Golden Valley County is a county in Montana, United States, in the central part of the state along the Musselshell River valley. It had a population of 823 at the 2020 census and covers 1,176 square miles (3,050 km2) centred near 46°23′N 109°10′W.
Ryegate is the county seat and its postal code is 59074. The county has two towns, one unincorporated Hutterite colony community, and several small unincorporated places; it lies in the Mountain time zone.
Towns & Villages in Golden Valley County
Golden Valley County has two incorporated towns and a handful of small unincorporated communities strung along U.S. Highway 12 and Montana Highway 3. Golden Valley Colony is a Hutterite communal farm rather than a townsite; the rest are historic rail-line settlements, some now reduced to a few residences.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryegate | Town · seat | — | 59074 |
| Lavina | Town | — | 59046 |
| Golden Valley Colony | Unincorp. | — | 59074 |
| Barber | Unincorp. | — | 59074 |
| Belmont | Unincorp. | — | 59046 |
| Franklin | Unincorp. | — | 59074 |
Rothiemay, sometimes listed in older gazetteers as a Golden Valley County place, is a former rail siding now considered abandoned; it is not carried in this list for lack of a verifiable current population or address point.
ZIP Codes
- 59074 — Ryegate (also serves Golden Valley Colony, Barber and Franklin)
- 59046 — Lavina (also serves Belmont)
These two ZIP codes cover the entire county; no other place in Golden Valley County has its own delivery ZIP.
Geography
Golden Valley County sits in the rolling, mostly treeless plains of central Montana, split by the Musselshell River, which runs east through the county’s northern half, and bounded on the south by the Big Snowy and Little Belt foothill country. Of its 1,176 square miles, 1,175 square miles are land and about 1.0 square mile is water. It borders Fergus County to the north, Musselshell County to the east, Yellowstone County to the southeast, Stillwater County to the south, Sweet Grass County to the southwest, and Wheatland County to the west.
Demographics
The county’s population was 823 at the 2020 census, making it Montana’s third-least populous county. Ryegate and Lavina are the two largest communities. The county’s median household income has historically trailed the Montana median of $70,804; Golden Valley County is a sparsely populated agricultural county with a density of roughly 0.7 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Wheat, barley and cattle ranching drive the local economy, with grain elevators anchoring both Ryegate and Lavina along the historic rail corridor that follows the Musselshell River valley. Golden Valley Colony, a Hutterite communal farm south of Ryegate, is a major local agricultural operation. County government, the school districts in Ryegate and Lavina, and highway maintenance are the leading employers outside of farming.
History
Golden Valley County was created on October 4, 1920, from parts of Musselshell and Sweet Grass counties, during Montana’s early-20th-century wave of county splitting driven by homestead-era population growth. Ryegate, laid out as a Milwaukee Road rail stop, was chosen as the seat. Like much of central Montana, the county’s population peaked in the 1920s and has declined steadily since dryland-farming failures and drought in the following decades.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 12 and Montana Highway 3 are the county’s main routes.
- Roundup — 22 miles east
- Harlowton — 24 miles west
- Billings — 75 miles southeast
- Lewistown — 55 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Billings Logan International Airport, about 75 miles southeast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Golden Valley County, Montana?
It is in central Montana, along the Musselshell River between Roundup and Harlowton.
What is the population of Golden Valley County?
823 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Golden Valley County?
1,176 square miles (3,050 km2), making it Montana’s fifth-smallest county by land area.
What is the county seat of Golden Valley County?
Ryegate is the county seat.
How many towns are in Golden Valley County?
Two incorporated towns, Ryegate and Lavina, plus a few small unincorporated places.
What ZIP codes are in Golden Valley County?
59074 (Ryegate) and 59046 (Lavina).
Is Golden Valley Colony a town?
No, it is a Hutterite communal farm south of Ryegate, not an incorporated town.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Montana.