Montana

Dawson

8,940
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Dawson

Dawson, Montana, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 177. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 8,940.

Its recorded population peaked at 12,725 in 1910, and has since declined by roughly 30 percent.

On the ground today, 8 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Cedar Creek — Peace Talks Breakdown, Battle of Cedar Creek — Hunkpapa Sioux Dispersal, Battle of Box Elder Creek — Nelson Miles (1876), and 13 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20208,940
20108,966
20009,059
19909,505
198011,805
197011,269
196012,314
19509,092
19408,618
19309,881
19209,239
191012,725
19002,443
18902,056
1880180
1870177
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Dawson

Military engagements that took place in Dawson, Montana.

Battle of Cedar Creek — Peace Talks Breakdown
1876
Battle of Cedar Creek — Hunkpapa Sioux Dispersal
1876
Battle of Box Elder Creek — Nelson Miles (1876)
1876
Glendive Creek — Sioux Attack on Supply Train (October 1876)
1876
Battle of Cedar Creek — Sitting Bull's Defiant Speech
1876
Battle of Cedar Creek — Miles's Attack
1876
Sioux Wagon Train Attack (Glendive 1876)
1876
Battle of Cedar Creek 1876
1876

Historic places in Dawson

National Register of Historic Places listings in Dawson, Montana.

Glendive City Water Filtration Plant
Glendive
US Post Office
Glendive
Merrill Avenue Historic District
Glendive
Northern Pacific Railroad Settling Tanks
Glendive
First Methodist Episcopal Church and Parsonage
Glendive
Blackstock Residence
Glendive
Krug, Charles, House
Glendive
Sacred Heart Church
Glendive
McCone Residence
Glendive
Bad Route Creek Bridge
Fallon
Bell Street Bridge
Glendive
Glendive Heat, Light and Power Company Power Plant
Glendive
Hagen Site
Glendive

Other counties in Montana

Explore census history and historic records for more Montana counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Dawson County, Montana

This page charts the census history of Dawson County, Montana. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Dawson

When does Dawson first appear in the US census?
Dawson, Montana first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 177.
What is the population of Dawson?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Dawson had a recorded population of 8,940.
When did Dawson's population peak?
Dawson's recorded population peaked at 12,725 in 1910.
Were any battles fought in Dawson?
8 documented military engagements took place in Dawson, including Battle of Cedar Creek — Peace Talks Breakdown, Battle of Cedar Creek — Hunkpapa Sioux Dispersal, Battle of Box Elder Creek — Nelson Miles (1876).
How many historic places are in Dawson?
13 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Dawson, Montana.
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