Roosevelt County, Montana

Roosevelt County is a county in Montana, United States, on the North Dakota border along the Missouri River in the northeastern part of the state. It had a population of 10,794 at the 2020 census and covers 2,369 square miles (6,140 km2), of which 2,355 square miles is land, centred near 48°18′N 105°02′W.

Wolf Point is the county seat, and its postal code is 59201. The county has 2 cities, 3 towns, 1 census-designated place, and several unincorporated communities. It observes Mountain Time. The Fort Peck Indian Reservation, home to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, covers roughly three-fourths of the county’s land area.

Towns & Villages in Roosevelt County

Roosevelt County has 6 incorporated places — 2 cities, 3 towns, and 1 census-designated place — plus a scattering of unincorporated communities and rural place names carried over from railroad-era plat maps. Montana has no civil townships, so places are listed with type only.

Fort Kipp sits inside the Fort Peck Reservation near Poplar; several of the smaller names on this list (Slab Crossing, Finnicum MH Park, Moes Trailer Court, Walker MH Park) are mobile-home courts or informal rural crossings rather than platted communities, and are omitted here for lack of any verifiable population or ZIP data.

ZIP Codes

• 59201 — Wolf Point (also serves Fort Kipp)
• 59255 — Poplar
• 59218 — Culbertson
• 59213 — Brockton
• 59226 — Froid
• 59212 — Bainville

The smaller unincorporated places (Chelsea, Bredette, Sprole, Macon, Biem, Blair, Snowden, Lakeside, Lanark, McCabe, Calais, Volt) rely on the nearest post office town’s ZIP rather than one of their own.

Geography

Roosevelt County lies in the glaciated plains of northeastern Montana, split by the Missouri River, which forms much of its southern boundary before the Milk River joins it near the Fort Peck Reservoir backwaters. The land is mostly open prairie and farmland, with the Fort Peck Indian Reservation occupying roughly three-quarters of the county. The county borders Daniels County to the north, Sheridan County to the northeast, Williams County, North Dakota to the east, McKenzie County, North Dakota to the southeast, Richland County to the south, McCone County to the southwest, and Valley County to the west. Live sibling pages: Daniels County, Sheridan County, Montana, Williams County, North Dakota, McKenzie County, North Dakota, Richland County, Montana, McCone County, and Valley County, Montana.

Demographics

The 2020 census counted 10,794 residents, giving a density of about 4.6 people per square mile — sparse even by Montana standards. Wolf Point and Poplar are the two largest communities, together holding roughly a third of the county’s population. The county’s median household income runs well below the Montana median of $70,804, reflecting the reservation economy and a heavy reliance on agriculture and tribal-government employment. Enrolled members of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation make up a large share of residents, particularly around Poplar and Wolf Point.

Economy & Local Life

Wheat, barley, and cattle ranching dominate the county’s private economy, alongside the Fort Peck Tribes’ government and enterprises, which are among the largest employers. Wolf Point hosts Frontier Community College branch programs and an annual event of regional note, the Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede, one of Montana’s oldest rodeos. BNSF Railway’s main line runs through Wolf Point and Poplar, a legacy of the Great Northern Railway that first platted many of the county’s town sites.

History

Roosevelt County was organized in 1919 by the Montana Legislature out of a portion of Sheridan County. It is named for President Theodore Roosevelt, who died earlier that same year. The area had been part of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation since an 1888 agreement, and the reservation’s presence continues to shape land ownership and governance across most of the county. The Great Northern Railway’s arrival in the early 1900s brought the platted townsites of Wolf Point, Poplar, Culbertson, Froid, and Bainville that anchor the county today.

Getting There

U.S. Route 2 runs east-west through Wolf Point, Poplar, and Culbertson, connecting the county to Glasgow and the Hi-Line corridor. Montana Highway 13 and Highway 16 provide north-south links toward the Canadian border and Sidney.

• Williston, North Dakota — 55 miles east
• Glasgow, Montana — 45 miles west
• Sidney, Montana — 60 miles south
• Plentywood, Montana — 40 miles northeast

The nearest commercial airport is L.M. Clayton Airport in Wolf Point, with limited scheduled service; Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport and Williston Basin International Airport in North Dakota also serve the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Roosevelt County, Montana?
It is in the northeastern part of Montana, along the North Dakota border, split by the Missouri River.

What is the population of Roosevelt County?
10,794 residents as of the 2020 census.

How big is Roosevelt County?
2,369 square miles (6,140 km2), including 15 square miles of water.

What is the county seat of Roosevelt County?
Wolf Point is the county seat.

How many towns are in Roosevelt County?
6 incorporated or census-designated places — Wolf Point, Poplar, Culbertson, Froid, Bainville, and Brockton — plus a number of smaller unincorporated communities.

What ZIP codes are in Roosevelt County?
59201 (Wolf Point), 59255 (Poplar), 59218 (Culbertson), 59213 (Brockton), 59226 (Froid), and 59212 (Bainville).

How much of Roosevelt County is reservation land?
About three-fourths of the county lies within the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Montana.