Rosebud County

Rosebud County is located in southeastern Montana along the Yellowstone River corridor, extending south to the Wyoming border and east toward the Tongue River basin. Established in 1901 during a period of rapid county formation tied to homesteading and railroad-era settlement, it has long been shaped by transportation routes and river valleys. The county is sparsely populated and generally rural, with a small overall population compared with Montana’s urban centers. Its economy has historically centered on agriculture and livestock, alongside energy development and related services. The landscape includes broad prairie, badlands terrain, and river breaks, with large tracts of rangeland and scattered small communities. Cultural and regional identity reflects eastern Montana’s plains communities and nearby Northern Cheyenne and Crow reservation regions. The county seat is Forsyth.

Rosebud County is in southeastern Montana along the Yellowstone River corridor, with the county seat in Forsyth. The county includes portions of the Northern Plains region and borders the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation to the south.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Rosebud County, Montana, the county’s population was 9,368 (2020).

Age & Gender

County-level age distribution and gender ratio figures are published by the U.S. Census Bureau in American Community Survey (ACS) tables and profiles. A consolidated county profile with these measures is available through the Census Bureau’s data tools, including the county’s QuickFacts page and ACS profile tables available via data.census.gov. (The QuickFacts page above is the primary county summary reference on Census.gov.)

Racial & Ethnic Composition

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Rosebud County, Montana, the county’s racial and ethnic composition is reported in standard Census categories (including, among others, White, American Indian and Alaska Native, Black or African American, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino of any race). QuickFacts presents these as percentages derived from Census/ACS releases for the county.

Household & Housing Data

The U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Rosebud County, Montana also summarizes household and housing indicators reported for the county (commonly including households, average household size, owner-occupied housing rate, median value of owner-occupied units, median gross rent, and related measures), based on Census and ACS products.

Local Government Reference

For local government and planning resources, visit the Rosebud County official website.

Rosebud County, in sparsely populated eastern Montana, has widely spaced settlements that increase last‑mile buildout costs and leave some areas reliant on limited fixed or wireless options, shaping how residents access email and other online services. Direct county‑level email usage statistics are not typically published; broadband subscription and device access are standard proxies for the ability to use email.

Digital access indicators are available via the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS) data portal, which reports household computer ownership and broadband subscriptions (by county) as core measures of internet readiness. Age structure also affects email adoption because older populations tend to adopt new communication platforms more slowly; county age distributions are available from ACS demographic tables. Gender distribution is generally less predictive of email access than age and connectivity, but county sex composition can be referenced in the same ACS sources.

Connectivity limitations are commonly documented in federal broadband mapping; the FCC National Broadband Map provides location‑based availability that can highlight unserved or underserved rural areas within the county.

Introduction: Rosebud County context and connectivity-relevant characteristics

Rosebud County is in southeastern Montana, with Miles City as the county seat. The county is largely rural, with long travel distances between communities, extensive ranching and agricultural land use, and significant areas of open prairie and river breaks. These characteristics generally correlate with fewer cell sites per square mile and greater reliance on highway- and town-centered coverage footprints than in Montana’s urban counties. Basic geographic and population context is available through the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Rosebud County.

Data scope and limitations (county-level availability)

County-specific statistics for “mobile penetration” (such as subscriptions per 100 residents) are not consistently published in a single, authoritative county dataset in the United States. The most reliable county-relevant indicators typically come from:

• Federal household surveys that measure internet access and device ownership at the household/person level (often better at state or metro scales than at individual counties).
• Administrative and modeled coverage datasets that measure network availability (service claimed or modeled to be available), which is distinct from adoption.

As a result, this overview distinguishes:

• Network availability: where mobile networks report coverage in the county.
• Household adoption/usage: whether residents actually subscribe to and use mobile service and mobile broadband, which is not always directly measurable at the county level.

Network availability (coverage) vs. household adoption (use)

Network availability refers to whether a provider’s network is present at a location (by technology such as LTE/4G or 5G). This is typically reported as coverage polygons or rasters.
Household adoption refers to whether people/households subscribe to mobile service, own smartphones, and rely on mobile for internet access, which depends on income, age, device affordability, and local alternatives such as wireline broadband.

Mobile penetration or access indicators (where available)

County-level indicators (direct)

• Public, county-specific “mobile penetration rate” (subscriptions per capita) is generally not published in a standardized official series.
• County-level adoption proxies are more commonly assessed through broadband subscription and device measures in federal surveys; however, these are often most statistically robust at state and national levels.

Practical county-relevant adoption indicators (indirect)

• Household internet subscription and device ownership: The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) provides data on internet subscriptions and computing devices (including smartphone-only access in many ACS tables) but small-area precision varies. County profiles and table access are available through data.census.gov and the county context page at Census.gov QuickFacts.
• Broadband availability vs. adoption: The FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC) provides location-based availability, while adoption is captured via different instruments and is not a direct output of BDC. FCC availability resources are published through the FCC National Broadband Map.

Mobile internet usage patterns: 4G (LTE) and 5G availability

4G/LTE availability (network availability)

• LTE is the baseline mobile broadband technology across most rural counties in Montana and is generally the most geographically extensive mobile broadband layer. County-specific availability should be assessed using the FCC’s location-based map layers and filters for mobile broadband technologies via the FCC National Broadband Map.
• In rural geographies, LTE coverage tends to be strongest in and near incorporated places, along major highways, and near existing tower infrastructure, with weaker or absent coverage in sparsely populated areas and rugged terrain.

5G availability (network availability)

• 5G in rural counties is often more localized than LTE, frequently concentrated in population centers and along certain corridors. The FCC map provides technology filters for 5G availability, but it reflects provider-reported availability and model assumptions rather than guaranteed service experience. The most direct county-specific reference point remains the FCC National Broadband Map.
• County-level, independently verified measurements of 5G performance and adoption are not typically published as official statistics.

Actual mobile internet usage (adoption/behavior)

• County-specific shares of residents actively using mobile data (as distinct from simply having coverage) are not routinely published in official datasets. Household reliance on mobile-only internet access is best approximated through ACS tables on internet subscriptions and devices (noting sampling limitations at smaller geographies) via data.census.gov.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

What can be stated with high confidence at county scale

• Smartphones are the dominant endpoint for consumer mobile broadband use nationally, while basic/feature phones are a minority.
• County-specific smartphone share is not commonly published as a definitive official statistic; ACS device questions can indicate whether households have smartphones and whether they have other computing devices (desktop/laptop/tablet), but they do not comprehensively enumerate all phone types in the way mobile industry subscription datasets do.

Best available public indicators

• ACS tables on “computers and internet use” can be used to identify households with smartphones and to estimate the prevalence of smartphone-only connectivity versus households with wireline broadband and computers. These data are accessible through data.census.gov (search ACS tables related to computers, smartphones, and internet subscriptions for Rosebud County).
• The distinction between smartphone ownership and smartphone-only internet reliance is important in rural areas, where households may own smartphones but still prefer fixed broadband when available and affordable.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

Population density and settlement patterns (network and adoption)

• Lower density increases per-user infrastructure costs and is associated with larger coverage gaps between towns. This influences availability (fewer towers) and can also influence adoption through pricing and plan choices when provider competition is limited. County population and density context can be referenced through Census.gov QuickFacts.

Terrain and land cover (network availability)

• Rural plains and river breaks can create line-of-sight constraints depending on tower placement; coverage often follows elevations, tower height, and transport backhaul routes. Terrain and distance effects are primarily availability/performance issues rather than adoption measures, and they are not captured by household surveys.

Income, age structure, and affordability (adoption)

• Adoption of mobile broadband and smartphone-only service is commonly shaped by income and age, with affordability constraints contributing to lower subscription rates or reliance on limited data plans. County-level socioeconomic profiles are available through ACS via data.census.gov and summary indicators via QuickFacts. These sources describe demographics but do not directly quantify mobile plan uptake.

Transportation corridors and service experience (availability)

• In rural Montana counties, service is often strongest along highways and within towns where backhaul and power access are more readily available. The FCC availability map provides the most standardized public view of where providers report service by technology, through the FCC National Broadband Map.

Authoritative sources for Rosebud County-specific validation

• FCC (availability by technology and provider): FCC National Broadband Map (use location search within Rosebud County and filter for mobile broadband/5G).
• U.S. Census Bureau (demographics; internet/device indicators via ACS): data.census.gov and Rosebud County QuickFacts.
• State broadband planning context (programs and statewide measurement): Montana Department of Commerce (state-level broadband office functions and publications; county-specific mobile adoption figures are not typically published as definitive statistics).
• Local government context: Rosebud County official website (useful for community locations and infrastructure context; not a primary source for mobile penetration metrics).

Summary (clearly separating availability and adoption)

• Availability: Rosebud County’s mobile broadband availability is best measured through the FCC’s location-based coverage datasets; LTE is typically the most widespread layer, while 5G availability is usually more limited and concentrated in towns and corridors. The definitive public reference for county locations is the FCC National Broadband Map.
• Adoption/usage: County-level mobile subscription penetration and smartphone market share are not consistently published as standardized official metrics. The most defensible county-relevant adoption indicators come from ACS tables describing household internet subscriptions and devices (including smartphones), accessible via data.census.gov, with attention to sampling limitations in small populations.

Rosebud County is a sparsely populated county in southeastern Montana anchored by Forsyth (the county seat) and the Northern Cheyenne community around Lame Deer. Its economy and daily life reflect a mix of ranching/agriculture, public-sector employment, and tribal/community institutions, with long travel distances between towns. These regional characteristics tend to make mobile-first internet access and “community bulletin board” style social media use (local news, events, and public notices) especially salient.

User statistics (penetration and active use)

• County-specific social media penetration is not published as an official statistic by major survey producers (e.g., Pew Research Center, U.S. Census Bureau) at the county level for most platforms. The most defensible approach is to use national and state-context benchmarks alongside local broadband/mobile realities.
• U.S. adult social media use (benchmark): About 7 in 10 U.S. adults (≈69%) report using at least one social media site. Source: Pew Research Center: Social Media Use in 2023.
• Montana connectivity context (relevant constraint on participation): The American Community Survey (ACS) provides local-area estimates for household internet access, which typically tracks with the ceiling for social media participation. Source: U.S. Census Bureau data (ACS) on internet subscriptions.
• Practical interpretation for Rosebud County: Given rural geography and variable broadband availability, social media participation is generally expected to be near national norms among connected residents, with usage patterns often more mobile-dependent than in urban counties.

Age group trends

• Highest-use age groups (national pattern): Social media use is highest among 18–29 and 30–49 adults, and declines with age (especially 65+). Source: Pew Research Center: Social Media Use in 2023.
• Platform-by-age pattern (relevant to rural counties):
  • Facebook use is comparatively strong among 30–64 and remains substantial among 65+.
  • Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok skew younger (strongest among 18–29, then 30–49). Source: Pew Research Center platform demographics.
• Local implication: In communities where schools, local government, and community organizations rely on Facebook pages/groups for announcements, midlife adults frequently become the highest-visibility audience even when younger residents maintain broader multi-platform use.

Gender breakdown

• Overall U.S. pattern: Differences by gender vary by platform more than by “any social media” usage.
• Platform tendencies (national):
  • Pinterest is more commonly used by women than men.
  • Reddit is more commonly used by men than women.
  • Facebook and Instagram are closer to parity (with modest differences depending on age cohort). Source: Pew Research Center: Social Media Use in 2023.
• Local implication: County-level gender splits typically mirror these platform patterns, with the most pronounced skew appearing on Pinterest and Reddit rather than Facebook.

Most-used platforms (with percentages where available)

County-specific platform shares are not available from standard public datasets; the most reliable percentages come from national surveys:

• Facebook: ≈68% of U.S. adults
• YouTube: ≈83% of U.S. adults
• Instagram: ≈47% of U.S. adults
• Pinterest: ≈35% of U.S. adults
• TikTok: ≈33% of U.S. adults
• LinkedIn: ≈30% of U.S. adults
• Snapchat: ≈27% of U.S. adults
• X (formerly Twitter): ≈22% of U.S. adults
• WhatsApp: ≈19% of U.S. adults
• Reddit: ≈18% of U.S. adults

Source for the above platform penetration estimates: Pew Research Center: Social Media Use in 2023.

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

• Community information utility (Facebook emphasis): In rural counties, Facebook commonly functions as a local information layer (school updates, weather impacts, road conditions, events, and public safety notices), producing high engagement in groups and shared posts rather than brand-led campaigns.
• Video-first consumption (YouTube and short-form video): High national YouTube penetration and growing short-form video usage (TikTok/Instagram Reels/YouTube Shorts) supports a pattern of passive consumption (watching) exceeding active posting frequency for many users. Benchmark source: Pew Research Center: Social Media Use in 2023.
• Age-shaped engagement: Younger adults disproportionately engage with short-form video, DMs, and creator content, while older adults more often engage via commenting, sharing, and group participation on Facebook. Source: Pew Research Center platform demographics.
• Mobile dependency and intermittent connectivity: Rural connectivity constraints generally increase reliance on mobile networks and favor platforms with strong mobile experiences and efficient media compression (notably Facebook, Instagram, TikTok). Connectivity context source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS internet access tables.

Rosebud County family-related records are primarily kept at the state level in Montana. Birth and death certificates are maintained by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records, rather than the county. Access typically requires an application and identity/eligibility verification, and certified copies are restricted under state vital-records rules. See Montana DPHHS – Vital Records for ordering and eligibility details.

Adoption records are generally not public; adoption case files are handled through the Montana courts and are subject to statutory confidentiality. Court-related family matters filed in Rosebud County are handled by the 16th Judicial District Court. Public access to nonconfidential court registers and some documents is provided through the state’s court portal, with sealed cases and protected information excluded: Montana Judicial Branch and Montana Courts Public Portal.

Associate-related public records commonly used for relationship research include property ownership and recorded documents (deeds, liens) and marriage licenses (recording practices vary by jurisdiction). Recorded land documents are accessed through the Rosebud County Clerk and Recorder, available in person and, where offered, via online document search tools linked from the county website: Rosebud County, Montana (official site). Privacy limits commonly apply to vital records, adoption matters, sealed court files, and protected personal identifiers in public records.

Record types maintained

• Marriage licenses and marriage applications

  • Issued at the county level and used to authorize a marriage ceremony.
  • In Montana, marriage records are generally treated as public records, subject to statutory limits on disclosure of sensitive data.

• Divorce decrees (and related dissolution case records)

  • Divorce is handled through the Montana District Court system. The final judgment is commonly titled a Decree of Dissolution of Marriage (or similar), with additional filings throughout the case (petition, summons, parenting plan filings, orders, findings of fact, etc.).

• Annulments

  • Annulments are court actions in District Court and result in a Decree of Annulment (or similar judgment). Supporting case filings are maintained in the court case file.

Where records are filed and how they are accessed (Rosebud County, Montana)

• Marriage records (county-issued licenses)

  • Filed/kept by: Rosebud County Clerk of District Court (the office that issues marriage licenses in Montana counties).
  • Access: Copies are typically requested from the Clerk of District Court office. Requests are commonly handled in person or by written request, depending on office procedures. The office maintains the county marriage license record and related index information.

• Divorce and annulment records (court records)

  • Filed/kept by: Montana 16th Judicial District Court (Rosebud County); the official record is maintained by the Rosebud County Clerk of District Court as clerk to the District Court.
  • Access: Case registers and documents are accessed through the Clerk of District Court and, where available, through Montana’s public court record systems for docket-level information. Certified copies of decrees are issued by the Clerk of District Court.

• State-level vital records context

  • Montana’s statewide vital records office maintains certain vital events; however, county marriage license records and District Court divorce/annulment case files remain the primary source records for Rosebud County filings.

Typical information contained in the records

• Marriage license / application (county record)

  • Full legal names of both parties (including prior/maiden names where recorded)
  • Ages or dates of birth
  • Residences (city/county/state), and sometimes birthplaces
  • Date of license issuance and location of issuance
  • Officiant name/title and certification of solemnization (date and place of marriage)
  • Witness information may appear depending on the form used
  • Internal filing identifiers, signatures, and notarial/attestation elements as applicable

• Divorce decree (District Court judgment)

  • Names of the parties and case caption/case number
  • Date of judgment and court location
  • Findings or conclusions dissolving the marriage
  • Orders on property and debt division
  • Spousal maintenance (alimony) determinations, where applicable
  • Child-related orders where applicable (parenting plan references, legal custody/parental responsibilities, parenting time, child support, medical support)
  • Name change orders, where requested and granted

• Annulment decree (District Court judgment)

  • Names of the parties and case caption/case number
  • Date of judgment and court location
  • Findings and legal basis for annulment as stated by the court
  • Orders addressing related issues (property division and child-related orders where applicable)

Privacy and legal restrictions

• Public access baseline

  • Montana provides public access to many government records, including many court records, but access is subject to statutory and court-rule limitations.

• Restricted/confidential information in court files

  • District Court case files may contain information that is sealed or restricted by law or court order (commonly including certain family-law evaluations, protected personal identifiers, and materials involving minors).
  • Even when a case docket is publicly accessible, specific documents or fields may be redacted or unavailable for public inspection.

• Protected personal identifiers

  • Documents may be redacted to limit disclosure of sensitive identifiers (commonly Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and information about minors), consistent with Montana court rules and privacy practices.

• Certified copies and identity requirements

  • The Clerk of District Court generally issues certified copies of marriage licenses and court decrees. Administrative requirements (fees, acceptable identification for certain types of copies, and request forms) are set by the issuing office.

• Sealing orders

  • A court may order parts of a divorce or annulment case file sealed. Sealed materials are not released except as authorized by the court.

Access points (official sources)

• Rosebud County Clerk of District Court (marriage licensing and District Court records): https://rosebudcountymt.gov/clerk-district-court/
• Montana Judicial Branch (courts and public access information): https://courts.mt.gov/
• Montana Office of Vital Records (state vital records context): https://dphhs.mt.gov/vitalrecords

Rosebud County is in southeastern Montana along the Yellowstone River, with county government based in Forsyth and other population centers including Colstrip and Rosebud. The county is predominantly rural, with a small-city service core and significant influence from energy and transportation activity; population is relatively sparse outside incorporated towns and river/rail corridors.

Education Indicators

Public schools (districts and school names)

Public K–12 education is provided primarily through these districts and schools (names reflect commonly used school building names):

• Forsyth School District (Forsyth): Forsyth Elementary School; Forsyth Middle School; Forsyth High School
• Colstrip School District (Colstrip): Colstrip Elementary School; Colstrip Middle School; Colstrip High School
• Rosebud School District (Rosebud): Rosebud School (K–12)

District and school listings are published through the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) district directory (district profiles and contacts).

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

• Student–teacher ratios: Reported ratios vary by district and year and are typically lower than large urban districts due to small enrollments and multi-grade staffing common in rural Montana. Countywide, ratios are best represented via district-level OPI and federal school staffing datasets rather than a single county aggregate.
• Graduation rates: Montana reports cohort graduation rates annually, generally by school/district rather than a county summary. The most recent verified district graduation rates are available through OPI’s accountability and graduation reporting releases and district report cards (where published).

Proxy note: When county-specific consolidated ratios or graduation rates are not published as a single statistic, district-level OPI reporting is the authoritative source for the most recent year.

Adult educational attainment (ages 25+)

Adult education levels for Rosebud County are tracked by the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) and are typically summarized as:

• High school diploma (or equivalent) or higher
• Bachelor’s degree or higher

The most recent county estimates are available in the U.S. Census Bureau’s data portal (ACS educational attainment) under county geography.

Notable programs (STEM, CTE, AP)

• Career and Technical Education (CTE): Rural Montana districts commonly offer CTE pathways aligned with trades, agriculture, and applied technology. Montana’s statewide CTE framework and local program reporting are maintained by OPI (OPI CTE program area).
• Advanced Placement (AP) / dual credit: AP participation is typically available in larger district high schools; dual-credit options in Montana are frequently offered through partnerships with the Montana University System and community college programs depending on staffing and course availability. Formal AP course offerings are best confirmed through district course catalogs and OPI district profiles.
• STEM enrichment: STEM offerings are usually embedded in science/technology coursework and extracurricular activities; county-specific STEM grant participation varies year to year and is generally documented in district communications and OPI grant reporting.

School safety measures and counseling resources

• Safety measures: Montana districts generally follow state requirements for emergency operations planning, drills, visitor procedures, and coordination with local law enforcement. Safety planning guidance and compliance references are maintained by OPI and state school safety partners.
• Student support and counseling: Counseling services are typically provided through school counselors (and, in smaller schools, shared or part-time arrangements) with referrals to regional behavioral health providers as needed. Formal ratios and staffing levels are most reliably documented in district staffing reports and annual budgets rather than county aggregates.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent available)

Rosebud County unemployment is reported monthly and annually by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS). The latest county unemployment rate can be cited from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (county series). (A single “most recent year” figure varies based on release timing; BLS is the authoritative source.)

Major industries and employment sectors

Employment is shaped by a mix of:

• Public administration and education/health services (county seat functions and public school systems)
• Energy and utilities (historically anchored by coal and power generation activity around Colstrip, with ongoing transition impacts)
• Transportation and warehousing (rail and highway-linked movement along the Yellowstone corridor)
• Retail trade and accommodation/food services (local-serving employment)
• Construction (cyclical, tied to infrastructure and energy-related projects)
• Agriculture and ranching (land-intensive, smaller share of wage-and-salary jobs but significant for land use and self-employment)

Industry composition and payroll employment by sector are summarized in the ACS and BEA regional accounts; county-level profiles can be pulled from ACS industry tables and the Bureau of Economic Analysis regional datasets.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational patterns commonly include:

• Transportation and material moving
• Construction and extraction
• Installation, maintenance, and repair
• Office/administrative support
• Education, training, and library
• Healthcare support and practitioners (smaller base, regionally linked)
• Sales and service occupations

For the most recent occupational distribution, ACS “occupation” tables by county provide the standard breakdown (ACS occupation tables).

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

• Commuting patterns: A meaningful share of residents commute within the county to Forsyth, Colstrip, Rosebud, and dispersed rural worksites, with additional commuting to adjacent counties for specialized jobs and services.
• Mean travel time to work: The ACS reports mean commute time for Rosebud County; rural counties in this region commonly show commute times that reflect longer driving distances and limited public transit.

The most recent commute time statistic and mode share (drive alone, carpool, work from home, etc.) are available through ACS commuting (Journey to Work) tables.

Local employment versus out-of-county work

County-to-county commuting flows (inflow/outflow) are best measured using the U.S. Census Bureau’s LEHD Origin–Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) and OnTheMap tools, which quantify:

• Residents working inside Rosebud County vs. outside
• Jobs in Rosebud County filled by local residents vs. in-commuters

Primary reference: Census OnTheMap (LEHD commuting flows). (This is the standard source when county summaries do not provide a single “local vs. out-of-county” percentage.)

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

Rosebud County’s tenure profile (owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied) is reported by the ACS. Rural Montana counties typically skew toward higher homeownership than urban areas due to single-family housing prevalence and lower multifamily inventory. The most recent county tenure percentages are available via ACS housing tenure tables.

Median property values and recent trends

• Median home value: The ACS provides median value for owner-occupied housing units for Rosebud County.
• Recent trends: County-level value changes are generally evaluated using multi-year ACS comparisons; market volatility in small counties can be influenced by limited sales volume and employer/industry shifts (notably energy-sector transitions).

Most recent estimates and trend comparisons: ACS median home value tables.
Proxy note: Transaction-based “median sale price” trends can be thin in low-volume rural markets; ACS median value is the most stable public estimate.

Typical rent prices

• Median gross rent is reported by the ACS for Rosebud County and is the standard benchmark for typical rent levels inclusive of utilities where applicable.

Reference: ACS gross rent tables.

Types of housing

Housing stock is dominated by:

• Single-family detached homes in Forsyth, Colstrip, and small residential clusters
• Manufactured/mobile homes (a common rural housing type in Montana)
• Limited multifamily/apartment units, concentrated in the larger towns and legacy workforce housing areas
• Rural lots and ranch properties with larger parcel sizes outside town boundaries

ACS “units in structure” tables provide the quantified breakdown by structure type (ACS housing structure type tables).

Neighborhood characteristics and proximity to schools/amenities

• Forsyth: County-seat amenities (county offices, clinics, retail services) and proximity to Forsyth schools; development patterns typically include established single-family neighborhoods near the school campus and along primary arterials.
• Colstrip: Planned-community characteristics tied to the historic energy workforce, with defined residential areas and proximity to Colstrip schools and civic facilities.
• Rosebud and rural areas: Low-density housing with longer travel distances to schools, groceries, and healthcare; reliance on personal vehicles is typical.

Property tax overview (rate and typical homeowner cost)

Property taxes in Montana are administered locally but governed by statewide classification and mill levies. Homeowner tax burden is commonly summarized as:

• Effective property tax rate (taxes paid as a percent of home value)
• Median real estate taxes paid (annual dollars)

The ACS reports median real estate taxes paid for owner-occupied homes with a mortgage and without a mortgage, and can be used as a county benchmark (ACS real estate taxes paid tables). Montana Department of Revenue provides statutory classification and appraisal framework details (Montana Department of Revenue).
Proxy note: A single “average rate” varies by locality and levy; effective rate and median taxes paid from ACS are the most comparable countywide measures.