before lifting at the Fallon/Wibaux County border. The tornado destroyed a well built cattle shed, lifted up, twisted and moved a large irrigation pipe about 100 yards and sucked the water out of a section of Beaver Creek. |
| August 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | Wind gusts to 62 mph knocked KFLN radio off the air for a brief period. |
| July 2022 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| July 2022 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| June 2016 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| July 2016 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | no account filed |
| July 2016 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| July 2016 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| June 2015 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| June 2015 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| August 2013 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| August 2013 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| September 2013 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | no account filed |
| August 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Baker | - | no account filed |
| September 2010 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| June 2009 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| May 2007 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| July 2007 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| August 2007 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| June 2006 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
| June 2006 | Hail | Baker | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willard | 12.8 miles | 8 | |
| Plevna | 13.0 miles | 8 | |
| Ollie | 18.4 miles | 9 | |
| Cabin Creek | 18.5 miles | 8 | |
| Westmore | 20.5 miles | 8 | |
| Webster | 21.6 miles | 8 | |
| MacKenzie (historical) | 26.9 miles | 8 | |
| Knobs (historical) | 28.4 miles | 8 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Baker | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q955228 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 802008. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
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.




