In 1976, the voters chose a consolidated city-county form of government in the general election, and the charter became effective January 1, 1977.

The county has a wealth of natural amenities, such as the Anaconda Mountain Range, Georgetown Lake, and the Mount Haggin wildlife management area (Montana's largest at 54,000 acres).

[citation needed] As of the 2010 census, there were 9,298 people, 4,018 households, and 2,350 families living in the county.

In terms of ancestry, 30.2% were German, 26.2% were Irish, 9.2% were English, 8.5% were Norwegian, 5.9% were Italian, 5.2% were Swedish, and 2.6% were American.

Along with neighboring Silver Bow county, Anaconda-Deer Lodge has been a consolidated city-county since 1977, the only two in Montana.

[15] The incumbent chief executive officer of Anaconda-Deer Lodge is Bill Everett, who was elected in 2017.

[18] In 2020, the county once again gave the Democratic candidate (Joe Biden) the majority, when he won 52% of the vote.

In that election the original Democratic nominee, Chet Blaylock, died and Marc Racicot carried every county.

It has been represented by Republican Terry Vermeire since 2023, having flipped the traditionally Democratic seat by a 752 vote margin.