Carter County is a county in Montana, United States, in the southeastern corner of the state along the North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming lines. It had a population of 1,415 at the 2020 census and covers 3,348 square miles (8,670 km2) of land and water, centred near 45°30′N 104°32′W.
Ekalaka is the county seat and its postal code is 59324. The county has one incorporated town, one census-designated place, and several unincorporated communities. Carter County observes Mountain Time and has no civil townships. Its FIPS code is 011.
Towns & Villages in Carter County
Eight named places appear on Carter County maps: one incorporated town (the county seat), one census-designated place (Alzada), and six unincorporated communities. Population figures below are the 2020 census counts where the Census Bureau tabulates the place separately; unincorporated crossroads communities are not separately counted and are marked —.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ekalaka | Town · seat | — | 59324 |
| Alzada | CDP | — | 59311 |
| Boyes | Unincorp. | — | 59316 |
| Hammond | Unincorp. | — | 59332 |
| Capitol | Unincorp. | — | 59319 |
| Mill Iron | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Albion | Unincorp. | — | — |
Belltower and Ridgeway appear as historic place names on older county lists but are not populated crossroads today; they are omitted from the table above for lack of a verifiable current location. Older maps also mark scattered ranch post offices and rural schools across the county’s grazing districts, most now closed, that never grew into standing settlements.
ZIP Codes
- 59324 — Ekalaka (also serves Albion and Ridge)
- 59311 — Alzada
- 59332 — Hammond
- 59319 — Capitol
- 59316 — Boyes
Mill Iron does not have its own post office and is served by a neighboring ZIP code.
Geography
Carter County sits on the Montana high plains, a landscape of grassy buttes, badlands and scattered ponderosa pine breaks. Medicine Rocks State Park, a formation of wind-carved sandstone pillars, lies about 14 miles north of Ekalaka, and a portion of Custer National Forest crosses the county. The Little Missouri River drainage runs through the eastern part of the county. Carter County borders Fallon County to the north, Custer County to the northwest, Powder River County to the west, Harding County, South Dakota to the east, Butte County, South Dakota to the southeast, and Crook County, Wyoming to the south.
Demographics
The county’s population was 1,415 at the 2020 census, making it one of Montana’s least populous counties. Ekalaka is by far the largest community; Alzada is the only other place large enough for the Census Bureau to tabulate separately. Median household income runs well below the Montana median of $70,804, reflecting the county’s small, sparsely settled ranching economy. Population density is under one person per square mile, among the lowest of any county in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Cattle ranching and hay production are the backbone of the local economy, supplemented by oil and gas activity tied to the Williston Basin along the county’s eastern edge. Ekalaka is home to the Carter County Museum, one of Montana’s oldest county museums, built around dinosaur and other fossil finds from the surrounding badlands. The Baisch Blowout, a fossil quarry, and Medicine Rocks State Park draw visitors from across the region. Carter County High School in Ekalaka is the county’s only public high school, and its Livestock Association fairgrounds host the annual county fair and rodeo, one of the area’s largest community gatherings each summer.
History
Carter County was organized in 1917, one of the last of Montana’s 56 counties to be created, and was named for Thomas H. Carter, Montana’s first member of the U.S. House of Representatives and later a U.S. senator. Ekalaka, the seat, grew up around a trading post and took its name from an Oglala Lakota woman married to early settler David Russell.
Getting There
Montana Highway 7 runs north-south through Ekalaka, connecting to Montana Highway 323 toward the North Dakota line. Nearby towns by road include:
- Baker, Montana — about 50 miles north
- Miles City, Montana — about 90 miles northwest
- Belle Fourche, South Dakota — about 90 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Miles City Airport; Rapid City Regional Airport in South Dakota offers more frequent service and is roughly a three-hour drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Carter County, Montana?
It is in the southeastern corner of Montana, bordering North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
What is the population of Carter County?
1,415 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Carter County?
3,348 square miles (8,670 km2), one of Montana’s largest counties by area and among its smallest by population.
What is the county seat of Carter County?
Ekalaka is the county seat.
How many towns are in Carter County?
Ekalaka is the only incorporated town; Alzada is a census-designated place, and several smaller unincorporated communities dot the county.
What ZIP codes are in Carter County?
59324 (Ekalaka), 59311 (Alzada), 59316 (Boyes), 59319 (Capitol) and 59332 (Hammond).
What is Carter County known for?
Its badlands fossil beds, Medicine Rocks State Park, and the Carter County Museum in Ekalaka.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Montana.