Montana

Yellowstone

164,731

2020 population

1890

first census record

census records

About Yellowstone

Yellowstone, Montana, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 2,065. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 164,731.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 16 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Pryor Creek Engagement, Pryor Creek Fight (1868), Pryor Creek Fight — Yellowstone Expedition 1872, and 48 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	164,731
2010	147,972
2000	129,352
1990	113,419
1980	108,035
1970	87,367
1960	79,016
1950	55,875
1940	41,182
1930	30,785
1920	29,600
1910	22,944
1900	6,212
1890	2,065

Source

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

Battles & engagements in Yellowstone

Military engagements that took place in Yellowstone, Montana.

Pryor Creek Engagement

1865

Pryor Creek Fight (1868)

1868

Pryor Creek Fight — Yellowstone Expedition 1872

1872

Battle of Arrow Creek

1872

Battle of Pryor Creek 1872

1872

Battle of Pryor Creek

1874

Crow-Sioux Battle at Pryor Mountains 1874

1874

Skirmish at Ash Creek (17th June 1876)

1876

Battle of Canyon Creek — Sturgis Pursuit (September 13, 1877)

1877

Nez Perce War – Crow Refusal to Fight

1877

Nez Perce War – Canyon Creek Rearguard

1877

Battle of Canyon Creek

1877

Nez Perce War — Canyon Creek Fight September 13 1877

1877

Battle of Canyon Creek — Nez Perce (September 13, 1877)

1877

Battle of Canyon Creek — Sturgis Pursuit

1877

Nez Perce Canyon Creek Fight

1877

Historic places in Yellowstone

National Register of Historic Places listings in Yellowstone, Montana.

Moss, Preston B., House

Parmly Billings Memorial Library

Billings

Babcock Theatre Building

Billings

L and L Building

Billings

US Post Office and Courthouse-Billings

Billings

Masonic Temple

Billings

James F. Battin Federal Building (Courthouse & Federal Office Building)

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 Yellowstone County, Montana

This page charts the census history of Yellowstone 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 Yellowstone

When does Yellowstone first appear in the US census?

Yellowstone, Montana first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 2,065.

What is the population of Yellowstone?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Yellowstone had a recorded population of 164,731.

Were any battles fought in Yellowstone?

16 documented military engagements took place in Yellowstone, including Pryor Creek Engagement, Pryor Creek Fight (1868), Pryor Creek Fight — Yellowstone Expedition 1872.

How many historic places are in Yellowstone?

48 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Yellowstone, Montana.

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