Blaine County, Montana

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Blaine County
County
Blaine County Courthouse.JPG
Blaine County Courthouse in Chinook
Map of Montana highlighting Blaine County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Montana in United States.svg
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 48°26′N108°58′W / 48.44°N 108.96°W / 48.44; -108.96
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Montana.svg  Montana
Founded1912
Named for James G. Blaine
Seat Chinook
Largest cityChinook
Area
 • Total4,239 sq mi (10,980 km2)
 • Land4,228 sq mi (10,950 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total7,044
 • Estimate 
(2022)
6,936 Decrease2.svg
 • Density1.7/sq mi (0.64/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website blainecounty-mt.gov
  • Montana county number 24

Blaine County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,044. [1] Its county seat is Chinook. [2] The county was named for James G. Blaine, former United States Secretary of State. It is on the north line of the state, and thus shares the southern border of Canada opposite Saskatchewan.

Contents

History

In 1912 Blaine, Phillips and Hill counties were formed from the area of Chouteau County. The original boundary of Blaine County included a portion of land in the west that is now included in Phillips County.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,239 square miles (10,980 km2), of which 4,228 square miles (10,950 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (0.3%) is water. [3]

The majority of Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is located in the southeastern part of the county. [4]

Features of the area include the Milk River, Bears Paw Mountains, and the Little Rocky Mountains.

Adjacent counties and rural municipalities

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1920 9,057—
1930 9,006−0.6%
1940 9,5666.2%
1950 8,516−11.0%
1960 8,091−5.0%
1970 6,727−16.9%
1980 6,9994.0%
1990 6,728−3.9%
2000 7,0094.2%
2010 6,491−7.4%
2020 7,0448.5%
2022 (est.)6,936 [5] −1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]
1790–1960, [7] 1900–1990, [8]
1990–2000, [9] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 7,044 people living in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 6,491 people, 2,357 households, and 1,604 families living in the county. The population density was 1.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.58 inhabitants/km2). There were 2,843 housing units at an average density of 0.7 units per square mile (0.27 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 49.4% American Indian, 48.2% white, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 23.0% were German, 9.2% were Norwegian, 6.6% were Irish, 5.7% were English, and 2.0% were American.

Of the 2,357 households, 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.9% were non-families, and 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.28. The median age was 35.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,034 and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $32,320 versus $28,986 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,813. About 23.6% of families and 29.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.6% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Blaine County is the nation's most consistent long-term bellwether county, having voted for the winning presidential candidate in all but two of the elections in its history. After backing Theodore Roosevelt against Woodrow Wilson in the county's inaugural 1912 election, Blaine County has been won by the winner of the presidential election in every election except that of 1988, held during the aftermath of a major drought and farm crisis; Michael Dukakis won the county by 58 votes. During two other drought years on the Great Plains, Adlai Stevenson II in 1956 and Gerald Ford in 1976 also came close to breaking the county's streak, losing by even smaller vote margins than George H. W. Bush.

United States presidential election results for Blaine County, Montana [10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 1,52650.55%1,34844.65%1454.80%
2020 1,46947.11%1,58950.96%601.92%
2016 1,26847.24%1,20244.78%2147.97%
2012 1,17841.20%1,61656.52%652.27%
2008 1,13938.93%1,70258.17%852.90%
2004 1,42451.45%1,30046.97%441.59%
2000 1,41051.11%1,24645.16%1033.73%
1996 1,12738.96%1,31645.49%45015.55%
1992 97131.88%1,35544.48%72023.64%
1988 1,40248.15%1,46050.14%501.72%
1984 1,73657.92%1,22941.01%321.07%
1980 1,68656.29%1,10736.96%2026.74%
1976 1,34949.25%1,35649.51%341.24%
1972 1,51354.44%1,15141.42%1154.14%
1968 1,29148.63%1,19845.12%1666.25%
1964 96135.55%1,74264.45%00.00%
1960 1,29044.85%1,56954.55%170.59%
1956 1,46050.38%1,43849.62%00.00%
1952 1,89060.85%1,20738.86%90.29%
1948 99736.28%1,66960.74%822.98%
1944 99039.94%1,46959.26%200.81%
1940 1,16535.02%2,12963.99%330.99%
1936 85127.68%2,16670.46%571.85%
1932 1,06333.64%1,97762.56%1203.80%
1928 1,53756.63%1,16042.74%170.63%
1924 82745.74%33718.64%64435.62%
1920 1,72062.48%84830.80%1856.72%
1916 85739.13%1,26157.58%723.29%
1912 20417.94%31827.97%61554.09%

Economy

The main industry in Blaine County is agriculture. [11] The main employers on the Reservation are the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine tribes. [12]

Education

Aaniiih Nakoda College (formerly Fort Belknap College) is located on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Public high schools in the county include Harlem High School in Harlem, Chinook High School in Chinook, and Turner High School in Turner.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinook, Montana</span> City in Montana, United States

Chinook is a city in and the county seat of Blaine County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,185 at the 2020 census. Points of interest are the Bear Paw Battlefield Museum located in the small town's center and the Bear Paw Battlefield, located 20 miles (32 km) south of Chinook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Belknap Agency, Montana</span> Census-designated place in Montana, United States

Fort Belknap Agency is a census-designated place (CDP) in Blaine County, Montana, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,567. This is a significant increase from the 2010 census which reported 1,293 residents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harlem, Montana</span> City in Montana, United States

Harlem is a city in Blaine County, Montana, United States. The population was 769 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lodge Pole, Montana</span> Census-designated place in Montana, United States

Lodge Pole is a census-designated place (CDP) in Blaine County, Montana, United States. The population was 265 at the 2010 census. It lies within the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, near the reservation's southern end.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loma, Montana</span> Census-designated place in Montana, United States

Loma is a census-designated place (CDP) in Chouteau County, Montana, United States. The population was 85 at the 2010 census.

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  4. ↑ Merrill, Andrea; Judy Jacobson (1997). Montana almanac. Helena MT: Falcon Publishing. p. 7. ISBN   1-56044-493-2.
  5. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  10. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  11. ↑ Maxim Technologies. "Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 14, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  12. ↑ State of Montana, DLI. "Demographic & Economic Information for Fort Belknap Reservation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  13. ↑ Cleveland, Blaine County MT Google Maps (accessed December 31, 2018)
  14. ↑ Lohman, Blaine County MT Google Maps (accessed December 31, 2018)
  15. ↑ North Fork, Blaine County MT Google Maps (accessed December 31, 2018)
  16. ↑ Rattlesnake, Blaine County MT Google Maps (accessed December 31, 2018)
  17. ↑ Savoy, Blaine County MT Google Maps (accessed December 31, 2018)

Further reading

48°26′N108°58′W / 48.44°N 108.96°W / 48.44; -108.96

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