Montana

Powder River

1,694
2020 population
1920
first census record
11
census records

About Powder River

Powder River, Montana, first appears in the United States federal census in 1920, when it recorded a population of 3,357. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 1,694.

Its recorded population peaked at 3,909 in 1930, and has since declined by roughly 57 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Cole-Walker Column Disasters 1865, Powder River Expedition — Cole's Column Fight at Powder River September 1865, Reynolds Fight (Powder River), and 2 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20201,694
20101,743
20001,858
19902,090
19802,520
19702,862
19602,485
19502,693
19403,159
19303,909
19203,357
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Powder River

Military engagements that took place in Powder River, Montana.

Cole-Walker Column Disasters 1865
1865
Powder River Expedition — Cole's Column Fight at Powder River September 1865
1865
Reynolds Fight (Powder River)
1876

Historic places in Powder River

National Register of Historic Places listings in Powder River, Montana.

Cross Ranch Headquarters
Broadus
Cheever-Cain Ranch
Volberg

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Everything a full report reveals about Powder River County, Montana

This page charts the census history of Powder River 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 Powder River

When does Powder River first appear in the US census?
Powder River, Montana first appears in the federal census in 1920, with a recorded population of 3,357.
What is the population of Powder River?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Powder River had a recorded population of 1,694.
When did Powder River's population peak?
Powder River's recorded population peaked at 3,909 in 1930.
Were any battles fought in Powder River?
3 documented military engagements took place in Powder River, including Cole-Walker Column Disasters 1865, Powder River Expedition — Cole's Column Fight at Powder River September 1865, Reynolds Fight (Powder River).
How many historic places are in Powder River?
2 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Powder River, Montana.
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