Montana

Phillips

4,217
2020 population
1920
first census record
11
census records

About Phillips

Phillips, Montana, first appears in the United States federal census in 1920, when it recorded a population of 9,311. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 4,217.

Its recorded population peaked at 9,311 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 55 percent.

On the ground today, 9 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Milk River Valley Operations — Assiniboine Conflicts 1870s, Battle of the Little Rockies (Crow-Sioux), Cow Island Landing Raid — Nez Perce (September 23, 1877), and 18 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20204,217
20104,253
20004,601
19905,163
19805,367
19705,386
19606,027
19506,334
19407,892
19308,208
19209,311
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Phillips

Military engagements that took place in Phillips, Montana.

Milk River Valley Operations — Assiniboine Conflicts 1870s
1873
Battle of the Little Rockies (Crow-Sioux)
1873
Cow Island Landing Raid — Nez Perce (September 23, 1877)
1877
Nez Perce Cow Island Landing Fight
1877
Milk River Skirmish 1879
1879
Frenchman Creek Skirmish (Sitting Bull)
1879
Battle of Frenchman Creek — Sitting Bull Returns from Canada
1880
Sioux Return from Canada — Skirmishes 1880-81
1880
Milk River Engagement (1880)
1880

Historic places in Phillips

National Register of Historic Places listings in Phillips, Montana.

Phillips County Carnegie Library
Malta
Sleeping Buffalo Rock
Saco
Saco Mercantile
Saco
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Everything a full report reveals about Phillips County, Montana

This page charts the census history of Phillips 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 Phillips

When does Phillips first appear in the US census?
Phillips, Montana first appears in the federal census in 1920, with a recorded population of 9,311.
What is the population of Phillips?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Phillips had a recorded population of 4,217.
When did Phillips's population peak?
Phillips's recorded population peaked at 9,311 in 1920.
Were any battles fought in Phillips?
9 documented military engagements took place in Phillips, including Milk River Valley Operations — Assiniboine Conflicts 1870s, Battle of the Little Rockies (Crow-Sioux), Cow Island Landing Raid — Nez Perce (September 23, 1877).
How many historic places are in Phillips?
18 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Phillips, Montana.
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