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Butte-Silver Bow, MT

Full City Profile · Montana · Silver Bow County County

3.1 /5.0
B Good
34,929 Population 49/sq mi density
$57,633 Median Income $34,909 per capita
$225,100 Home Value $158,936 Zillow
$808 Median Rent 29.8% income on rent
40°F Avg Temperature 311 sunny days/yr
454 Violent Crime/100K 3,761 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.9 / 5.0
$57,633 median income, 2.5% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.5 / 5.0
$225,100 home value, $808/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
454 violent crimes/100K (19% above avg)
B
Education
3.2 / 5.0
27.7% bachelor's degree or higher
Butte-Silver Bow has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 40°F (4°C). Winters average 20°F in January while summers reach 64°F in July. The area gets 311 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 12.8 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 26.

Temperature

20°F Jan (-7°C) 64°F Jul (18°C)
Annual Average40.1°F
26% below US avg
January Average20°F (-7°C)
July Average64°F (18°C)
Sunny Days311 days/yr

Geography

Elevation5,797 ft (1,767 m)
Area715.8 sq mi (1,853.8 km²)
Population Density49/sq mi
Coordinates45.8962°N, 112.6601°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountySilver Bow County County
Nearest AirportHelena Regional (HLN)
59 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 12.8"
66% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jun) 2.20"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.43"

Air Quality

AQI Median26.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

PM2.5 (Fine Particles)8.6 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score38.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability17.0 / 100
Community Resilience62.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Very Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

630 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M5.8. Most recent: M2.9 on Aug 15, 2025.

Jul 6, 2017 11 km SE of Lincoln, Montana M5.8 110 km
Jul 26, 2005 16 km N of Dillon, Montana M5.6 59 km
Aug 20, 1999 22 km NW of Lima, Montana M5.1 124 km
Jul 6, 2017 15 km S of Lincoln, Montana M5.0 102 km
Apr 9, 2019 9 km NE of Lima, Montana M4.6 134 km
May 8, 2007 8 km NNW of Alder, Montana M4.4 69 km
Jul 6, 2017 14 km SE of Lincoln, Montana M4.4 107 km
Feb 5, 2006 44 km NE of Spencer, Idaho M4.4 148 km
Apr 5, 2011 28 km NNE of Spencer, Idaho M4.4 150 km
Jun 13, 2016 45 km W of Hebgen Lake Estates, Montana M4.3 147 km
Jan 30, 2016 19 km E of Lincoln, Montana M4.3 118 km
Oct 28, 1998 18 km S of Whitehall, Montana M4.3 46 km
Jul 14, 2023 3 km S of Lima, Montana M4.2 143 km
Aug 16, 2019 4 km NW of Manhattan, Montana M4.2 100 km
Apr 8, 2000 8 km ENE of Townsend, Montana M4.1 108 km
Aug 30, 1997 25 km WNW of Hebgen Lake Estates, Montana M4.1 148 km
Aug 6, 2019 3 km NW of Manhattan, Montana M4.1 101 km
Oct 7, 2024 11 km E of Dillon, Montana M4.1 76 km
Jun 18, 2006 6 km S of Pony, Montana M4.1 67 km
Sep 3, 2016 16 km S of Whitehall, Montana M4.0 46 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

22 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF2.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 14, 1962 EF2 80 km 0
May 19, 1962 EF2 66 km 0
Jul 3, 1988 EF1 83 km 0
Jun 28, 1982 EF1 56 km 0
Jun 6, 1976 EF1 81 km 0
May 29, 1965 EF1 38 km 0
Aug 20, 2018 EF0 68 km 0
Jul 10, 2016 EF0 75 km 0
Sep 15, 1997 EF0 26 km 0
Jul 19, 1997 EF0 77 km 0
Jun 27, 1997 EF0 90 km 0
May 17, 1994 EF0 88 km 0
Jun 11, 1993 EF0 94 km 0
Jun 29, 1992 EF0 83 km 0
Jun 12, 1992 EF0 96 km 0
May 16, 1991 EF0 62 km 0
Aug 11, 1988 EF0 72 km 0
May 4, 1971 EF0 87 km 0
Jul 14, 1962 EF0 80 km 0
May 17, 1962 EF0 62 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: MEYERS (68,711 ac, 2017).

Year Name Acres Distance
2017 MEYERS 68,711 70 km
2000 MUSSIGBROD COMPLEX (MUSSIGBROD) 64,810 73 km
2021 TRAIL CREEK 62,432 91 km
2021 ALDER CREEK 38,189 40 km
1988 CANYON CREEK 35,865 90 km
2017 LITTLE HOGBACK 34,646 93 km
2021 HAYSTACK 26,118 44 km
2007 RAT CREEK 25,929 87 km
2000 VALLEY COMPLEX (COYOTE) 20,601 94 km
2022 TRAIL RIDGE 19,532 91 km
2012 BEAR TRAP 2 14,875 89 km
2006 CLARKS CANYON 14,848 94 km
2007 PATTENGAIL CREEK 13,471 47 km
2011 FORTY ONE COMPLEX 12,679 99 km
2005 SIGNAL ROCK 12,653 89 km
2000 MIDDLE FORK COMPLEX (COUGAR CREEK) 11,655 85 km
2000 BOULDER COMPLEX (HIGH ORE ROAD) 9,625 60 km
1988 COMBINATION 8,588 81 km
2015 EUSTIS 8,469 93 km
1988 SWEETWATER 8,405 96 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 20°F (-7°C) 0.6 in Coldest
February 23°F (-5°C) 0.4 in Driest
March 30°F (-1°C) 0.8 in
April 38°F (3°C) 1.0 in
May 46°F (8°C) 1.9 in
June 55°F (13°C) 2.2 in Wettest
July 64°F (18°C) 1.3 in Warmest
August 60°F (16°C) 1.4 in
September 51°F (11°C) 1.3 in
October 41°F (5°C) 0.8 in
November 28°F (-2°C) 0.6 in
December 20°F (-7°C) 0.6 in

Butte-Silver Bow has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 20°F in January to 64°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 12.8 inches, with June being the wettest month (2.2") and February the driest (0.4").

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