Lewistown, Montana
Lewistown is a city of 6,087 people in Fergus County, Montana, founded in 1882.
Why visit Lewistown
Townapedia lists 14 museums and landmarks, 10 parks and trails, 13 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Judith Cinemas, Abraham and Mary Walton Hogeland House, Anderson House and Kiwanis Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 13°F.
Weather in Lewistown
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Lewistown
Lewistown is a city in and the county seat of Fergus County, Montana, United States. The population was 5,952 at the 2020 census. Lewistown is located in the geographic center of the state, southeast of Great Falls and northwest of Billings. First planned in 1882, it was the site of an 1880s gold rush, and served as an important railway destination, supplying surrounding communities with bricks via rail.
From the Wikipedia article Lewistown, Montana (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks14
Abraham and Mary Walton Hogeland House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
House in Lewistown, Montana
Anderson House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Listed on the NRHP in Fergus County
Ayers House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Single-family detached home in Lewistown, Montana
Fergus County High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic building in Lewistown, Montana, United States
Huntoon Residence
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Historic house in Montana, United States
Lewistown Central Business Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic district in Montana, United States
Lewistown Courthouse Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Historic district in Lewistown, Montana, Unites States
Lewistown Federal Building & Post Office
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Lewistown, Montana, NRHP-listed in Fergus County
Lewistown Silk Stocking District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Historic district in Montana, United States
Masonic Temple
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Masonic temple in Lewistown, United States of America
St. Joseph's Hospital
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Hospital in Lewistown, Montana
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St. Leo's Catholic Church
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Historic church in Lewistown, Montana, United States
2 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds10
Restaurants and cafes13
Parr Creek Bakery and Cafe
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Sandwich · 1.7 mi
Custom cakes, fresh baked bread daily, fresh pastries. Breakfast and lunch. We deliver too.
122 West Main Street, Lewistown
Tu-Sa 07:00-14:00
six18 coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.3 mi
618 West Main Street, Lewistown
Mo-Sa 07:00-14:00
El Rancho Alegre
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.5 mi
416 West Main Street, Lewistown
Eagles Club
Bar and pub · 1.7 mi
124 West Main Street, Lewistown
Subway
Fast food · Sandwich · 0.7 mi
1506 West Main Street, Lewistown
Mo-Th 07:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-22:00; Su 09:00-21:00
1 more on the map.
History
The area was the territory of the Blackfoot Native Americans. In 1874, Fort Lewis was established there by Company "F" of the 7th U.S. Infantry to provide military protection for people traveling on the Carroll Trail, then the shortest route between Carroll, Montana and Helena. Lewistown is named after this fort.
The first permanent settlers of Lewistown were Métis. The Metis established Lewistown in 1879. Pierre Berger is credited with being the founder of Lewistown. Berger, along with his wife Judith Wilkie Berger, son Isadore Berger, Isaie Berger, Jean Baptiste Berger and Jacques Berger, as well as several other families made the trek into the Lewistown area in 1879. Francis Janeaux came with the second group. Janeaux founded the first public school house in 1883. Lewistown became an incorporated city in 1899.
Lewistown was the site of a gold rush when gold was discovered in the nearby Judith Mountains in 1880. Before the gold rush, Maiden was the largest city in central Montana. When the gold supply ran out, many of the miners gained new employment in Lewistown and settled there permanently.
From the History section of Lewistown, Montana on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay7
Churches and places of worship17
First Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
215 5th Avenue South, Lewistown
Shopping7
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries11
Healthcare1
Map of Lewistown
83 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 13°F | 0.6 in |
| Feb | 35°F | 14°F | 0.5 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 21°F | 0.9 in |
| Apr | 53°F | 29°F | 1.7 in |
| May | 63°F | 37°F | 2.9 in |
| Jun | 71°F | 45°F | 3.4 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 51°F | 1.8 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 50°F | 1.7 in |
| Sep | 70°F | 42°F | 1.4 in |
| Oct | 56°F | 31°F | 1.3 in |
| Nov | 43°F | 21°F | 0.7 in |
| Dec | 35°F | 14°F | 0.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lewistown Muni Ap (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Fergus County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-07-18: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2023-10-11: Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-03-31: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-07-10: Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-06-17: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Lewistown Municipal Airport (LWT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 1 miles away.
- Lewistown Heights 2 mi northwest, about 3 min by car
- Harlowton 46 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Geraldine 54 mi northwest, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- LewistownMontana, Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Presbyterian Church (2013) - Fergus County, Montana, Robstutz, CC BY-SA 3.0
- MASONIC TEMPLE, LEWISTOWN, FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA, JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- LewistownMT USPO, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- LEWISTOWN COURTHOUSE HISTORIC DISTRICT; FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA, JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- LewistownMT FormerStJosephsHospital2, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Huntoon Residence2 NRHP 85001408 Fergus County, MT, Jon Roanhaus, CC BY-SA 4.0
- LEWISTOWN CENTRAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA, JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- St. Leo's Catholic Church (2013) - Fergus County, Montana, Robstutz, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Anderson House NRHP 92001770 Fergus County, MT, Jon Roanhaus, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hogeland House2 NRHP 07000465 Fergus County, MT, Jon Roanhaus, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fergus County High School (2013) - Fergus County, Montana, Robstutz, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ayers House2 NRHP 86000061 Fergus County, MT, Jon Roanhaus, CC BY-SA 4.0
- LEWISTOWN SILK STOCKING DISTRICT, FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA, JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
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