Fergus

Formed January 1, 1885 (14^th county)

Fergus County (11,443), Lewistown (5,954)

The classic red and brown brick courthouse is on Main Street between 7^th and 8^th avenues.  United States Highway 87 is Main Street in the town.  The facility was built in 1907.  The Spanish Colonial building designer is Newton C. Gauntt.  The county was founded on January 1, 1885 as the 14^th county with Lewistown as the only county seat.  The county is named for Legislator James Fergus.  Lewistown is named for local fort commander, Major William H. Lewis.  Fergus County was the birthplace for 1 Montana Governor, Roy E. Ayers. 

Fergus County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Fergus, Judith Basin, and Petroleum counties.  Fergus County is in the central part of the state.  The geographical center of Montana is 11 miles west of Lewistown in the county.  Billings, Montana is south and Great Falls, Montana is northwest of the county.  The Missouri River forms its northern border.  The county center is 11.6 miles North of Lewistown nearer Brooks.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Blaine, Phillips, Petroleum, Musselshell, Golden Valley, Wheatland, Judith Basin, and Chouteau counties. 

The area of the county is 4339 square miles.  It is 8 out of 56 in the state.  It ranks 19 out of 56 in population in the state.  It has a density of 2.6 persons per square mile making it 28 out of 56 in the state.  Fergus County has 58.0% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 87 enters the county from the west, Judith Basin County, and exits to the southeast, Petroleum County.  United States Highway 191 comes from Phillips County, northeast, and goes into Wheatland County, southwest.  The county could be described to be an animal facing north.  Lewistown is in the southwest quarter of the county.  Lewistown is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 52.0% of the county population.