Blaine County, Montana

Blaine County is a county in Montana, United States, on the state’s northern border with Saskatchewan, Canada. It had a population of 7,044 at the 2020 census and covers 4,239 square miles (10,980 km2), of which 4,228 square miles (10,950 km2) is land, centred near 48°26′N 108°58′W.

Chinook is the county seat, and its postal code is 59523. The county has 2 incorporated communities, 9 census-designated places, and a scattering of unincorporated settlements, most of them inside the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Blaine County observes Mountain Time and carries FIPS code 30-005.

Towns & Villages in Blaine County

Blaine County has just two incorporated municipalities — Chinook and Harlem — alongside nine census-designated places (CDPs) recognized by the Census Bureau, most within the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, and a longer list of small unincorporated settlements and rural localities. Reliable place-level population counts are not available for most of these small communities, so the table marks them —.

Several of the county’s small rural localities and trailer courts sit close enough to Chinook or Harlem that residents commonly identify with the nearer town rather than the locality name; the list above keeps every distinct place name carried forward from local records rather than folding them into their neighbors.

ZIP Codes

• 59523 — Chinook (also serves Cleveland, Lohman, North Fork, Rattlesnake, Coburg, Maddux, Pine Grove, Cherry Ridge Ranch)
• 59526 — Harlem (also serves Fort Belknap Agency, Hartland Colony, North Harlem Colony, Savoy, Dry Lake, Newtown, Burns Trailer Court, Sprinkle Trailer Court)
• 59527 — Hays (PO Box delivery only, also serves Lodge Pole)
• 59529 — Hogeland
• 59535 — Lloyd
• 59542 — Turner (also serves Turner Colony)
• 59547 — Zurich

The smallest settlements have no post office of their own; mail for them is delivered through the nearest ZIP listed above.

Geography

Blaine County lies on Montana’s high plains along the Canadian border, drained by the Milk River, which runs east through the northern part of the county past Chinook and Harlem. The southern part of the county rises into the Bear Paw Mountains, where Chief Joseph surrendered in 1877 at the Bear Paw Battlefield. The Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, home to the Gros Ventre (Aaniiih) and Assiniboine (Nakoda) tribes, covers much of the southeastern part of the county.

Blaine County borders Hill County to the west, Chouteau County to the southwest, Fergus County to the south, and Phillips County to the east. To the north, across the international border, lie the Saskatchewan rural municipalities of Reno No. 51, Frontier No. 19, and Lone Tree No. 18.

Demographics

The county’s population was 7,044 at the 2020 census. Its two largest communities are Chinook, the county seat, and Harlem, the county’s other incorporated city. Blaine County has an American Indian and Alaska Native majority, at 52.8% of residents, reflecting the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation’s presence within the county — well above the state average. Median household income in the county runs below the Montana median of $70,804. Population density is roughly 1.7 people per square mile, one of the more sparsely settled counties in the state.

Economy & Local Life

Agriculture, principally wheat and cattle, is the backbone of Blaine County’s economy, supplemented by activity tied to the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation’s tribal government and services. Aaniiih Nakoda College, a tribal college chartered by the Fort Belknap Indian Community, operates on the reservation near Fort Belknap Agency. Public high schools serve students in Harlem, Chinook, and Turner.

History

Blaine County was created in 1912 out of Chouteau County and named for James G. Blaine, the former U.S. Secretary of State and Republican presidential nominee. The county’s best-known historic event predates its formal organization: in October 1877, Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce surrendered to the U.S. Army at the Bear Paw Battlefield south of Chinook, ending their nearly 1,200-mile flight toward Canada, just 40 miles short of the border.

Getting There

U.S. Route 2 runs east–west through the county along the Hi-Line, connecting Chinook and Harlem, with Montana Highway 66 running south from Chinook toward the Bear Paw Mountains and Fort Belknap Agency.

• Havre, Montana — 22 miles west
• Malta, Montana — 45 miles east
• Great Falls, Montana — 115 miles south
• Billings, Montana — 220 miles southeast

The nearest commercial airport is Havre City-County Airport, with fuller service available at Great Falls International Airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Blaine County, Montana?
It is on Montana’s northern border with Saskatchewan, Canada, in the north-central part of the state along the Milk River.

What is the population of Blaine County?
7,044 people at the 2020 census.

How big is Blaine County?
4,239 square miles (10,980 km2), of which 4,228 square miles (10,950 km2) is land.

What is the county seat of Blaine County?
Chinook is the county seat.

How many towns and communities are in Blaine County?
Two incorporated cities (Chinook and Harlem), nine census-designated places, and about a dozen smaller unincorporated localities.

What ZIP codes are in Blaine County?
59523 (Chinook), 59526 (Harlem), 59527 (Hays, PO Box only), 59529 (Hogeland), 59535 (Lloyd), 59542 (Turner), and 59547 (Zurich).

Is the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Blaine County?
Most of it is, in the southeastern part of the county, home to the Gros Ventre (Aaniiih) and Assiniboine (Nakoda) tribes and to Aaniiih Nakoda College.

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