Welcome to Powell County

Published: 2022
By Bo Walker

Powell County is a rural county with a total population of about 7,000 people and over 35,000 cows. There are seven census-designated communities in Powell County, the largest of which is the county seat, Deer Lodge. Powell County’s economy is heavily based on natural resource industries like agriculture, forestry, and mining. Over 50% of the county is owned by either federal or state government, most of which is open to livestock grazing, timber production, and mineral extraction. Powell County is home to beautiful and scenic landscapes composed of six distinct mountain ranges, three major rivers, vast swaths of rangeland, and small amounts of irrigated cropland and pasture. The Powell County MSU Extension office, located in the courthouse in Deer Lodge, is staffed by one full-time MSU Extension Agent and one full-time administrative assistant. The office provides information and outreach to local constituents and organizations in agriculture, horticulture, 4-H/youth development, and more. Powell County MSU Extension provides newspaper articles and free publications, hosts public workshops in numerous program areas, offers one-on-one consultations for local constituents in several capacities, and works with school children and 4-H youth across the county to serve the people and places of Montana.