Beaverhead County

Beaverhead County was established in 1865, making it one of Montana's original nine counties, and derives its name from Beaverhead Rock, a distinctive limestone outcrop that Sacagawea recognized during the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805. Major landmarks include the Big Hole National Battlefield, commemorating the 1877 conflict between the U.S. Army and the Nez Perce; Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, which covers vast portions of Beaverhead County; and the Continental Divide, which runs through Beaverhead County's eastern reaches.

Beaverhead County is home to the University of Montana Western in Dillon, one of the state's four-year public universities. Beaverhead County's economy historically centered on gold and silver mining, ranching, and agriculture, with Beaverhead County still maintaining strong ties to livestock production and outdoor recreation tourism. Beaverhead County Courthouse, located at 2 South Pacific Street in Dillon, houses the Clerk and Recorder, County Clerk and Recorder, and Montana Department of Revenue offices.

The Clerk and Recorder's office maintains official county records, election administration, and vital statistics, while the Assessor's office manages property valuations and tax assessment records for all parcels within Beaverhead County.

Inmate searches for people held at Beaverhead County jail can be conducted by contacting the detention center directly at the main Sheriff's Office number during business hours, as Beaverhead County does not currently maintain a public online inmate roster. The City of Dillon operates the Dillon Police Department, which provides municipal law enforcement services within city limits and can be contacted for Under Montana's public records law, codified at Montana Code Annotated § 2-6-102 through § 2-6-1104, arrest records and booking information are generally considered public records subject to disclosure upon request. Mugshots and booking photos are typically maintained by the detention center and can be requested through the same public records request process, though fees for copying and research time may apply according to Montana statute.

Beaverhead County does not host a centralized online mugshot database, and commercial third-party websites that aggregate booking photos are not affiliated with official county agencies. No tribal law enforcement agencies operate within Beaverhead County, as there are no federally recognized tribal lands within Beaverhead County boundaries. The Montana Highway Patrol also maintains jurisdiction over state highways and interstates passing through Beaverhead County.

Montana's court system also includes Justice Courts, with Beaverhead County Justice Court handling misdemeanor criminal offenses, small claims up to $7,000, landlord-tenant disputes, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. The Justice Court is located at the same courthouse address and operates under the supervision of elected justices of the peace. The City of Dillon operates a Municipal Court for city ordinance violations, traffic citations within city limits, and other municipal matters, located at Dillon City Hall.

Court records in Montana are governed by the Montana Uniform District Court and Justice Court Rules, which establish public access rights while protecting certain confidential information such as juvenile records, mental health proceedings, and sealed adoption records. Montana's judicial branch provides online case lookup through the Montana Court Electronic Repository at montanacourts.org, though not all historical records are digitized and older cases may require in-person searches at the Clerk of District Court office. Public access to court records is established under Montana Code Annotated § 2-6-109 and court rules, which presume that court records are public unless specifically exempted by statute or court order.

Citizens may review case files in person at the Clerk of Court office during regular business hours, typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding court holidays.

The Montana Cadastral Mapping Project provides a statewide online parcel viewer at svc.mt.gov/msl/mtcadastral that allows users to search Beaverhead County property records by owner name, parcel number, or legal description, displaying basic ownership information and parcel boundaries free of charge, though detailed documents require contacting the Recorder's office directly. Property tax information, assessment values, and mill levy data are maintained by Beaverhead Montana Department of Revenue's Office at the same courthouse location, phone, where the public can research current and historical property valuations, exemption status, and tax payment history. Beaverhead County Treasurer's office handles tax collection and can provide payment history and outstanding balance information.

The office maintains grantor-grantee indices dating back to Beaverhead County's founding in 1865, with many historical records available on microfilm or in digitized format.

Applicants must provide valid photo identification and demonstrate a direct and tangible interest in the record as required by Montana Code Annotated § 50-15-120, which restricts access to immediate family members, legal representatives, or individuals with court orders. There is no waiting period in Montana, and the license is valid for 180 days from issuance. Divorce decrees are not maintained by the Clerk and Recorder but are available from the District Court Clerk at the same courthouse location.

Walk-in requests at the County Clerk's office can sometimes be processed same-day or within a few business days if records are readily accessible. All vital records requests require completion of specific application forms and proof of eligibility under Montana Code Annotated Title 50, Chapter 15, which governs the confidentiality and release of vital statistics.

For full business entity information including corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and nonprofit organizations, the Montana Secretary of State Business Services Division maintains the official registry accessible online at sosmt.gov/business. Professional and occupational licenses are regulated by the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, with specific boards overseeing trades such as contractors, electricians, plumbers, cosmetologists, and healthcare professionals. Local business licenses and permits within the City of Dillon are administered by Dillon City Hall, 125 South Montana Street, Dillon, MT 59725.

Building permits, zoning compliance, and land use permits are handled by Beaverhead County Planning Department, located at the courthouse, which reviews applications for construction projects, subdivisions, and conditional use permits under county zoning regulations. Montana does not impose a general sales tax, so businesses do not need state sales tax permits, though specific excise taxes apply to certain industries. The chamber office is located at 125 South Montana Street in Dillon and can be reached, offering assistance with business planning, workforce development, and community connections for entrepreneurs and established companies throughout Beaverhead County.

Montana offers online voter registration through the Secretary of State's website at sosmt.gov/elections, allowing eligible citizens to register or update their registration information electronically if they possess a Montana driver's license or state ID card. The voter registration deadline in Montana is the close of regular business hours on the day before Election Day, though late registration is available on Election Day itself at Beaverhead County elections office or designated polling locations with proof of residence. Citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, residents of Montana and Beaverhead County for at least 30 days, and not currently serving a sentence in a correctional facility for a felony conviction.

Beaverhead County voters can find their assigned polling place by contacting the elections office, checking their voter registration card, or using the polling place locator at app.mt.gov/voterinfo. Beaverhead County typically operates multiple polling locations in Dillon and several rural precincts throughout Beaverhead County for in-person voting on Election Day. Montana law provides extensive public access to election records under Montana Code Annotated § 13-1-101 et seq, including voter registration lists (with certain personal information redacted), campaign finance reports filed with the Commissioner of Political Practices, candidate filing documents, precinct-level election results, and ballot issue committee disclosures.

Beaverhead County's 2024 general election voter turnout was approximately 78%, reflecting the high civic engagement typical of rural Montana counties and exceeding many national averages. The next major election will occur on November 3, 2026, featuring Montana's U.S. House seat, one U.S.

Senate seat (depending on term expirations), state legislative races for the Montana House and Senate, and various county offices including commissioners, sheriff, clerk and recorder, and other constitutional offices. Absentee voting is available to all Montana voters without requiring an excuse, with applications accepted beginning 90 days before Election Day. Completed absentee ballots must be received by Beaverhead County elections office by 8:00 PM on Election Day, either by mail (postmarks do not count) or hand delivery to designated drop-off locations.

Montana's election transparency ranks among the highest nationally, with same-day voter registration, no-excuse absentee voting, full campaign finance disclosure, and public observation rights at all stages of election administration including ballot counting and canvassing.

Mining heritage continues through small-scale operations and exploration activities, though the historic gold and silver boom era has passed. Median household income in Beaverhead County was estimated at approximately $50,000 according to recent American Community Survey data, somewhat below the Montana state median but reflecting the rural agricultural character of Beaverhead County. Tourism contributes significantly through fishing, hunting, hiking, and winter recreation, with visitors drawn to the Big Hole River, renowned for its blue-ribbon trout fishery, and access points to Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and surrounding wilderness areas.

The service sector, including restaurants, lodging, outfitting services, and retail establishments, supports this tourism economy. Government employment at county, city, state, and federal levels (particularly U.S. Unemployment rates in Beaverhead County typically track slightly above state averages, ranging from 3-5% depending on seasonal factors, with higher unemployment during winter months when construction and outdoor recreation businesses slow.

Recent economic development efforts have focused on broadband infrastructure expansion, workforce housing development, and supporting entrepreneurship in value-added agricultural products and remote work opportunities that use Beaverhead County's quality of life advantages.