Carter County, Montana

Last updated

Carter County
Ekalaka MT Carter County Courthouse.jpg
Carter County Courthouse in Ekalaka
Map of Montana highlighting Carter County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Montana in United States.svg
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°30′N104°32′W / 45.5°N 104.54°W / 45.5; -104.54
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Montana.svg Montana
Founded1917
Named after Thomas H. Carter
Seat Ekalaka
Largest townEkalaka
Area
  Total
3,348 sq mi (8,670 km2)
  Land3,341 sq mi (8,650 km2)
  Water7.5 sq mi (19 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
1,415
  Estimate 
(2024)
1,399 Decrease2.svg
  Density0.42/sq mi (0.16/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
  Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website www.cartercountymt.info
  • Montana county number 42
Aragonite specimen from Carter County Aragonite-4jb19-lc113b.jpg
Aragonite specimen from Carter County

Carter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,415, [1] making it the seventh-least populous county in Montana. The county seat is Ekalaka. [2]

Contents

History

Carter County was named for Thomas Henry Carter, the state's first congressman (representative in Congress from the Montana Territory, followed by first representative from the state of Montana to the US House of Representatives). Prior to settlement the land of Carter County was occupied by the Sioux tribe. [3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,348 square miles (8,670 km2), of which 3,341 square miles (8,650 km2) is land and 7.5 square miles (19 km2) (0.2%) is water. [4]

Medicine Rocks State Park is located 14 miles north of Ekalaka. Weathering has given the rocks an unusual texture. The site was used by Indian hunting parties. [5]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1920 3,972
1930 4,1364.1%
1940 3,280−20.7%
1950 2,798−14.7%
1960 2,493−10.9%
1970 1,956−21.5%
1980 1,799−8.0%
1990 1,503−16.5%
2000 1,360−9.5%
2010 1,160−14.7%
2020 1,41522.0%
2024 (est.)1,399 [6] −1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1790–1960, [8] 1900–1990, [9]
1990–2000, [10] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 1,415 people and 628 households in Carter County. [11] Of the population, 96.7% were White, 0.2% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.1% Asian, and 1.9% two or more races. 1.1% were Hispanic. 1.0% had a different primary language to English. The county was 50.1% female, 49.9% male. [11]

The median household income was $48,000, $6,970 below the median of Montana. 61.7% of the population aged over 16 were in the civilian labor force. 14.7% of the population were classed as living in poverty. 2.4% of the population had a disability. 92.5% of the population graduated high school, with 20.2% obtaining a bachelor's degree or higher. 86.5% of households had a computer, with 77.9% having broadband access. [11]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,160 people, 532 households, and 354 families living in the county. The population density was 0.3 inhabitants per square mile (0.12/km2). There were 810 housing units at an average density of 0.2 per square mile (0.077/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.8% white, 0.9% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 41.5% were German, 19.6% were English, 18.8% were Norwegian, 12.3% were Irish, and 4.3% were American.

Of the 532 households, 20.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.5% were non-families, and 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.65. The median age was 50.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,703 and the median income for a family was $47,955. Males had a median income of $26,736 versus $18,274 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,681. About 8.5% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Carter County has voted for the Republican candidate in every presidential election since 1952, with Harry S. Truman being the last Democrat to carry the county.

United States presidential election results for Carter County, Montana [12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
1920 78266.84%34229.23%463.93%
1924 66954.17%28322.91%28322.91%
1928 76364.01%42035.23%90.76%
1932 56537.39%91560.56%312.05%
1936 46432.81%92965.70%211.49%
1940 55643.03%73456.81%20.15%
1944 50745.35%61054.56%10.09%
1948 50146.22%56852.40%151.38%
1952 92172.12%35127.49%50.39%
1956 69861.55%43638.45%00.00%
1960 68864.00%38335.63%40.37%
1964 57655.98%45344.02%00.00%
1968 62462.21%26926.82%11010.97%
1972 72673.86%21822.18%393.97%
1976 55857.41%34435.39%707.20%
1980 76672.40%23722.40%555.20%
1984 82380.06%19418.87%111.07%
1988 68672.82%24225.69%141.49%
1992 49756.86%15417.62%22325.51%
1996 52268.24%15019.61%9312.16%
2000 57388.84%538.22%192.95%
2004 62387.87%7610.72%101.41%
2008 57379.36%11115.37%385.26%
2012 67885.18%9612.06%222.76%
2016 67886.26%708.91%384.83%
2020 77589.70%748.56%151.74%
2024 76088.99%758.78%192.22%

Communities

Town

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Former communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Merrill, Andrea; Judy Jacobson (1997). Montana almanac. Helena MT: Falcon Publishing. ISBN   1-56044-493-2.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  5. Visit MT. "Medicine Rocks State Park". Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  6. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  10. "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.
  11. 1 2 3 "Carter County, Montana; Montana". census.gov. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  12. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  13. Albion, Carter County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
  14. Belltower, Carter County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
  15. Boyes, Carter County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
  16. Ridge, Carter County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)

45°30′N104°32′W / 45.50°N 104.54°W / 45.50; -104.54