Fort Keogh (named after Captain Myles Keogh, one of the battle dead, whose horse, Comanche, was the lone survivor of Custer's command) started as a few rough winter cabins, but grew into a moderate sized western fort, from which its commander, General Nelson A.

Although fondly referred to as "Milestown," the first post office and first official plat both called the town "Miles City."

Livestock speculation brought thousands of cattle to the open ranges in the late 1880s, the railroad was extended through the area, and Texas drove numerous cattle to Miles City to fatten them on free grass and move them to where they could be loaded on trains bound for the slaughterhouses in Chicago (Milwaukee Railroad).

Miles City experienced rapid growth until the First World War (1914/1917–1918), era and following 1920s and 1930s, but became overshadowed by the upstart upriver town of Billings, which was at the cross roads of various land transportation routes.

Billings became a center for banking and finance, oil refining, and medical services, and is now the largest city in the state of Montana.

[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.34 square miles (8.65 km2), all land.

The city holds the record for the highest mean sea level pressure in the contiguous United States with a reading of 31.42 inHg (1064 mb) on December 24, 1983.

[18] In March 1944, an ice jam on the Yellowstone River caused flooding which reached into Miles City.

After unsuccessful attempts to clear the jam using local resources, help was requested from the Army Air Corps by the Montana governor.

A B-17 bomber was dispatched from nearby Rapid City, South Dakota and cleared the ice jam using 250-pound bombs.

The Judson H. Flower, Jr. Library is located within the main building of Miles Community College, and is equipped with computer lab and INFOTRAC.

A decade later, it was renamed to reflect it's wider population as the Custer County High School in 1903 and graduated its first expanded class in 1904.

Much of the current student body population's livelihood involves agriculture or ranching – entirely or in part; therefore, the local young farmers group of the National FFA Organization (Future Farmers of America) organization is very active and about 20% of the student population belong to it.

Washington Middle School has many extra curricular activities, including sports, builder's club and student council.

[23] The highest point in the vicinity is Signal Butte (3,051 feet / 930 meters above sea level), said to have been used by Native Americans for communication, but used for decades by radio and sometimes TV antennas.

Signal Butte lies at the edge of an area of badlands, a striking arid vista of eroded sedimentary soil, sporting multi-colored layers exposed by the erosion.

The land contains sandstone formations in the midst of sagebrush and cedar trees growing in a soil that turns to gumbo when wet.

12 Mile Dam spans the Tongue River and attracts teens in the summer for water sport.

Near the highway is the site of a state fish hatchery, and nearby, a double humped butte is known locally as "Camelback".

[27] During the anti-German hysteria of WWI, preaching in German was outlawed in Montana, including for worship at Trinity, Miles City.

[33] Miles City is the hometown of Violet Beauregarde in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.