Stillwater
7.1
High score (8-10)
The Stillwater Mine near Billings is one of the only palladium and platinum mines in North America, operated by Sibanye-Stillwater, and the professional mining engineers and metallurgists it employs bring an educated, internationally connected workforce into a county that would otherwise be entirely agricultural. Columbus and Absarokee are the gateway towns for the Beartooth Highway corridor.
Mid score (6-8) · Your profile
Stillwater County (pop. ~10,000) has Columbus as its county seat (pop. ~1,900) on the Yellowstone River, with I-90 access that connects it to Billings (30 miles west). The Stillwater Mine provides genuine professional employment above what the county's ranching base would generate. The county is scenic — the Beartooths rise to the south — and the Stillwater River is excellent fishing. There's no real social scene in Columbus, but Billings is accessible and the county has more economic stability than most rural Montana counties.
Lower score (below 6)
Columbus is a small agricultural service town on I-90 that exists primarily to connect the surrounding ranching community to highway access. Outside of the mine's professional workforce, the social world is entirely long-established ranching families. An outsider here will find a pleasant, functional small town with nothing specifically available to them socially. Billings is the answer to any serious social need and it's 30 minutes west.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the median income in Stillwater, Montana?
$43k median
What's the typical marriage age for women in Stillwater, Montana?
Women marry at 27
How common is a college degree in Stillwater, Montana?
22% men have degree
What's the average male height in Stillwater, Montana?
177 cm local avg
What's the average BMI for women in Stillwater, Montana?
Local women avg 29.4