Fallon County is a county in Montana, United States, on the North Dakota border in the far east of the state. It had a population of 3,049 at the 2020 census and covers 1,623 square miles (4,200 km2) centred near 46°21′N 104°25′W.
Baker is the county seat and its postal code is 59313. The county has one city, one town and several unincorporated communities, and observes Mountain time. County FIPS code: 30-025.
Towns & Villages in Fallon County
Fallon County has seven named places: one incorporated city (the seat), one incorporated town, and five unincorporated communities. The table below lists each with its type and 2020 population where a figure is counted separately by the Census Bureau.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baker | City · seat | 1,731 | 59313 |
| Plevna | Town | 212 | 59344 |
| Willard | Unincorp. | — | 59354 |
| Cabin Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ollie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Webster | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Westmore | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 59313 — Baker (also serves Cabin Creek, Ollie and Westmore)
- 59344 — Plevna (also serves Webster)
- 59354 — Willard (PO Box delivery only)
Three ZIP codes cover the county; the smaller unincorporated places rely on the nearest post office town’s code.
Geography
Fallon County sits on rolling prairie and badland terrain in far-eastern Montana, drained by Beaver Creek and O’Fallon Creek toward the Yellowstone River basin. Land makes up 1,621 of the county’s 1,623 square miles, with the balance in small creeks and stock ponds.
It borders Wibaux County to the north, Prairie County to the northwest, Custer County to the west, and Carter County to the south, all in Montana. Across the state line it borders Harding County, South Dakota to the southeast; Bowman County and Slope County, North Dakota to the east; and Golden Valley County, North Dakota to the northeast.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 3,049 residents, with Baker (1,731) and Plevna (212) the two largest communities — together about two-thirds of the county’s population. Fallon County’s median household income runs below the Montana median of $70,804, typical of the state’s sparsely populated eastern counties. Population density is about 1.9 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Oil and gas extraction from the Bakken and Williston Basin formations, alongside wheat and cattle ranching, anchor the county’s economy. Baker serves as the regional trade and medical center for Fallon County and neighboring counties, with the Fallon Medical Complex and Fallon County High School among its institutions. The O’Fallon Historical Museum in Baker preserves county history, including a mounted dinosaur skeleton discovered locally.
History
Fallon County was organized on December 9, 1913, carved out of the much larger Custer County during Montana’s early-20th-century wave of county splits driven by homestead-era settlement. It is named for Benjamin O’Fallon, a nephew of explorer William Clark, who served as a U.S. Indian agent for the upper Missouri region from 1823 to 1827. Baker was platted as a Milwaukee Road railroad town and became the county seat at organization.
Getting There
U.S. Route 12 crosses the county east-west through Baker and Plevna; Montana Highway 7 runs north-south.
- Miles City, Montana — 65 miles west
- Dickinson, North Dakota — 75 miles east
- Glendive, Montana — 45 miles north
- Belle Fourche, South Dakota — 90 miles south
Baker Municipal Airport, just southeast of Baker, handles general aviation; the nearest commercial service is Dickinson–Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport in North Dakota.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Fallon County?
It is in far-eastern Montana, on the North Dakota border.
What is the population of Fallon County?
3,049 at the 2020 census.
How big is Fallon County?
1,623 square miles (4,200 km2).
What is the county seat of Fallon County?
Baker is the county seat.
How many towns are in Fallon County?
One city (Baker), one town (Plevna) and five unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Fallon County?
59313 (Baker), 59344 (Plevna) and 59354 (Willard).
What drives the local economy?
Oil and gas production alongside wheat and cattle ranching, with Baker as the trade center.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Montana.