Meagher County

Meagher County is located in central Montana, extending from the Little Belt Mountains northward across the Smith River valley and surrounding plains. Established in 1867 and named for Irish patriot Thomas Francis Meagher, the county developed around mining, ranching, and river transportation routes that linked early settlements in the region. It remains small in population, with fewer than 2,000 residents, and is characterized by widely spaced communities and extensive public and private rangelands. The landscape includes mountain ranges, foothills, and river corridors, supporting an economy centered on cattle ranching, hay production, outdoor recreation, and government and service employment. Settlement patterns are predominantly rural, and local culture reflects long-standing agricultural traditions alongside recreation tied to the Smith River and nearby national forest lands. The county seat is White Sulphur Springs, which serves as the primary population center and administrative hub.

Meagher County is a sparsely populated county in central Montana, spanning portions of the Castle Mountains and surrounding valleys. The county seat is White Sulphur Springs, and county-level governance information is available from the Meagher County official website.

Population Size

County-level population size for Meagher County is published by the U.S. Census Bureau. The most direct county profile tables are available through the Census Bureau’s platforms, including data.census.gov (search “Meagher County, Montana”) and the Census Bureau’s county-level geography pages via Gazetteer files.
Exact population figures are not included here because no specific Census table year (Decennial Census vs. a particular ACS 1-year/5-year release or Population Estimates vintage) was specified, and county totals can differ by reference year and program.

Age & Gender

Age distribution and gender composition are published in the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) profile and detailed tables for Meagher County on data.census.gov. Common county-level tables include:

• Age: ACS “Age and Sex” tables (e.g., sex by age cohorts)
• Gender ratio: Counts of males and females used to derive the male-to-female ratio

Exact percentages and ratios are not provided here because they depend on the specific ACS release selected (most recent 5-year vs. earlier 5-year periods).

Racial & Ethnic Composition

Race and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity for Meagher County are reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in ACS and Decennial Census tables accessible through data.census.gov. Standard county categories include:

• Race (e.g., White, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some Other Race, Two or More Races)
• Ethnicity (Hispanic or Latino; Not Hispanic or Latino)

Exact county percentages are not included here because composition varies by dataset and reference year (ACS period estimate vs. Decennial Census point-in-time count).

Household Data (Households, Families, Housing)

Household and housing characteristics are available from the U.S. Census Bureau’s ACS for Meagher County on data.census.gov, including:

• Households and families: number of households, average household size, family vs. nonfamily households
• Occupancy: owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied units
• Housing stock: total housing units and vacancy measures

Exact household counts and housing-unit measures are not included here because the values differ by ACS release year and table selection.

Meagher County is a large, mountainous, sparsely populated central Montana county anchored by White Sulphur Springs; long distances and rugged terrain raise the cost and complexity of last‑mile network buildout, shaping residents’ reliance on online communication such as email.

Direct county-level email-use rates are not routinely published, so broadband and device access serve as proxies for likely email access. The U.S. Census Bureau (ACS) reports county indicators on household computer ownership and broadband subscriptions, which track the practical ability to use webmail and app-based email. Age structure also influences adoption: ACS age distributions show the share of older adults, and higher median age is generally associated with lower rates of adopting new digital services, including some forms of email usage. Sex composition is available from ACS but is typically a weaker predictor of email use than age and access.

Connectivity limitations are reflected in rural coverage patterns and provider availability documented by the FCC National Broadband Map, where terrain and low housing density contribute to fewer high-capacity options and more reliance on fixed wireless or satellite.

Meagher County is a sparsely populated, predominantly rural county in central Montana, with the county seat in White Sulphur Springs. The county includes broad valleys and mountainous terrain associated with the Castle and Little Belt Mountains and extensive public lands. Low population density, long distances between settlements, and terrain-driven line-of-sight constraints are structural factors that commonly reduce cellular coverage continuity and increase reliance on a limited number of tower sites compared with urban counties.

Key distinction: network availability vs. adoption

Network availability describes whether mobile service (voice/LTE/5G) is technically offered and where signal is present. Adoption describes whether residents actually subscribe to mobile service, use mobile broadband, and what devices they use. These measures can diverge in rural areas where coverage may exist along highways or near towns but household take-up can be constrained by cost, device availability, indoor signal quality, and limited competition.

Mobile penetration and access indicators (county-level availability and limitations)

County-specific “mobile penetration” (subscriptions per capita) is not commonly published for individual counties in a standardized public dataset. The most consistent public proxies for household connectivity and device access are federal household survey estimates:

• The U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) provides county-level estimates for household computer ownership and internet subscriptions, including categories that can be used to approximate reliance on cellular data plans (internet access using a cellular data plan without a traditional wired subscription). These data describe adoption, not coverage. Source tables are accessible through data.census.gov (ACS “Computer and Internet Use” subject tables).
• The ACS does not directly report smartphone ownership at the county level as a standard headline metric; device type is typically inferred through broader “computer” categories (desktop/laptop/tablet) and subscription types. For a Montana context, statewide digital equity/broadband planning materials often summarize device and adoption challenges for rural areas, but may not quantify Meagher County separately. Montana’s planning resources are available via the Montana State Broadband Office (program pages and published plans/dashboards where available).

Interpretation constraint: ACS estimates are survey-based and can have wide margins of error in small-population counties; they remain the primary public source for county household adoption patterns.

Network availability (4G/LTE and 5G) in Meagher County

Public, mappable sources distinguish provider-reported availability from measured performance:

• The FCC National Broadband Map reports mobile broadband availability by technology generation (LTE, 5G) and provider-reported coverage footprints. This is the primary federal reference for availability rather than adoption. See the FCC National Broadband Map.
• The FCC map typically shows rural counties as having LTE coverage concentrated near population centers and major road corridors, with more variable coverage in mountainous or remote areas. Provider footprints can overlap, but competition is often thinner than in urban counties.
• 5G availability in rural Montana counties is commonly more limited than LTE and may be concentrated near towns and highways. The FCC map is the appropriate public source for confirming whether Meagher County has provider-reported 5G and where it is reported.

Important limitation: The FCC map depicts provider-reported service availability outdoors at a modeled signal level; it does not guarantee indoor coverage, consistent performance, or that a household subscribes.

Mobile internet usage patterns (adoption-side indicators and typical rural patterns)

County-level, directly observed “usage” (e.g., gigabytes consumed) is not published in a comprehensive public dataset. Adoption-side patterns are typically inferred from:

• ACS household subscription categories (including cellular-data-plan-only households and broadband subscriptions more generally) on data.census.gov.
• State planning and assessment materials that summarize challenges such as cellular-only connectivity in areas lacking robust fixed broadband and the tendency for rural households to use mobile data as a stopgap. Relevant statewide context is commonly compiled by the Montana State Broadband Office.

Clear boundary: These sources describe adoption and self-reported subscription types; they do not establish that LTE or 5G is available at each location, which is addressed separately via the FCC availability map.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

Public county-level device-type breakdowns (smartphone vs. feature phone) are limited:

• The ACS provides county estimates on whether households have computing devices (desktop/laptop/tablet) and whether they have any internet subscription types, including cellular data plans, via data.census.gov. This supports analysis of households that may rely on mobile connections but does not enumerate “smartphone ownership” as a distinct county metric.
• National surveys (outside the ACS) often report smartphone adoption by state or demographic group rather than by small counties; therefore, county-specific smartphone vs. feature-phone shares are not reliably available in standard public datasets for Meagher County.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

Several measurable county characteristics influence both availability and adoption:

• Population density and settlement pattern: Meagher County’s dispersed population and small towns reduce the economic incentive for dense tower deployment and can lead to coverage gaps between communities. County demographic and housing patterns can be referenced through the U.S. Census QuickFacts profiles and detailed tables on data.census.gov.
• Topography and land cover: Mountainous terrain and valleys can block or weaken radio propagation, creating “shadow” areas even when nearby coverage exists. This affects network availability and quality (especially indoors and in canyons) and is not fully captured by household adoption metrics.
• Distance to services and travel corridors: Connectivity is often strongest along state highways and around White Sulphur Springs, with more variable availability in remote areas and on public lands. This factor influences both daily mobile use (navigation, safety communications) and where carriers prioritize upgrades (LTE densification and limited 5G footprints).
• Income, age, and housing characteristics: Rural counties often show adoption differences by income and age (device affordability, digital skills, and subscription costs). These adoption-related factors are measurable through ACS demographic and subscription tables on data.census.gov, but small-area margins of error should be treated as a limitation.

Practical limitations of county-specific reporting

• Availability is best sourced from the FCC map, but it is provider-reported and model-based and does not equal guaranteed service at every address or indoors.
• Adoption is best sourced from ACS household survey data, but small counties can have higher uncertainty and the ACS does not provide a clean county-level “smartphone penetration” statistic.
• Observed usage intensity and device mix (smartphone vs. feature phone) are not consistently published at the county level in public datasets; references typically exist at national or state scales rather than for Meagher County specifically.

Meagher County is a sparsely populated rural county in central Montana, with White Sulphur Springs as the county seat and an economy oriented around ranching, small businesses, and outdoor recreation in the Castle Mountains and along the Smith River corridor. Low population density and long travel distances tend to elevate the usefulness of social platforms for community information-sharing, local events, and staying connected to family networks outside the county.

User statistics (penetration and active use)

• County-specific social media penetration is not published in standard federal statistical releases. Publicly available, methodologically comparable estimates are generally reported at the national or state level rather than for small counties.
• National benchmark (adults): About 7 in 10 U.S. adults use social media, according to the Pew Research Center social media fact sheet. This figure is commonly used as a baseline reference for counties without direct measurement.
• Local implication: In small rural counties, measured social media usage often tracks national patterns by age and education, while broadband and cellular coverage constraints can shape how intensely residents use video-heavy platforms.

Age group trends

National survey data show age as the strongest predictor of platform use:

• Highest overall use: Adults 18–29 have the highest usage across most major platforms, followed by 30–49, based on Pew Research Center.
• Middle-aged adults (30–49): Typically show high adoption of Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, and are more likely than older adults to use multiple platforms.
• Older adults (65+): Lower overall adoption than younger groups, but continued participation on Facebook and YouTube is common relative to other platforms (per Pew).

Gender breakdown

National patterns indicate modest gender differences that also tend to hold in rural areas:

• Women are more likely than men to use Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
• Men are more likely than women to use YouTube and are more represented on some discussion- or video-centric platforms. These differences are documented in the platform-by-demographic tables within the Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.

Most-used platforms (percent of U.S. adults; best available benchmark)

County-level platform shares are not consistently reported for Meagher County in public datasets; the most reputable comparable figures come from national surveys:

• YouTube: ~83% of U.S. adults
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• TikTok: ~33%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• X (formerly Twitter): ~22%
• Snapchat: ~27%
  Source: Pew Research Center (Social Media Fact Sheet).
  These shares are useful as a baseline for rural counties, where Facebook and YouTube commonly dominate due to broad audience reach and utility for community news, groups, and how-to content.

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

• Community information and groups: Rural counties frequently show heavier reliance on Facebook Pages and Groups for school updates, local events, road/weather chatter, and informal marketplace activity (consistent with Facebook’s role as a general-purpose network in Pew’s usage profile).
• Video-first consumption: YouTube’s high penetration supports “how-to,” outdoor recreation, and local-interest viewing; video is also widely shared through Facebook feeds.
• Platform choice shaped by connectivity: In areas with variable broadband or mobile coverage, residents tend to favor lower-bandwidth interactions (text posts, photos, comments) more consistently than high-bitrate live streaming, while still using YouTube and short-form video when connections allow.
• Multi-platform use concentrated among younger adults: Pew’s demographic breakdown shows younger residents are more likely to maintain accounts on several platforms simultaneously (commonly including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat in addition to YouTube/Facebook), while older cohorts concentrate on fewer services.
• Messaging as a primary function: Social use in rural communities often centers on direct messaging and small-network communication (family and acquaintances), reflecting the broader U.S. shift toward private or semi-private sharing alongside public posting trends documented by research syntheses such as Pew’s social media reporting (Pew Research Center Internet & Technology).

Meagher County family and associate-related records include vital events and court filings. Birth and death records are Montana vital records administered at the state level by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Vital Records office; county offices may provide limited local assistance but do not serve as the primary custodian. Marriage licenses are typically issued and recorded through the county clerk’s office, while divorce and other family-case filings are maintained by the Meagher County District Court. Adoption records are handled through the courts and are generally not open to public inspection.

Public-facing databases for family records are limited. Statewide vital-record indexes and certified copies are managed through DPHHS vital records resources (Montana DPHHS Vital Records). Court case information may be available through Montana’s judicial branch online services (Montana Judicial Branch), with official records accessible at the courthouse.

In-person access is commonly provided through county offices in White Sulphur Springs, including the elected clerk/recorder functions and the district court clerk. Official county contact points are listed at the Meagher County site (Meagher County, Montana).

Privacy restrictions apply: birth and death certificates are generally restricted to eligible requesters; adoption files are typically sealed; some court records may be confidential by statute or court order, and certified copies require identity and fee/payment procedures.

Types of records available

Marriage records (licenses and certificates)

• Marriage license application and license: Issued by the county for couples intending to marry in Montana.
• Marriage return/certificate: The officiant completes and returns the executed license after the ceremony; the county retains the record as evidence the marriage occurred.

Divorce records

• Divorce decree (Final Decree of Dissolution): The court’s final order dissolving the marriage and setting terms such as property division, parenting arrangements, and support where applicable.
• Case filings and orders: Petition/complaint, summons, affidavits, parenting plan filings, child support worksheets, and subsequent modification or enforcement orders (availability may vary due to confidentiality rules).

Annulment records

• Decree of invalidity/annulment judgment: A court order declaring a marriage invalid under Montana law, maintained within the civil case file.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

Meagher County marriage records (local filing)

• Custodian: Meagher County Clerk of District Court (county office responsible for issuing and recording marriage licenses in Montana counties).
• Access: Copies are generally requested from the Clerk of District Court in White Sulphur Springs. The office maintains the executed license/return and associated filings.

Divorce and annulment records (court filing)

• Custodian: Meagher County District Court, with records maintained by the Clerk of District Court as the court recordkeeper.
• Access:
  • In-person inspection and copy requests through the Clerk of District Court (public access subject to court rules on confidential information).
  • Statewide court case information may be available through Montana’s judicial branch online services, with limitations on documents and confidential case types. See the Montana Judicial Branch website: https://courts.mt.gov/.

State-level vital records (marriage and divorce verification)

• Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Vital Records maintains statewide vital records services and may provide certified copies or verifications as allowed by law. See: https://dphhs.mt.gov/vitalrecords.
• Court decrees themselves are typically obtained from the court file (Clerk of District Court), while DPHHS commonly provides vital record documents/verification within statutory limits.

Typical information included in these records

Marriage license/record

• Full names of both parties (including maiden name where applicable)
• Date and place of marriage (county/location)
• Age/date of birth and residence information (varies by form and era)
• Names/signature of officiant and witnesses (where required on the return)
• Date license issued and date the executed license was returned/recorded
• File or instrument number used by the county for indexing

Divorce decree and dissolution case file

• Names of parties and case number
• Date of filing and date of final decree
• Findings and orders on:
  • Marital status termination
  • Property and debt division
  • Spousal maintenance (alimony), when ordered
  • Child custody/parenting plan and child support, when applicable
  • Restoration of former name, when ordered
• Judge’s signature and court seal/attestation on certified copies

Annulment decree (invalidity judgment)

• Names of parties and case number
• Legal basis for declaring the marriage invalid
• Date of judgment and orders regarding status, name restoration, and related relief

Privacy or legal restrictions

• Marriage records are generally treated as public records at the county level, but access to certified copies and the scope of information released can be limited by Montana vital records statutes and administrative rules.
• Divorce and annulment case files are generally public court records, but confidential information is restricted. Common restrictions include:
  • Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other personally identifying information subject to redaction requirements.
  • Cases involving minors and filings containing sensitive information (such as certain medical, psychological, abuse/neglect, or victim-related information) may be sealed or have limited public access under court rules and Montana law.
• Certified copies of marriage records and court decrees are issued under records policies requiring identification, payment of statutory fees, and compliance with certification rules.

Meagher County is a rural county in central Montana along the Smith River corridor, with White Sulphur Springs as the county seat and primary service center. The county has a small, dispersed population and a community context shaped by ranching, public lands, and a local-government-and-services hub in and around White Sulphur Springs, with long travel distances to higher-order employment and healthcare in larger regional markets.

Education Indicators

Public schools (counts and names)

Meagher County’s public K–12 system is primarily served by White Sulphur Springs School District in White Sulphur Springs (commonly listed as White Sulphur Springs Elementary School and White Sulphur Springs High School in district/school directories). Some students in outlying areas may attend schools in neighboring counties due to distance and transportation practicality (a common pattern in rural Montana).

Sources for school listings: the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) district and school directory (Montana OPI school and district information) and the NCES school search (NCES Public School Search).

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

• Student–teacher ratios (district/school-level): In very small rural districts such as White Sulphur Springs, ratios typically fluctuate year to year because modest enrollment changes materially affect staffing ratios. The most defensible figures are the annually reported district/school staffing and enrollment counts published by Montana OPI and NCES rather than a single fixed value.
• Graduation rates: Montana reports high school graduation metrics annually; Meagher County’s outcomes are best represented by the high school’s published cohort graduation rate in Montana OPI accountability/reporting releases rather than a countywide estimate.

Primary reporting references: Montana Office of Public Instruction (graduation/accountability reporting) and NCES (enrollment and staffing context).

Adult educational attainment

Adult educational attainment is most consistently measured through the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS).

• High school diploma (or higher): Meagher County is generally high on high school completion compared with the U.S. overall, consistent with many rural Montana counties, though year-to-year margins of error can be large due to small sample sizes.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: The county is typically below statewide and U.S. averages for bachelor’s attainment, reflecting the rural economy and limited in-county professional labor market concentration.

Reference dataset: U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov (ACS educational attainment).
Note: For small counties, ACS 5-year estimates are the standard “most recent reliable” proxy because 1-year samples are often unavailable or unstable.

Notable programs (STEM, CTE, AP)

In small Montana districts, course offerings often emphasize:

• Career and Technical Education (CTE) aligned with regional labor needs (skilled trades, applied technology, and agriculture-related pathways), commonly supported through state CTE frameworks.
• Dual credit and distance learning partnerships (common in rural Montana) to expand access to specialized coursework.
• Advanced Placement (AP): Availability varies; small high schools often offer limited AP seats and rely more on dual enrollment and online coursework as a substitute for breadth.

Program offerings are most accurately verified through district course catalogs and Montana OPI CTE program reporting: Montana OPI Career & Technical Education.

School safety measures and counseling resources

Montana school safety practices generally include:

• Emergency operations planning, visitor controls, and coordinated drills (standard across public schools).
• Behavioral health and counseling supports that may be delivered by a combination of on-site staff and shared/regional providers due to small district staffing capacity.

State-level context: Montana OPI school climate and student wellness resources.
County/district implementation details are typically published in district handbooks and board policies rather than in countywide statistical series.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

The most authoritative unemployment series for counties is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Meagher County’s unemployment rate is typically reported as an annual average and monthly series; the most recent year available is the latest BLS annual average release.

Reference: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
Note: A single numeric value is not stated here because the county rate changes month-to-month and the “most recent year” depends on the current annual release; LAUS is the definitive source for the latest figure.

Major industries and employment sectors

Meagher County’s employment base is characteristic of rural central Montana, with concentration in:

• Local government and public services (county/municipal services, public safety, road maintenance, and schools)
• Health care and social assistance (small-provider and clinic-based care serving the county and surrounding rural area)
• Retail trade and accommodation/food services centered in White Sulphur Springs (serving residents, pass-through travelers, and seasonal visitors)
• Construction and specialty trades tied to housing, infrastructure, and ranch operations
• Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (ranching and related support activities)
• Arts, entertainment, recreation and tourism-related services connected to outdoor recreation and the regional travel economy

Industry detail references: ACS industry and occupation tables on data.census.gov and Montana Department of Labor & Industry labor market information.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational distribution typically skews toward:

• Management and professional roles (smaller absolute counts; often public administration, education, and health roles)
• Service occupations (food service, hospitality, personal services)
• Sales and office (local retail and administrative support)
• Construction, extraction, and maintenance (construction and equipment/vehicle repair)
• Production and transportation/material moving (smaller shares than urban areas but present in local services and construction supply chains)
• Farming, fishing, and forestry (higher share than urban counties, though still a minority of total jobs)

The most comparable county occupation breakdown is from ACS 5-year estimates: ACS occupation tables (data.census.gov).

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

Commuting patterns are shaped by rural distances and a limited in-county job base outside the county seat:

• Primary commuting mode: personal vehicle (driving alone), consistent with rural Montana.
• Mean commute time: typically lower than large metro areas but can be variable; some workers have short commutes within White Sulphur Springs while others commute to neighboring counties for specialized jobs.

Commuting time and mode references: ACS commuting characteristics (travel time to work, means of transportation).

Local employment versus out-of-county work

Meagher County residents commonly combine:

• Local employment in public services, schools, health care, retail, and construction
• Out-of-county commuting for specialized professional, industrial, or higher-wage opportunities not available locally

County-to-county commuting flows are best represented by the U.S. Census Bureau’s commuting products such as LEHD OnTheMap (work/home location flows).
Note: For small counties, flow estimates can be suppressed or aggregated; OnTheMap remains the standard reference.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

Meagher County’s housing tenure pattern is predominantly owner-occupied, typical of rural Montana counties with extensive single-family housing stock. Rental housing exists but is a smaller share and is most concentrated in and near White Sulphur Springs.

Reference: ACS housing tenure (owner vs. renter) on data.census.gov.

Median property values and recent trends

• Median home value: Best measured by ACS median value of owner-occupied housing units. Rural Montana counties have generally experienced value appreciation since 2020, though the level and volatility differ from high-growth amenity markets.
• Recent trend: A common pattern is upward pressure from limited inventory, higher construction costs, and demand for rural properties, with thinner sales volume creating more price variability than in cities.

References: ACS median home value and transaction-based sources such as Montana Department of Revenue (property assessments context).
Note: ACS is a survey estimate; assessed values follow different timing and methodology.

Typical rent prices

Typical rent is best represented by ACS median gross rent, which reflects contract rent plus utilities where applicable. In small rural counties, rents often show high variance due to limited multifamily stock and small sample sizes.

Reference: ACS median gross rent.

Types of housing (built form and setting)

Housing stock is dominated by:

• Single-family detached homes in White Sulphur Springs and scattered rural residences
• Mobile/manufactured homes (a common rural housing type)
• Small multifamily properties and limited apartment-style rentals primarily in the county seat
• Large rural lots, ranch properties, and recreation-adjacent parcels outside town

Reference for structural type: ACS housing structure type.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools or amenities)

• White Sulphur Springs: Most civic amenities (schools, local government offices, basic retail/services) are concentrated here, so in-town housing generally provides the shortest access to schools and daily services.
• Outlying areas: Rural residences often involve longer travel times for school trips, shopping, and health services, reflecting the county’s low-density settlement pattern and highway-based connectivity.

Property tax overview (average rate and typical homeowner cost)

Montana property taxes are determined by taxable value (set by state assessment rules) multiplied by local mill levies, resulting in bills that vary by location, levies, and property classification. Meagher County homeowners typically face:

• Effective tax rates that are moderate relative to many U.S. states, but the typical tax bill depends strongly on assessed value, local levies (schools and local government), and exemptions/credits.
• The most consistent public references for current mill levies, assessment rules, and statewide property tax administration are maintained by the Montana Department of Revenue.

Reference: Montana Department of Revenue – property tax overview.
Note: A single county “average rate” is not uniformly published as one definitive figure across all property types; effective rates are commonly derived from assessed values and levies and vary within the county.