Golden Valley County is located in the southern portion of the Central Montana RC&D Area, and consists of 1,175,327 acres. The county has some of the finest farmland around, and views of several island mountain ranges.

    The county's population is 1,042, based on the 2000 Census. Base industries are agriculture, services, retail trade, construction, transportation and utilities. Ryegate is the County Seat.

     The per capita income according to 1999 estimates was $8,682; with a median household income of $17,955 in 1997. The average annual wage is $21,085.

     The largest industry is retail trade, followed by construction. Major employers in Golden Valley County include Lavina School, Ryegate School, Lavina Cafe, Slayton Mercantile, Agribasics, Continental National Bank in Harlowton, and Quad Five outside Ryegate.

     There is a small private airstrip at Lavina, but no commercial air service in the county. It is available in Billings, Great Falls or Lewistown. BNSF provides mainline rail service.

     Utilities providers are Montana Power in urban areas and Fergus Electric in rural areas. Telecommunication providers include those cell phone, wireless, telephone and long distance, Internet, dial up and high speed (DSL), sales and service of business phones. An I-TV upgrade is planned for 2003. Postal and delivery services include USPS, UPS and Fed Ex.

     Healthcare services are available in Billings, Roundup, and Harlowton, and there are rural ambulance and rural fire districts for emergency services. The sheriff's department has two full-time officers and the Montana Highway Patrol has a station in Ryegate.

     The average rainfall in Golden Valley County is 15.08 inches; and the average snowfall is 15.21 inches. The length of the average growing season is 115 days; and the annual average temperature is 47.1 degrees Fahrenheit.

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