Montana

Prairie

1,088
2020 population
1920
first census record
11
census records

About Prairie

Prairie, Montana, first appears in the United States federal census in 1920, when it recorded a population of 3,684. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 1,088.

Its recorded population peaked at 3,941 in 1930, and has since declined by roughly 72 percent.

On the ground today, 9 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Cedar Creek Battle, Skirmish at Cedar Creek, Battle of Ash Creek MT, and 3 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20201,088
20101,179
20001,199
19901,383
19801,836
19701,752
19602,318
19502,377
19402,410
19303,941
19203,684
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Prairie

Military engagements that took place in Prairie, Montana.

Cedar Creek Battle
1876
Skirmish at Cedar Creek
1876
Battle of Ash Creek MT
1876
Battle of Cedar Creek — Sitting Bull's Peace Talks (October 20–21, 1876)
1876
Miles vs. Sitting Bull — Ash Creek 1876
1876
Battle of Cedar Creek
1876
Northern Cheyenne — Little Wolf's Band in Montana (1879)
1879
Little Wolf's Northern Cheyenne Reach Montana (Spring 1879)
1879
Battle of O'Fallon Creek 1880
1880

Historic places in Prairie

National Register of Historic Places listings in Prairie, Montana.

Grandey Elementary School
Terry
Yellowstone River Bridge
Fallon
Browse all Montanahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Montana

Explore census history and historic records for more Montana counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Prairie County, Montana

This page charts the census history of Prairie 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 Prairie

When does Prairie first appear in the US census?
Prairie, Montana first appears in the federal census in 1920, with a recorded population of 3,684.
What is the population of Prairie?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Prairie had a recorded population of 1,088.
When did Prairie's population peak?
Prairie's recorded population peaked at 3,941 in 1930.
Were any battles fought in Prairie?
9 documented military engagements took place in Prairie, including Cedar Creek Battle, Skirmish at Cedar Creek, Battle of Ash Creek MT.
How many historic places are in Prairie?
3 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Prairie, Montana.
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