McCone County is tough, arid country where making a living has always depended heavily on the weather. Since the area was settled in the latter half of the 1800s, harsh winters, extended drought cycles, and the perseverance of its residents have defined life there. The county covers about 1.7 million acres but has a population of less than 2,000, with less than 1 person for every 1.3 square miles, and livestock outnumbering people by about 20 to 1. Circle is the county’s only incorporated city. About 80 percent of the county is in some form of agricultural production, and of that land, 80 percent supports livestock operations while the remaining 20 percent is devoted to crop production. Ranches are primarily cattle operations, though the area also supports a significant number of sheep, and the major crops are wheat, hay, barley, and oats.