Beaverhead County

Published: 2022
By Jessica Murray

Founded in 1865, Beaverhead County is Montana’s largest county with an area of 5,571 square miles. Of the 3.566 million acres of land, 69% is publicly owned which contributes to the sparse population of the county. The population density in Beaverhead County is less than 1.7 people per square mile, but it has an average cattle population of 27.6 per square mile. The economy is mainly driven by agriculture, mostly cattle and hay production, but tourism and recreation also contribute. Beaverhead County ranks first in beef cattle production.