Miles City

Miles City is the county seat of Custer County in Montana, situated between the Tongue and Yellowstone rivers in the High Plains of the eastern part of the state. The town spreads across roughly 3.34 square miles (8.7 square kilometers) and serves as a regional center for agriculture and commerce.

The settlement formed in 1877 near Fort Keogh after the end of the Indian Wars in the region. The arrival of the Northern Pacific Railway in 1881 transformed the place into a major trading hub for livestock and quickly brought new residents.

The Range Riders Museum displays items from early settlers and cowboys who shaped the area. The annual Bucking Horse Sale brings ranchers and breeders together, showing the work with horses and cattle that defines this region.

Interstate 94 crosses the town with three exits, linking Miles City to larger towns to the east and west. Miles Community College offers degree programs and free tutoring for students.

In March 1944, authorities dropped bombs from a B-17 bomber onto an ice jam in the rivers to prevent severe flooding. This operation remained a rare example of military flood control in peacetime.

Location: Custer County

Elevation above the sea: 722 m

Website: http://milescitychamber.com

GPS coordinates: 46.40833,-105.84000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:23