Sheridan County

Sheridan County is located in the northeastern corner of Montana, along the North Dakota border. Established in 1913 and named for Gen. Philip Sheridan, it developed as a sparsely settled agricultural region tied to early 20th-century homesteading and railroad-era expansion on the northern Great Plains. The county is small in population, with roughly 3,000–3,500 residents in recent decades, and is characterized by widely spaced towns and extensive ranch and farm land. Its landscape consists primarily of open prairie and gently rolling plains, with localized badlands features and a semi-arid climate typical of eastern Montana. The economy is largely rural and resource-based, centered on dryland grain farming, cattle ranching, and supporting services in small communities. Cultural life reflects northern Plains and borderland influences, with community institutions oriented around schools, local government, and agricultural organizations. The county seat is Plentywood.

Sheridan County is in far northeastern Montana along the North Dakota and Canada borders, within the Great Plains region of the state. The county seat is Plentywood, and local government information is maintained on the Sheridan County official website.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Sheridan County, Montana, the county’s population was 3,539 (2023 estimate).

Age & Gender

County-level age distribution and sex composition are published by the U.S. Census Bureau in the American Community Survey tables referenced through QuickFacts. The most direct county summary is available via QuickFacts (Demographic characteristics), which reports:

• Sex composition: Percent female and male (county share by sex)
• Age profile: Percent under 18, 18–64, and 65 and over (county shares by broad age groups)

Exact percentages should be taken directly from the latest QuickFacts/ACS release for Sheridan County at the link above, as values update with each annual ACS vintage.

Racial & Ethnic Composition

The U.S. Census Bureau provides county-level race and Hispanic/Latino origin shares through the same official profile. The latest county shares by category are reported on QuickFacts (Race and Hispanic Origin), including:

• Race: White, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Two or more races
• Ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino (of any race) and Not Hispanic or Latino

Household & Housing Data

Household and housing characteristics for Sheridan County are reported by the U.S. Census Bureau via QuickFacts and underlying ACS tables. The most commonly cited county indicators are available at QuickFacts (Housing and Households), including:

• Number of households
• Average household size
• Owner-occupied housing rate (homeownership)
• Total housing units
• Selected housing characteristics (e.g., median value of owner-occupied housing units and median gross rent, as provided in the latest QuickFacts profile)

All figures above are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau’s county profile and are updated as new annual estimates and ACS releases are published.

Sheridan County, Montana is sparsely populated and largely rural, which can limit last‑mile infrastructure and make reliable home internet access less uniform than in urban areas, shaping how residents access email (often via mobile networks or public connections). Direct county-level email-usage statistics are generally not published; broadband and device access are used as proxies for likely email access and adoption.

Digital access indicators are available from the U.S. Census Bureau data portal (American Community Survey), including household broadband subscriptions and computer ownership. Higher broadband subscription and computer access typically correlate with higher routine email access, while lower rates indicate greater reliance on smartphones, shared devices, libraries, or workplaces.

Age distribution from ACS demographic profiles is relevant because older populations tend to have lower adoption of newer digital services and may prefer assisted or intermittent access; younger working-age groups generally show higher digital uptake.

Gender distribution is available in ACS tables but is not a primary driver of email access compared with age and connectivity constraints.

Connectivity limitations reflect rural buildout challenges documented in federal broadband reporting, including the FCC National Broadband Map.

Sheridan County is in northeastern Montana along the North Dakota border, with a predominantly rural settlement pattern centered on a small number of communities (including Plentywood, the county seat) and extensive agricultural land. The county’s low population density and long distances between towers and backhaul routes are structural factors that commonly affect mobile coverage quality, in-building signal strength, and the feasibility and pace of mobile network upgrades.

Key limitations and data sources (county specificity)

County-level statistics that directly measure “mobile phone penetration” (device ownership) and “mobile internet use by technology generation (4G vs 5G)” are limited. Most authoritative measures are available either:

• as modeled network availability (coverage maps), especially from the Federal Communications Commission, or
• as household adoption measures that cover internet subscriptions/devices at the household level (often not split cleanly into “mobile-only” vs “fixed” at fine geographic scales), typically from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Primary reference points used for county-relevant context:

• FCC mobile coverage / availability: FCC mobile broadband maps (Broadband Data Collection)
• Census internet/computer adoption (household): Census.gov data tables (ACS)
• State broadband planning context: Montana State Broadband Office
• County context: Sheridan County, Montana (official county website)
• Population and density reference: U.S. Census QuickFacts (county profiles include population and housing totals)

Network availability vs. household adoption (distinct concepts)

Network availability (supply-side) describes where a carrier reports that service meeting a defined performance threshold is available. This is typically represented as geographic coverage polygons or grids and does not indicate that residents subscribe, have compatible devices, or experience uniform performance indoors.

Household adoption (demand-side) describes whether households actually subscribe to internet service, own devices, and use mobile or fixed connections. Adoption is influenced by affordability, device availability, digital skills, perceived usefulness, and the quality of available service.

Mobile penetration or access indicators (where available)

Household adoption indicators (internet/device)

County-level “mobile phone ownership” is not consistently published as a standard, direct statistic. The most commonly used county-scale proxies come from the American Community Survey (ACS) tables that address:

• presence of a computer in the household
• types of internet subscription (which may include categories such as cellular data plans, depending on table year/structure)

These indicators can be retrieved for Sheridan County via Census.gov by selecting Sheridan County, Montana, and searching for ACS tables related to computer and internet use. The ACS is the most widely cited dataset for household technology adoption, but it reflects household status and survey sampling uncertainty, and it does not provide a comprehensive measure of individual mobile phone ownership.

Network access indicators (coverage)

For mobile broadband coverage, the most direct “access indicator” is the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection mobile availability layers, accessible through the FCC mobile broadband maps. These data show reported coverage by provider and technology (e.g., LTE, 5G variants) and are structured to support comparisons across counties and census geographies. The FCC coverage layers measure availability rather than actual take-up.

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

4G (LTE) availability

In rural Montana counties, LTE is typically the baseline mobile broadband technology with the broadest geographic footprint. The FCC’s mobile maps provide provider-reported LTE availability that can be viewed at local scale in Sheridan County via the FCC mobile broadband maps. Reported LTE availability does not guarantee equivalent performance throughout the coverage area, particularly for indoor coverage and in areas with limited tower density.

5G availability

County-level 5G presence and extent vary by carrier and by 5G type (low-band vs mid-band vs high-band). The FCC’s availability data and carrier-submitted coverage show where 5G is reported as available, but countywide summaries that distinguish 5G types and quantify population exposure are not consistently published as a single official county statistic. For Sheridan County, 5G availability assessment is most defensibly handled as a map-based availability review using the FCC layers rather than as a numeric “county 5G penetration” figure.

Usage patterns

Authoritative, county-specific behavioral metrics (share of residents using mobile as primary internet connection; mobile-only households; average mobile data consumption) are generally not published as standard public statistics. Where the ACS identifies “cellular data plan” as a subscription type, it functions as a household adoption indicator, not a direct measure of usage intensity. Broader statewide planning documents and needs assessments sometimes discuss mobile dependence in rural areas; relevant context is compiled by the Montana State Broadband Office, but such documents typically do not produce definitive county-level mobile-usage rates.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

County-specific public estimates of smartphone share (versus feature phones, tablets, hotspots, fixed wireless customer premises equipment) are not typically available from government sources at the county level.

The most defensible device-type indicators at county scale come from ACS household technology measures—particularly computer ownership and internet subscription types—available through Census.gov. These measures can indicate whether households have computing devices and internet subscriptions but do not directly enumerate “smartphone ownership.” Carrier or commercial analytics firms may estimate smartphone penetration, but those figures are generally not published as authoritative county-level public statistics.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

Rural geography, tower density, and terrain/land use

• Low population density and large service areas increase the average distance between towers and users, which tends to reduce signal strength and capacity per user compared with urban areas.
• Agricultural land use and dispersed housing produce coverage challenges for consistent in-building service outside incorporated towns.
• Terrain in northeastern Montana is generally less mountainous than western Montana, but distance-based propagation limits and limited backhaul routes remain common rural constraints affecting both LTE and 5G deployment economics.

Community concentration and travel corridors

Mobile service quality is typically strongest in and near population centers and along major roads where towers are more economically justified. In Sheridan County, this pattern is tied to settlements such as Plentywood and surrounding corridors, rather than dense continuous urban development. This is an availability pattern and does not measure adoption.

Socioeconomic factors affecting adoption

Household adoption of internet service (including cellular-data-plan subscriptions where measured) correlates with income, age, educational attainment, and housing characteristics. County-level demographic context can be obtained through U.S. Census QuickFacts and detailed ACS tables on Census.gov. These sources support analysis of adoption constraints (e.g., affordability, older age distribution) but do not yield a definitive county smartphone-ownership percentage.

Summary (what can be stated definitively with public data)

• Availability in Sheridan County can be evaluated using the FCC’s provider-reported mobile broadband coverage layers for LTE and 5G via the FCC mobile broadband maps.
• Household adoption of internet and devices is best measured using ACS household technology tables via Census.gov, which reflect household subscription/device categories rather than individual mobile phone ownership.
• County-specific smartphone vs. non-smartphone shares and mobile-only usage rates are not generally available as authoritative public statistics; statements about those measures require acknowledging the absence of standard county-level reporting.

Sheridan County is a sparsely populated county in northeastern Montana on the North Dakota border. The county seat is Plentywood, and the area’s economy is closely tied to agriculture and energy development, contributing to a rural, long‑distance communication environment where mobile connectivity and community Facebook pages tend to play an outsized role compared with large metro areas.

User statistics (penetration / active use)

• Local (county-specific) social media penetration: No widely cited public dataset reports platform penetration specifically for Sheridan County. County-level estimates are typically not published in national surveys due to sample-size limits.
• Best available benchmark (U.S. adults): About 7 in 10 U.S. adults (69%) report using at least one social media site, providing the most standard reference point for rural counties in Montana (source: Pew Research Center: Social Media Use in 2023).
• Rural context: Social media use is generally lower in rural areas than urban/suburban areas (varies by platform and age). Pew reports rural/urban differences across platforms and demographics in its detailed tables and charts (Pew Research Center detailed findings).

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

Using U.S.-adult benchmarks (Pew):

• 18–29: highest usage across most platforms; social media use is near-universal in this group compared with older adults (Pew Research Center).
• 30–49: high usage, typically the second-highest group.
• 50–64: moderate usage; platform mix skews toward Facebook.
• 65+: lowest usage overall; Facebook remains the dominant platform among users in this group.

Gender breakdown

County-specific gender splits are not typically published; U.S.-level patterns are the most reliable reference:

• Women tend to report higher usage than men on several major platforms (notably Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest), while men tend to be relatively more represented on some discussion- or video-centric spaces depending on the measure. Pew’s platform-by-demographic tables summarize gender differences (Pew Research Center demographic tables).

Most-used platforms (percent using each platform; U.S. adult benchmarks)

Percentages below are U.S.-adult usage rates from Pew’s latest compilation, used as a standardized proxy where local measurement is unavailable (Pew Research Center: Social Media Use in 2023):

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• Pinterest: 35%
• TikTok: 33%
• LinkedIn: 30%
• WhatsApp: 29%
• Snapchat: 27%
• X (formerly Twitter): 22%
• Reddit: 22%

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns / preferences relevant to rural counties)

• Facebook as the community layer: In rural counties, Facebook commonly functions as the primary venue for community announcements, local events, buy/sell groups, and informal news distribution, aligning with its broad adoption among adults and older age groups (Pew platform adoption patterns).
• YouTube as the dominant video utility: YouTube’s very high penetration supports “how-to,” news, sports, and entertainment viewing across age groups, often serving as a default video platform in lower-density areas.
• Younger-user split across short-form video and messaging: Nationally, younger adults concentrate more heavily on TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, with higher frequency of daily use and preference for short-form video and direct messaging behaviors (summarized across Pew’s age-by-platform reporting: Pew Research Center).
• Local information seeking: Rural users more frequently rely on social platforms for local updates (schools, weather impacts, road conditions, community safety posts) due to fewer local media outlets and longer travel distances; this is consistent with observed reliance on Facebook groups/pages in rural communities and with Pew’s broader findings on how Americans use social media for information (Pew Research Center social media fact sheet).

Sheridan County, Montana maintains family and associate-related public records primarily through state and county offices. Vital records (birth and death certificates) are administered at the state level by the Montana DPHHS Office of Vital Records; county offices generally do not issue certified birth and death certificates. Marriage licenses are recorded locally by the Sheridan County Clerk and Recorder. Divorce records are filed through the courts; case access and copies are handled through the Montana Judicial Branch and local clerk of district court processes. Adoption records are generally sealed and handled through state court and child welfare procedures rather than open county public files.

Public databases commonly used for locating associate-related information include recorded documents (deeds, mortgages, liens) and other filings maintained by the Clerk and Recorder, and court calendars/dockets available through the state judiciary. Property ownership and parcel information are typically available through the county’s clerk/recorder and property assessment functions.

Access occurs in person at Sheridan County offices during business hours, and through state online resources for vital records ordering and court information. Privacy restrictions apply to birth and death certificates (limited eligibility and identification requirements), and adoption records are confidential by default.

Types of records available

• Marriage licenses and marriage certificates (county-level marriage records)
  Sheridan County issues marriage licenses through the county clerk’s office and maintains the associated county marriage record. A certified copy is commonly referred to as a marriage certificate in public-facing requests.

• Divorce decrees (district court records)
  Divorces are court actions filed and finalized in the Montana District Court serving Sheridan County. The final order is typically a Decree of Dissolution of Marriage (or similar caption), along with related case filings.

• Annulments (district court records)
  Annulments are also district court matters. The final order is typically a judgment or decree declaring the marriage invalid, along with the underlying pleadings and case documents.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

• Marriage records (filed and maintained by Sheridan County Clerk of Court/County Clerk functions for vital/marriage records)
  Marriage licenses are issued and recorded at the county level in Sheridan County. Access is commonly provided through in-person requests or written applications for certified copies through the county office responsible for marriage records.

• Divorce and annulment records (filed with the Montana District Court for Sheridan County)
  Divorce and annulment case files are maintained by the clerk of the district court in the county where the action was filed. Access generally occurs through the district court clerk’s records access procedures (inspection of the case register and requesting copies of specific documents), subject to sealing and redaction rules.

• Statewide indexes and verification (Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records)
  Montana maintains statewide vital records systems for certain events. For marriages, the county is the primary issuing authority, while the state may maintain a statewide database or verification mechanism depending on the time period and reporting. For divorces, statewide “vital statistics” reporting exists, but certified court decrees come from the district court.

Typical information included in these records

• Marriage license / marriage record

  • Full names of both parties (including prior names as reported)
  • Date and place of marriage (county and location)
  • Date the license was issued
  • Ages or dates of birth (varies by form and era)
  • Residences at time of application (often city/state)
  • Officiant’s name/title and certification that the ceremony occurred
  • Witness information (when included on the certificate/return)
  • Clerk/registrar filing information, book/page or instrument number (older records)

• Divorce decree / dissolution judgment

  • Case caption, court, county, and cause number
  • Names of the parties and date of decree
  • Findings and orders dissolving the marriage
  • Terms addressing parental rights/responsibilities, parenting plan, and child support (when applicable)
  • Property and debt distribution, spousal maintenance (when applicable)
  • Restoration of former name (when requested and granted)
  • Judge’s signature and clerk’s certification on certified copies

• Annulment judgment/decree

  • Case caption, court, county, and cause number
  • Names of the parties and date of judgment
  • Court findings supporting annulment under Montana law
  • Orders addressing status of the marriage and related relief (property allocation, parental matters when applicable)
  • Judge’s signature and certification information

Privacy or legal restrictions

• Public access vs. restricted information

  • Marriage records: Generally treated as public records at the county level in Montana, but certified copies are typically issued through the county office under identity and fee requirements. Some data elements may be restricted or redacted in copies provided to the public, depending on the form and applicable state privacy protections.
  • Divorce and annulment case files: Court records are generally public unless a record or portion of the record is sealed by court order or protected by rule or statute. Even when a case exists on the public register, specific documents or information may be withheld or redacted.

• Common limitations for court records

  • Records involving minors, sensitive personal identifiers, and protected information may be subject to redaction requirements.
  • Certain filings (for example, financial affidavits or documents containing account numbers) may be restricted by court rule or sealed by order.
  • Domestic relations matters can include confidential attachments or protected addresses in limited circumstances.

• Identity verification and fees

  • County and court offices typically require payment of statutory copy/certification fees and may require specific information to locate the record (names, date range, and location). Certified copies are issued according to Montana and local office procedures.

Sheridan County is in far northeastern Montana along the North Dakota and Canadian borders. It is a sparsely populated, agriculture-oriented county with its primary community services centered in and around the county seat of Plentywood, and with many residents living on rural acreages or in small towns typical of the northern High Plains.

Education Indicators

Public schools (count and names)

• Public school system: Education is primarily provided through local K–12 districts serving the county’s small communities.
• Number of public schools and school names: A definitive, countywide, up-to-date roster (by building name) is not consistently published in a single county-level source. The most reliable current directory is the state’s school listings and district pages maintained by the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI), accessible via the Montana Office of Public Instruction and its district/school directories.
• Primary district serving the county seat: Plentywood-area public schooling is generally associated with Plentywood School District (school-building names vary by how the district reports “elementary/middle/high” configurations in a given year; OPI is the authoritative reference).

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

• Student–teacher ratios: County-specific ratios can vary meaningfully year to year due to small enrollment. The most comparable public metric is district-level staffing and enrollment in OPI’s reporting, with additional standardized summaries available through the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for district/school profiles.
  • Proxy note: In very small rural districts in northeastern Montana, student–teacher ratios often appear lower than state and national averages because a minimum staffing level is required even at low enrollment; exact ratios should be taken from the current district profile.
• Graduation rates: Graduation rates are typically reported at the district and high school level rather than “countywide” due to small cohort sizes. The most recent official values are published through OPI accountability and assessment reporting; NCES also provides school-level graduation metrics where available.

Adult educational attainment

• Best-available source: The most widely used, comparable adult attainment statistics come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 5‑year estimates for Sheridan County.
• High school completion and bachelor’s attainment: County-level percentages for:
  • High school diploma or higher (age 25+)
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+) are available from the U.S. Census Bureau’s data.census.gov (ACS 5‑year).
  • Proxy note: In rural agricultural counties of northeastern Montana, adult attainment commonly shows high high-school completion with below-U.S.-average bachelor’s degree share; Sheridan County’s exact percentages should be taken from the current ACS table for educational attainment.

Notable programs (STEM, vocational, AP)

• Program availability: Rural districts commonly offer a mix of:
  • Career and Technical Education (CTE) (agriculture mechanics, shop, business/technology, health pathways where staffing allows)
  • Dual-credit/college courses through Montana’s higher education partners
  • Limited Advanced Placement (AP) offerings compared with larger urban districts (often replaced or supplemented by dual credit)
• Best-available source: District course catalogs and OPI CTE program reporting provide the most accurate current list of programs; these are not consistently summarized at the county level.

School safety measures and counseling resources

• Typical safety measures: Montana public schools generally follow state-required safety planning (emergency operations plans, visitor controls, drills). Specific measures (secured entrances, SRO arrangements, threat assessment protocols) vary by building and district.
• Counseling resources: Small districts commonly provide school counselor services, sometimes shared across grade bands or buildings, and rely on partnerships with regional health providers for specialized mental health services. District student handbooks and OPI guidance documents are the most direct sources for current staffing and protocols.
• Data availability note: Standardized countywide counts of counselors/SROs are not consistently published; district-level staffing reports are the closest proxy.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent available)

• Official source: Annual and monthly unemployment statistics are produced by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry and by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS program). The most current county figures are best retrieved from the Montana Department of Labor & Industry and BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
• Data availability note: The “most recent year available” changes continuously; a single fixed value is not stable in a static summary. The cited sources provide the current annual average and most recent month.

Major industries and employment sectors

Sheridan County’s economy is characteristically rural and resource/land based, with employment concentrated in:

• Agriculture (crop and livestock production; supporting services)
• Local government and public services (schools, county/city services)
• Health care and social assistance (clinics, long-term care, social services)
• Retail trade and accommodation/food services (serving local residents and regional traffic)
• Construction and transportation/warehousing (seasonal and project-based demand)
• Energy-related activity (present historically and regionally; local employment can fluctuate with commodity cycles)

Authoritative sector employment distributions are available via the Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns and ACS industry tables at data.census.gov.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

• Typical occupational groups: Management (public administration and small business), education/training, health care support and practitioners, farming/fishing/forestry, office/administrative support, sales, transportation, construction and extraction, and installation/maintenance/repair.
• Best-available source: ACS occupation tables for Sheridan County (employed civilian population 16+) on data.census.gov.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

• General commuting context: Commuting is shaped by long rural distances, limited public transit, and a high reliance on personal vehicles. Many jobs are local (schools, clinics, county services, agriculture), with additional commuting to nearby trade centers depending on occupation.
• Mean commute time: The ACS provides county-specific mean travel time to work and mode share (drive alone, carpool, work from home). The definitive current value is published in ACS commuting tables on data.census.gov.
  • Proxy note: Rural Montana counties frequently report mean commutes in the range typical of non-metro areas, with substantial variation tied to out-of-county work and farm/ranch locations.

Local employment vs. out-of-county work

• Pattern: A meaningful share of residents work within the county in agriculture and public services, while specialized professional services, higher-wage health roles, and certain trades can drive out-of-county commuting.
• Best-available measures:
  • ACS “county-to-county worker flows” style summaries are limited, but commuting place-of-work indicators and labor-shed patterns can be approximated using Census commuting tables and LEHD/OnTheMap tools where available. A commonly used federal tool for origin–destination patterns is Census OnTheMap (coverage varies by area and dataset vintage).

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership vs. renting

• Tenure profile: Sheridan County generally reflects rural Montana patterns with a high homeownership share and a smaller rental market concentrated in town centers.
• Best-available source: ACS housing tenure tables (owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied) via data.census.gov provide the current county percentages.

Median property values and recent trends

• Median home value: The ACS reports median value of owner-occupied housing units for the county.
• Trend context (proxy): Across Montana, home values rose substantially during 2020–2023, with rural counties often showing increases that depend heavily on local supply, interest rates, and in-migration patterns. Sheridan County’s trend can be verified by comparing successive ACS 5‑year releases and local sales records.
• Local sales trend sources: Aggregated market indicators are typically tracked by state and regional realtor associations; county-level granularity can be limited.

Typical rent prices

• Median gross rent: The ACS provides median gross rent for renter-occupied units in Sheridan County on data.census.gov.
• Market characteristics: Rentals are commonly limited in supply outside municipal areas, with more options in/near Plentywood and other incorporated places, and fewer purpose-built multifamily properties than in urban Montana markets.

Types of housing

• Dominant housing types:
  • Single-family detached homes in town and on rural parcels
  • Manufactured/mobile homes (common in rural regions)
  • Rural farm/ranch housing on larger lots
  • Small multifamily buildings and limited apartments primarily in town centers
• Best-available breakdown: ACS housing “structure type” tables provide shares by unit type (1-unit detached, 1-unit attached, 2–4 units, 5+ units, mobile home, etc.).

Neighborhood and community characteristics (proximity to schools/amenities)

• Town-centered amenities: In communities such as Plentywood, everyday amenities (schools, clinics, grocery, local government) tend to be within a short drive, while rural households may travel longer distances for services.
• School proximity: Housing close to schools is primarily found within incorporated places where school campuses are located; rural residences often involve bus routes and longer travel times.

Property tax overview (rate and typical cost)

• Tax structure: Montana property taxes are based on taxable value calculations (classification and exemptions) applied to local mill levies; effective tax rates vary by property type and local levies.
• County-specific burden: A practical county-level view is the median real estate tax paid and effective rates as compiled from Census/ACS and state/local levy schedules.
• Best-available references:
  • Montana statewide property tax administration and levy information is summarized by the Montana Department of Revenue.
  • County-level median property tax indicators are commonly available through ACS tables on data.census.gov.
• Data availability note: A single “average rate” for the county is an approximation because mills vary by taxing jurisdiction, school district, and special districts; the most defensible summary uses median tax paid and effective rate estimates from official datasets.