There is one unique ZIP code in Fairview, Montana and it is 59221. Area code: 406.
1
ZIP codes
262.46
sq mi land
2.77
sq mi water
406
area code
Fairview, MT ZIP code map
About Fairview, MT
Fairview, Montana is a small, close-knit community located in the far northeastern corner of the state, nestled along the Montana-North Dakota border. Served by a single ZIP code, 59221, this rural town sits within Richland County and carries the telephone area code 406 shared across all of Montana. Fairview offers residents and visitors a genuine glimpse into the agricultural heartland of the northern Great Plains, where wide-open spaces and a strong community spirit define everyday life.
Location & geography
Fairview is situated in Richland County in far northeastern Montana, positioned directly on the state line with North Dakota, with the nearby city of Williston, North Dakota lying just a few miles to the east across the Yellowstone River. The town is also within reasonable driving distance of Sidney, Montana, which serves as the Richland County seat and is located approximately 14 miles to the northwest along Highway 200. Fairview encompasses a total land area of 262.46 square miles and a water area of 2.77 square miles, with the Yellowstone River forming a natural boundary and contributing to the area's modest but scenic water features.
Community & economy
Fairview has the character of a traditional Great Plains agricultural community, where farming, ranching, and energy production form the backbone of local economic life. The region experienced renewed economic activity tied to the Bakken oil formation, which brought increased industry and population movement to communities along the Montana-North Dakota border. Daily life in Fairview revolves around its local schools, community events, and the agricultural rhythms of planting and harvest seasons that connect residents to the land.
Transportation
Fairview is served primarily by U.S. Highway 200, a major east-west corridor that connects the town to Sidney to the northwest and to Williston, North Dakota to the east. Montana Highway 58 also serves the area, providing additional access to surrounding communities throughout Richland County. The nearest commercial airport with regular passenger service is Sloulin Field International Airport in Williston, North Dakota, located just across the state line and offering the most practical air travel option for Fairview residents.
History
Fairview developed as an agricultural settlement in the early twentieth century, with homesteaders drawn to the fertile river bottomlands along the Yellowstone River in northeastern Montana. The construction of irrigation systems and the arrival of the railroad in the broader region helped establish farming communities like Fairview as viable and permanent settlements on the northern plains. In more recent decades, Fairview's proximity to the Williston Basin and the Bakken oil formation brought significant economic change to the area, echoing the boom-and-bust energy cycles familiar across the region.
Did you know?
One of Fairview's most distinctive features is that it straddles the Montana-North Dakota state line, making it one of the few communities in the United States where residents can literally step from one state into another within the same town. The Yellowstone River, one of the longest free-flowing rivers in the contiguous United States, runs near Fairview and adds both scenic beauty and historical significance to this small border community.
