Petroleum County, Administrative division in Montana, US.
Petroleum County is an administrative division in Montana that stretches across rolling plains meeting river breaks along the Musselshell and Missouri Rivers. The landscape alternates between open grassland and steeper cliff formations, creating varied terrain across the region.
The territory was established in 1925 as Montana's last county, created after oil discovery at Cat Creek led to separation from Fergus County. This event determined the region's economic focus for the following decades.
Ranching shapes daily life here, with cattle and sheep herds scattered across the landscape as the primary livelihood for residents. The land itself feels organized around these pastoral activities, which connect people to their communities and traditions.
Montana Highway 200 is the main road connecting the area to essential services in neighboring regions and serves as the primary route for travelers passing through. The region is sparsely populated, so visitors should expect longer distances between towns and services.
With roughly 500 residents, this is one of the least densely populated counties in the nation, giving the region a quiet, remote character. This sparseness means visitors encounter vast stretches of open land and a rural pace of life rarely found elsewhere.
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