Welcome to Rosebud County

Rosebud County was established on February 1, 1901 and is located in Southeastern Montana covering approximately 5,027 square miles (5,010 square miles is land and 17 square miles is water). The county Courthouse began construction in Forsyth in 1912, for more history on our Courthouse visit our Resource page. Rosebud County is Montana’s twenty-second most populous county, with an estimated population of 8,329 as of the latest census in 2020.

Other cities and towns in Rosebud County include Angela, Ashland, Birney, Colstrip, Hathaway, Ingomar, Lame Deer, Rosebud, and Sumatra. A large portion of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation lies within Rosebud County.

  • Rosebud County is the fourth largest County by land area in the State of Montana.
  • Topography of Rosebud County is mostly rolling with small hills.  Elevations range from 2,441 feet above sea level near Hathaway to 4,807 feet above sea level in the Little Wolf Mountains west of Colstrip.
  • The County’s leading source of income are from agriculture, tourism, railroad, coal mining and electrical generation.
  • There are 1,165 miles of County road.
  • Medical facilities are located in Ashland, Lame Deer, Colstrip and Forsyth.

55.35 ° Forsyth, MT
courthouse

News

Municipal Elections 2025

Filing opened April 17, 2025 for the following City Council positions Colstrip: 2 Council positions Forsyth: Mayor, 1 West Ward Council member and 1 East Ward Council member Filing closes June 16th All positions are 4 year terms Primary Election is held Tuesday, September 9th General Election is held Tuesday, November 4th


Transportation Notice 2025

Public School Transportation and Attendance Agreements Due   To the Parents of School Age Children who reside in the Districts of; Ashland Elementary, Birney Elementary, Colstrip Schools, Forsyth Schools, Lame Deer Schools and Rosebud K-12.   It is time to start processing Transportation Contracts and Attendance Agreements for the 2025-2026 School Year.   If you have had a transportation agreement in the past or think you may qualify for one, pick up a contract from your local School Clerk’s Office or the Office of County Superintendent of Schools at the Courthouse.  These contracts are due to the School Clerk on or before June 30, 2025.   Students must be transported by the parent three or more miles to the bus or the school if bus service is not available.   If your child is attending school out of district, you can now start processing Attendance Agreements. Contact the District Clerk or the Office of County Superintendent of Schools for an Attendance Agreement Form.

Ashland District 32J Clerk – William Thex 406-784-2568
Birney District 3 Clerk – Marge Hamilton 406-757-2215
Colstrip District 9 Clerk – Britney Allen 406-748-4699
Forsyth District 4 Clerk – Stacy Montgomery 406-346-2796
Lame Deer District 6 Clerk – Lillian Big Man 406-477-6305
Rosebud District 12 Clerk – Judy Hotter 406-347-5353
County Superintendent of Schools Office, Lisa Blevins 406-347-5353