The Central Montana RC&D area consists of six counties including Judith Basin, Fergus, Petroleum, Musselshell, Golden Valley, and Wheatland. These counties are in the central region of Montana, which is the fourth largest in the United States. Montana has 145,556.33 square miles, and a population density of 5.5 (based on the 1990 Census). The central Montana region covers 12,329 square miles or 7,890,560 acres. The area population is 23,321, according to the 1999 population estimate from the U.S. Bureau of Census, and has an average population density of 1.88 persons per square mile.

     Central Montana is a beautiful area - representing the best that Montana has to offer. From prairie, to mountains, to farmland - these six counties are diverse in terrain. The region has historically been dependent upon agriculture and its abundant natural resources, but dynamics are changing. Agriculture has seen its share of ups and downs, and the area has lost most of its mining activity. The timber industry is also struggling. The base industries are Agriculture, Services, Retail Trade, Construction, Transportation and Utilities.