Deer Lodge County, MT consists of three distinct mountain ranges — the Big Belt Mountains to the west, the Ruby Range in the center and the Highland Mountains on its eastern border — within its 2541 square miles; it had an estimated population count 9249 by 2020 estimates residing upon most lands that remain private rancher ownership parcels surrounding Butte city hub serving greater local area as shopping/entertainment/employment center opportunities characterized primarily by mining industry related work & various recreational activities given access backcountry trails while parallel 6 major rivers course forth between courses creating supporting cast ecosystems strong enough sustain not just wildlife but also numerous industries reliant upon abundance available resources found throughout region .