I learned pretty quickly that Montana license plates have a “pecking order” based on the relative size of the counties – according to population data from decades ago, that is.
Fechter.com explains it (and has a handy map): County numbers were originally assigned based on most populous to least populous counties; sequence numbers were assigned about 1930 and have not changed since then. A plan was proposed in the 1999 Legislature Session to change things, but it was defeated.
I absolutely love that Butte/Silver Bow has retained the coveted #1 spot, even though Butte’s days as the largest town in Montana are long gone. Butte “made” Montana in so many ways, and it earned that #1 plate.
And I love that Cascade County – home! – is #2, despite falling behind Yellowstone, Missoula, Flathead, and Gallatin counties in recent years, population-wise.
Here’s the list of license plates by county; you can read more at BPRLicensePlates.com.
|
1 |
SILVER BOW |
20 |
VALLEY |
39 |
FALLON |
|
2 |
CASCADE |
21 |
TOOLE |
40 |
SWEET GRASS |
|
3 |
YELLOWSTONE |
22 |
BIG HORN |
41 |
McCONE |
|
4 |
MISSOULA |
23 |
MUSSELSHELL |
42 |
CARTER |
|
5 |
LEWIS & CLARK |
24 |
BLAINE |
43 |
BROADWATER |
|
6 |
GALLATIN |
25 |
MADISON |
44 |
WHEATLAND |
|
7 |
FLATHEAD |
26 |
PONDERA |
45 |
PRAIRIE |
|
8 |
FERGUS |
27 |
RICHLAND |
46 |
GRANITE |
|
9 |
POWDER RIVER |
28 |
POWELL |
47 |
MEAGHER |
|
10 |
CARBON |
29 |
ROSEBUD |
48 |
LIBERTY |
|
11 |
PHILLIPS |
30 |
DEER LODGE |
49 |
PARK |
|
12 |
HILL |
31 |
TETON |
50 |
GARFIELD |
|
13 |
RAVALLI |
32 |
STILLWATER |
51 |
JEFFERSON |
|
14 |
CUSTER |
33 |
TREASURE |
52 |
WIBAUX |
|
15 |
LAKE |
34 |
SHERIDAN |
53 |
GOLDEN VALLEY |
|
16 |
DAWSON |
35 |
SANDERS |
54 |
MINERAL |
|
17 |
ROOSEVELT |
36 |
JUDITH BASIN |
55 |
PETROLEUM |
|
18 |
BEAVERHEAD |
37 |
DANIELS |
56 |
LINCOLN |
|
19 |
CHOTEAU |
38 |
GLACIER |
|
|
UPDATE: longtime blogger ZenPanda has a Flickr collection of ALL 56 PLATES! Here’s a sample – check ‘em all out here!
I have a photo of 1 plate from every county in a set on my flickr photo stream! It took me over a year & 95% where photographed in the Great Falls area.
WOOHOO! Kudos, ZenPanda! What was the most elusive plate?
39 (Fallon County) was the last one I found. I didn’t even see it on visits to Billings for over 9 months!