Powell County, MT

At a density of only 3.1 persons per square mile, Powell County is typified by vistas, big skies, and open range.1 Culturally, the area is distinctly Western— its rich ranching heritage of cowboys and cattle drives reaches back to the 1850s. Powell County is also home to abundant wildlife, spectacular mountain and valley landscapes, and diverse plant species.

Today, the livestock trade and agriculture continue to underpin the local economy. Unlike other parts of the rural West that have experienced an influx of new residents in the 1990s, Powell County’s population growth has remained relatively flat. Land prices, however, have increased significantly, particularly because of the construction of second homes in the county’s northern end.

Despite this trend, Powell County is an unlikely candidate for rapid rural development. The county, which deeply values its rural character, has been active in laying the groundwork for preserving open space and mitigating the effects of development in the future.

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