Powder River County, MT elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Powder River County: 9 seats on 7 elected bodies. 6 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.

Board of County Commissioners

Powder River County Board of Commissioners

Every member is elected countywide.

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
County Commissioner (term ending 2027)John W. Olson Independent sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County Commissioner (term ending 2029)Lori Fortner Republican source
County Commissioner (term ending 2031)Lee Randall Republican source

County officers

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
County AttorneyJeffrey A. Noble Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Clerk and RecorderCynde Jo Gatlin Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Clerk of District CourtVanna L. Byrd Republican source
Sheriff/CoronerDevin Boman Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Superintendent of SchoolsMolly Lloyd Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Treasurer/AssessorHattie Arithson Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

How many local governments Powder River County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 10 local governments in Powder River County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government11
Cities, towns, villages and townships10
School districts (school boards)30
Special districts (elected boards)50

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Powder River County

1,815people
47.3median ageU.S.: 38.9
$67,045 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
8.1%below the U.S.: 12.5%
26.1%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$192,100median home valueU.S.: $332,700
0.7%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
1.4%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
5.3%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
7.6%U.S.: 8.4%
9%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
29.5%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 1.4% · White 89.2% · Black 0% · Asian 0.9% · Other or more than one race 8.4% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Powder River County

1.4%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 1.9%. Montana: 2.5%.
14people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
997people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
1,011in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Powder River County 0.0%0.9%1.8%2.8%3.7% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)1.4%149971,011
August 20261.7%17976993
July 20261.7%17978995
June 20262.4%249821,006
May 20261.7%16939955
April 20261.8%17952969
March 20262.0%19927946
February 20262.2%20902922
January 20262.2%20900920
December 20252.4%22901923
November 20252.2%20900920
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20251.9%18911929
August 20251.8%17935952
July 20251.8%17952969
June 20252.1%21978999
May 20252.2%22961983
April 20252.7%26954980
March 20252.9%29959988
February 20252.7%25912937
January 20252.8%26918944
December 20242.4%22880902
November 20241.9%17892909
October 20241.4%13893906
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)2.3%22935957
20242.1%19884903
20232.6%23846869
20222.5%21827848
20213.0%25802827
20203.5%29795824
20192.7%22804826
20183.3%27803830
20173.0%26829855
20162.7%25885910

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Montana's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 3.1% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Powder River County

115.3 per 100,0002025. Montana: 419.1.
0.0 per 100,0002025. Montana: 1,448.5.
0murders2025, 2 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
20252115.300.0
202300.0157.9
2022158.400.0
2020159.500.0
201600.09504.8
By police agency (1)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
Powder River County Sheriff's Office2025201,735

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Montana · the U.S.

Police staffing

2.31 per 1,000 residents2025, 1 agency serving 1,735 people.
4sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
5civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (1), 2025
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
Powder River County Sheriff's Office451,735
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
202542.3151
202431.7231
202342.3161
202242.3441
202142.3641
202042.3841
201942.3441
201842.2811
201742.2941
201642.2401

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Powder River County County Attorney?
Jeffrey A. Noble (Republican) is the County Attorney of Powder River County, Montana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Powder River County Clerk and Recorder?
Cynde Jo Gatlin (Republican) is the Clerk and Recorder of Powder River County, Montana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Powder River County Clerk of District Court?
Vanna L. Byrd (Republican) is the Clerk of District Court of Powder River County, Montana.
Who is the Powder River County Sheriff/Coroner?
Devin Boman (Republican) is the Sheriff/Coroner of Powder River County, Montana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Powder River County Superintendent of Schools?
Molly Lloyd (Republican) is the Superintendent of Schools of Powder River County, Montana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Powder River County Treasurer/Assessor?
Hattie Arithson (Republican) is the Treasurer/Assessor of Powder River County, Montana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who are the Powder River County commissioners?
John W. Olson ((term ending 2027)); Lori Fortner ((term ending 2029)); Lee Randall ((term ending 2031)).
What is the population of Powder River County?
About 1,815 people, with a median age of 47.3; the median household income is $67,045 and 8.1% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Powder River County?
1.4% in September 2026 (preliminary): 14 people unemployed in a labor force of 1,011, against 1.9% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Powder River County?
10 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 1 municipal, 3 school district and 5 special district governments.

Officeholders as of November 7, 2026, from each county's own website (its elected-officials or department pages, read November 7, 2026), or a county's certified canvass; offices no county page names are left out; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

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