Fort C. F. Smith Historic District · National Register of Historic Places
Fort Smith’s story
Fort Smith in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Fort SmithMT
A town of 78.
Cedarvale · Photo: National Park Service · Public domain
Population
78
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$120K
Census ACS
Household income
$51K
median
Median age
63.7
years
Jobs based here
82
A job hub
Is Fort Smith a good place to live?
Among 43 Montana towns, just 3 have a higher share of households owning their home than Fort Smith. Fort Smith has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Bad Pass Trail and Camp Four. Fort Smith has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
78 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Getting set up
Moving to Fort Smith: who provides what
Fort Smith is unincorporated, so Big Horn County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerNorthWestern Energy14.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterFort Smith Water and Sewer DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers3% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesBig Horn CountyBig Horn County provides services here
SchoolsHardin Elementary School DistrictHardin High School District2 districts serve Fort Smith; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteIn personMontana has no online registration; you can register in person up to and including Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereBig Horn County Election AdministratorBig Horn County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code5903559035 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Fort Smith.
Work & commute
With 1.5 jobs for every working resident, Fort Smith draws in 79 commuters
Most working residents leave Fort Smith for work: only 6% work in town. Fort Smith’s median household income is $51,000, against $67,000 in Montana’s towns and $80,000 across U.S. towns. The top destinations are Billings (26%), Hardin (17%) and Crow Agency (15%).
6%work in town
| Fort Smith | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 5.6% | 39% | 8% |
| Median household income | $51,000 | $67,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Fort Smith6%
Billings26%
Hardin17%
Crow Agency15%
Miles City6%
43 mi
median commute distance
82
jobs based in Fort Smith
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Schools
The schools Fort Smith’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Hardin Elementary District. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 17 | – |
NCES · EDFacts
Natural hazards
High risk in Fort Smith, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 75% of U.S. communities.
75risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesStrong wind
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Fort Smith has snowy winters and hot summers
Fort Smith has cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. Fort Smith’s July high is 88°F, where Montana’s towns sit at 85°F and U.S. towns at 85°F.
44″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–36°
Spring33–58°
Summer54–84°
Fall34–60°
Oct 5
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Compared with most of Montana and the rest of the country, more of Fort Smith’s adults smoke cigarettes
23% of Fort Smith adults smoke cigarettes. Only 2 of the 42 Montana towns we compare have a lower share of adults who binge drink than Fort Smith. 27% of Fort Smith adults get no exercise outside work.
| Fort Smith | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 14% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 14% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 10% | 12% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 19% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Montana
0 better14 too close to call18 worse
| What stands out | Fort Smith | MT |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 30.7% | 12.3% |
| More smokers | 23.2% | 13.6% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 11% | 6.5% |
Big Horn Hospital
32.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Fort Smith
16pages on Fort Smith
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Fort Smith; the nearest are
Little Big Horn CollegeCommunity college · Public · Crow Agency30.7 mi$3,200 in-state tuitionMontana State University BillingsUniversity or college · Public · Billings43.9 mi$7,280 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Fort Smith residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Montana.
A job hub
Every workday, about 79 people come to Fort Smith for work
Where Fort Smith’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
82jobs based in Fort Smith
6%of working residents work in town
43 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
2 places in Fort Smith on the National Register of Historic Places.
Questions about Fort Smith
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Fort Smith, MT a good place to live?
Fort Smith has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.