Sweet Grass County, Montana

Sweet Grass County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 3,651.[1] Its county seat is Big Timber.[2] The county was founded in 1895.[3]

Sweet Grass County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°49′N 109°56′W
Country United States
State Montana
Founded1895
Named forSweet grass
SeatBig Timber
Largest cityBig Timber
Area
 • Total1,862 sq mi (4,820 km2)
 • Land1,855 sq mi (4,800 km2)
 • Water6.8 sq mi (18 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total3,651
 • Estimate 
(2019)
3,737
 • Density2.0/sq mi (0.76/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitesweetgrasscountygov.com
 
  • Montana county number 40

History

The Montana Legislature authorized Sweet Grass County in 1895, taking parts of Park, Meagher, and Yellowstone counties. That boundary was altered in 1913 when Stillwater County was formed from a portion of Sweet Grass; again in 1917 with the formation of Wheatland County, and in 1920 with the formation of Golden Valley County.[4]

Climate

Sweet Grass County's climate is generally dry and cool, specified as Dfc in the Köppen-Geiger climate classification (subarctic or boreal).[5] Average annual precipitation of 15 inches (380mm) comes in rain and snow. The summer precipitation accumulation (April through September) averages 10.5 inches (267mm). The average summer high temperature is 75.3 °F (24 °C) and the average minimum temperature during that period is 44.2 °F (6.8 °C). July and August are the hottest months. The annual average high temperature is 60.6 °F (15.9 °C) and the annual average minimum temperature is 33.6 °F (0.9 °C). The coldest temperature recorded in the county in recent times was -47 °F (-43.9 °C) in February 1936, and the warmest was 107 °F (41.7 °C) in July 2002. Big Timber receives 286 sunny days on average.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,862 square miles (4,820 km2), of which 1,855 square miles (4,800 km2) is land and 6.8 square miles (18 km2) (0.4%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19003,086—
19104,02930.6%
19204,92622.3%
19303,944−19.9%
19403,719−5.7%
19503,621−2.6%
19603,290−9.1%
19702,980−9.4%
19803,2167.9%
19903,154−1.9%
20003,60914.4%
20103,6511.2%
2019 (est.)3,737[7]2.4%
US Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2019[1]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census,[12] there were 3,609 people, 1,476 households, and 987 families in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km2). There were 1,860 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.98% White, 0.06% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 1.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.5% were of Norwegian, 21.3% German, 11.4% English, 8.0% Irish and 7.8% American ancestry.

There were 1,476 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.00% were married couples living together, 4.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.10% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.00.

The county population contained 26.00% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 26.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,422, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $28,385 versus $17,245 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,880. About 9.00% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.10% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 3,651 people, 1,590 households, and 1,045 families in the county.[13] The population density was 2.0 inhabitants per square mile (0.77/km2). There were 2,148 housing units at an average density of 1.2 per square mile (0.46/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 96.6% white, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 25.3% were German, 22.6% were Norwegian, 13.0% were American, 12.8% were Irish, 10.8% were English, and 7.3% were Scottish.[15]

Of the 1,590 households, 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.3% were non-families, and 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 46.6 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $43,723 and the median income for a family was $56,552. Males had a median income of $35,385 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,785. About 10.0% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Politics

In Presidential elections Sweet Grass County is among the most consistently Republican counties in the state or nation. The last, and one of the only, times the Democratic candidate carried the county was in 1936 when Franklin D. Roosevelt won every county in Montana. In both the 1916 and 1932 Presidential elections Sweet Grass County was the only county in Montana to be won by the Republican.[17]

Sweet Grass County is also Republican at a local level. Democratic governor Brian Schweitzer has never won a majority of the county's vote and no Democratic gubernatorial candidate has carried the county in decades.[18] In the Montana Senate it is represented by Republican Nels Swandal and in the Montana House of Representatives it is represented by Republican Alan Redfield.[19]

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 75.7% 1,595 19.1% 402 5.2% 110
2012 75.3% 1,594 22.4% 475 2.3% 48
2008 71.7% 1,494 26.0% 541 2.3% 48
2004 76.1% 1,509 22.4% 445 1.5% 29
2000 78.6% 1,450 16.5% 305 4.9% 91
1996 62.2% 1,109 26.3% 469 11.5% 204
1992 48.9% 880 21.9% 395 29.2% 526
1988 71.7% 1,242 26.7% 462 1.7% 29
1984 78.6% 1,417 21.0% 378 0.4% 8
1980 67.2% 1,169 25.3% 440 7.5% 130
1976 68.4% 1,135 30.3% 502 1.3% 22
1972 76.0% 1,260 21.1% 350 2.9% 48
1968 70.0% 1,043 22.6% 336 7.5% 111
1964 56.5% 856 43.1% 653 0.3% 5
1960 67.8% 1,096 32.2% 521 0.0% 0
1956 71.3% 1,129 28.7% 455 0.0% 0
1952 77.2% 1,315 21.8% 372 1.0% 17
1948 61.7% 843 36.5% 499 1.8% 24
1944 62.3% 897 37.0% 533 0.7% 10
1940 53.5% 861 46.0% 741 0.6% 9
1936 43.0% 664 50.7% 783 6.3% 97
1932 49.2% 784 47.7% 761 3.1% 49
1928 72.5% 1,163 27.1% 435 0.4% 7
1924 59.6% 853 17.3% 248 23.1% 331
1920 73.5% 1,035 24.8% 349 1.7% 24
1916 50.2% 890 47.3% 839 2.5% 44
1912 19.2% 181 29.4% 277 51.4% 484
1908 63.8% 526 32.0% 264 4.2% 35
1904 70.5% 538 22.8% 174 6.7% 51

Culture

The county was the setting of the 2009 sheep-herding documentary Sweetgrass. The film takes place in many counties in Montana but the title comes from this county.

Communities

City

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Montana Place Names from Alzada to Zortman. Helena, MT: Montana Historical Society Press. 2009. p. 259.
  4. About Sweet Grass County (accessed January 7, 2019)
  5. Koeppen-Geiger Classification for US counties (accessed January 7, 2019)
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  8. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  14. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  15. "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  16. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  17. Geographie Electorale
  18. David Leip, US Election Atlas
  19. Montana legislative site
  20. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  21. McLeod Post Office MT Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)
  22. Meyers Creek MT Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)

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