Powder River County spans a broad rural landscape in southeastern Montana, with Broadus as the only ranked city and the clearest road hub. U.S. 212 crosses the county through Broadus, while Route 59 continues south toward Biddle and smaller local roads spread into sparsely settled uplands. The terrain-and-water map adds Powder River, Little Powder River, Mizpah Creek, Pumpkin Creek, and Otter Creek as stronger natural references across areas with few town names. The elevation map shows lower river valleys framed by higher western and southwestern ridges. High-resolution JPG versions of the maps are available together in the download ZIP below.
Montana Association of Counties lists Broadus as the Powder River County seat, and its statewide community directory also places Biddle, Powderville, Ranch Creek, Belle Creek, and other communities in the county. That provides a practical way to approach the maps: begin with Broadus and U.S. 212, then use the Powder and Little Powder rivers to separate the central and eastern valleys from the higher western uplands.
Table of Contents
Broadus is the main road hub
On the general county map, Broadus sits slightly east of center. U.S. 212 passes directly through the community and forms the strongest east-west road reference. Route 398 heads north from the Broadus area, while Route 391 extends southwest into the interior.
Route 59 runs south toward Biddle, where Route 544 branches farther east. Route 484 appears in the southwestern extension near Otter, and Stevens Ranch provides another local reference farther north. These roads help divide a very large county with relatively few settlement labels.
Powderville appears in the northeast. Ashland and Birney are labeled outside the western boundary and are useful only as surrounding references. The county map is designed for geographic orientation rather than live travel conditions, so road work, unpaved-road conditions, and seasonal access should be checked separately.
Broadus is the only ranked city
The city map contains one ranked place: Broadus. Its CITY INDEX lists a value of 459. This figure is embedded in the supplied map and should not be treated as a guaranteed current population estimate. Current demographic totals should be checked through recent U.S. Census Bureau data.
Broadus lies near the central-eastern part of the county. Surrounding labels include Custer County to the north, Carter County to the east, Rosebud County to the west, and Big Horn County farther west and southwest, placing Powder River County in a broad southeastern Montana ranching region.
Because Broadus is the only ranked city, the map contains no connector lines or mileage labels. No straight-line or driving distance should be inferred from visual spacing. Actual trips should be checked on the general road map and with current navigation information.
Powder River crosses the county from southwest to northeast
The terrain-and-water map gives Powder River the strongest central role. It enters from the southwest, follows a broad diagonal valley through the county, and continues toward the northeast. Numerous short tributaries descend into the river from both sides.
Otter Creek runs along the western side, with Home Creek farther north. Pumpkin Creek forms another prominent drainage across the north-central county, and Little Pumpkin Creek appears to its northwest. In areas where road labels are sparse, these creek valleys provide much more useful geographic structure.
The terrain-and-water map is intended for geographic reference. It does not establish flood zones, water depth, parcel boundaries, water rights, navigation conditions, or safe stream crossings. Current field and water conditions should be checked through the appropriate official sources.
Little Powder River and Mizpah Creek organize the eastern valleys
Little Powder River runs north through the eastern part of the county. East Fork Little Powder River joins from the east, while Dry Creek, Rough Creek, and Horse Creek form smaller tributary valleys nearby. These channels provide useful references around the Biddle side of the county.
Farther northeast, Mizpah Creek is one of the largest labeled drainages. Bay Creek and Coal Creek appear still farther east, while Trout Pond provides a distinct water landmark close to the northeastern boundary.
The broad zone between Powder River and Little Powder River contains repeated shallow drainage valleys and rolling divides. Comparing the water and elevation maps shows how the two major river corridors remain lower than the surrounding uplands.
Elevation ranges from about 845 to 1,348 meters
The elevation map reports an actual county range of about 845 to 1,348 meters, with a mean elevation near 1,064 meters. Powder River and Little Powder River appear as green lower corridors, while higher yellow and brown terrain becomes much more extensive toward the west and southwest.
The highest terrain is concentrated along western, southwestern, and west-central ridges. Otter Creek cuts a lower route along part of this higher country, while Powder River forms a broader low valley through the center. The northeast is generally lower than the western uplands but is still dissected by many tributaries.
The southeastern Little Powder River corridor is another clear low area between gentler uplands. The elevation map is intended for county-wide comparison only and should not be used as survey-grade or engineering-grade data for a specific property.
Broadus and the two Powder River valleys provide a simple framework
A practical way to read Powder River County is to begin with Broadus and U.S. 212. Route 59 explains the southern approach toward Biddle, Routes 391 and 484 help with the southwest and Otter area, and Powderville with Route 398 provides a northeastern reference.
Water features provide the next layer. Powder River organizes the center, Little Powder River the east, Mizpah Creek the northeast, Pumpkin Creek the north, and Otter Creek the west. Trout Pond and East Fork Little Powder River add smaller but useful eastern landmarks.
The WebP images embedded in the article are convenient for quick browsing. The high-resolution JPG files in the ZIP are better for printing or enlarging small road and creek labels. Because these are static reference maps, current road access and water conditions should be checked through current official information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Powder River County city map show distances between cities?
No. Broadus is the only ranked city on the supplied city map, so there are no connector lines, straight-line distances, or road mileages to other cities.
Where is the highest terrain in Powder River County?
The elevation map shows the highest terrain mainly in the western and southwestern uplands. The Powder River and Little Powder River valleys are much lower.
Can the 845–1,348 meter elevation range be used for a property or engineering project?
No. The range is a county-wide reference for comparing low river valleys with higher ridges and uplands. Precise site elevations should come from an authoritative source such as the USGS 3D Elevation Program and, when necessary, a professional survey.
Map File Information
Download the Powder River County county, city, terrain-and-water, and elevation maps as high-resolution A3 JPG files.
- Included Files: county map, city map, terrain and water map, elevation map
- File Type: ZIP containing 4 JPG files
Related Maps
Sources and References
The official county site is Powder River County Government. The Montana Association of Counties county-seat list identifies Broadus as the county seat, while its Cities, Towns & Communities directory includes Broadus, Biddle, Powderville, and other Powder River County communities.
Boundary and road-reference data can be checked through U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line Shapefiles. Hydrographic data are available from USGS National Hydrography, and elevation data through the USGS 3D Elevation Program.
Green Map creates custom-edited map images using open geographic data sources such as geoBoundaries, Natural Earth, OpenStreetMap, and government open data. These maps are edited visual materials, not raw data files, and are provided for education, documents, presentations, and graphic reference.
