Southwestern Montana

Southwestern Montana or Southwest Montana, somewhat illogically, refers to the southwesternmost section of Montana that still lies to the east of the Continental divide. The region extends roughly from Helena in the north to the Bozeman pass in the east and West Yellowstone in the south. The Continental Divide marks the western edge. It encompasses most of the drainage of the Headwaters of the Missouri area, including Madison, Jefferson, Gallatin, Lewis and Clark, and Broadwater counties.

In some contexts, again, for no logical reason, a couple of communities that lie just west of the divide, including Dillon and Butte, are sometimes included, possibly due to their position along Interstate 15 that links them easily to communities east of the divide.

Communities in the far southwest of the state, along the Bitterroot Valley, are referred to as being in Western Montana.