Cascade County, Montana

Cascade County
County
Cascade County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°19′N111°21′W / 47.31°N 111.35°W / 47.31; -111.35
Country	United States
State	Montana
Founded	1887
Named for	Great Falls of the Missouri River
Seat	Great Falls
Largest city	Great Falls
Area
• Total	2,711 sq mi (7,020 km2)
• Land	2,698 sq mi (6,990 km2)
• Water	13 sq mi (30 km2)  0.5%
Population  (2020)
• Total	84,414
• Estimate  (2022)	84,864
• Density	31/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.cascadecountymt.gov
Montana county number 02

Aerial view of Cascade County and Sun River

Cascade County (cascade means waterfall in French) is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 84,414, ^[1] making it the fifth-most populous county in Montana. Its county seat is Great Falls. ^[2]

Cascade County comprises the Great Falls, MT Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

At the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Cascade County was the territory of the Blackfeet. ^[3] The county was named for the falls on the Missouri River. ^[4]

The United States Army once had Fort Shaw as an outpost in the northwest part of the county. Only a small settlement, a CDP, remains by that name.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,711 square miles (7,020 km²), of which 2,698 square miles (6,990 km²) is land and 13 square miles (34 km²) (0.5%) is water. ^[5] The Missouri River and the Sun River flow through the county, and meet at the city of Great Falls. A portion of the Adel Mountains Volcanic Field is in the county's southwest corner. The Rocky Mountains are in the western part of the county, with the Little Belt and Highwood Mountains in the southeast.

Adjacent counties

• Teton County - northwest
• Chouteau County - northeast
• Judith Basin County - east
• Meagher County - south
• Lewis and Clark County - west

National protected areas

• Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge
• Lewis and Clark National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	8,755		—
1900	25,777		194.4%
1910	28,833		11.9%
1920	38,836		34.7%
1930	41,146		5.9%
1940	41,199		0.1%
1950	53,027		28.7%
1960	73,418		38.5%
1970	81,804		11.4%
1980	80,696		−1.4%
1990	77,691		−3.7%
2000	80,357		3.4%
2010	81,327		1.2%
2020	84,414		3.8%
2022 (est.)	84,864	[6]	0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790–1960, [8] 1900–1990, [9] 1990–2000, [10] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, 84,414 people were living in the county.^{[ citation needed ]}

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, 81,327 people, 33,809 households, and 21,403 families in the county. The population density was 30.1 inhabitants per square mile (11.6/km²). There were 37,276 housing units at an average density of 13.8 per square mile (5.3/km²). The county's racial makeup was 89.2% white, 4.3% American Indian, 1.2% black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 28.5% were German, 17.1% were Irish, 12.3% were English, 10.3% were Norwegian, and 4.5% were American.

Of the 33,809 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.7% were non-families, and 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 38.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,389, and the median income for a family was $53,540. Males had a median income of $37,904 versus $27,944 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,963. About 10.9% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Like Lewis & Clark County to the west, Cascade County leans Republican but has voted for Democrats four times since Lyndon Johnson's landslide in 1964. Hubert Humphrey easily won this county in 1968, one of nine counties he won. Barack Obama carried Cascade in 2008 but lost to Mitt Romney in 2012 by 9%. Since 2012, the county has voted Republican by comfortable margins. In 2020, Donald Trump won the county with over 58% of the vote, the best performance by a Republican since 1920. The county continued this trend in 2024, when Trump won nearly 60% of the vote.

In statewide races, Cascade County often acts as a bellwether county. It has been friendlier to Democrats - Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester have carried the county in all of their elections, and Governors Brian Schweitzer and Steve Bullock carried it in all four elections in 2004–2016. Since at least 1984, no Democrat has won in Montana without winning Cascade County, ^[11] however, Republicans have occasionally won statewide without carrying the county, such as former Senator Conrad Burns in 1988 and 2000, ^{[12] [13]} Governors Marc Racicot in 1992 and Judy Martz in 2000, ^{[14] [15]} Secretaries of State Bob Brown in 2000 and Brad Johnson in 2004, ^{[16] [17]} and Attorney General Tim Fox in 2012. ^[18]

United States presidential election results for Cascade County, Montana ^{[19] [20]}

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	22,075	59.62%	13,820	37.33%	1,130	3.05%
2020	23,315	58.46%	15,456	38.75%	1,114	2.79%
2016	19,632	56.79%	12,175	35.22%	2,764	8.00%
2012	18,345	53.06%	15,232	44.05%	999	2.89%
2008	16,857	47.62%	17,664	49.90%	875	2.47%
2004	19,028	56.87%	13,701	40.95%	730	2.18%
2000	18,164	54.52%	13,137	39.43%	2,016	6.05%
1996	14,291	40.82%	15,707	44.87%	5,008	14.31%
1992	12,494	34.16%	14,719	40.24%	9,365	25.60%
1988	15,946	49.64%	15,718	48.93%	460	1.43%
1984	19,846	57.52%	14,252	41.30%	407	1.18%
1980	17,664	54.80%	11,105	34.45%	3,465	10.75%
1976	15,289	50.11%	14,678	48.11%	544	1.78%
1972	16,159	52.40%	12,899	41.83%	1,778	5.77%
1968	11,588	43.23%	13,507	50.39%	1,708	6.37%
1964	8,986	33.64%	17,609	65.92%	119	0.45%
1960	11,928	45.72%	14,117	54.11%	45	0.17%
1956	12,455	52.88%	11,098	47.12%	0	0.00%
1952	12,176	52.09%	11,051	47.28%	146	0.62%
1948	6,830	34.47%	12,082	60.97%	905	4.57%
1944	6,372	36.54%	10,924	62.65%	141	0.81%
1940	6,443	31.70%	13,637	67.10%	244	1.20%
1936	4,077	22.92%	13,325	74.91%	387	2.18%
1932	5,800	34.48%	10,047	59.72%	976	5.80%
1928	8,183	55.08%	6,540	44.02%	133	0.90%
1924	5,081	43.41%	2,220	18.96%	4,405	37.63%
1920	6,808	58.83%	3,938	34.03%	826	7.14%
1916	3,253	30.57%	6,612	62.14%	776	7.29%
1912	1,079	23.72%	1,633	35.90%	1,837	40.38%
1908	1,935	44.86%	1,888	43.77%	490	11.36%
1904	2,405	55.34%	1,385	31.87%	556	12.79%
1900	1,997	42.96%	2,564	55.16%	87	1.87%
1896	953	24.51%	2,920	75.10%	15	0.39%
1892	1,295	45.22%	1,184	41.34%	385	13.44%

Economy

Malmstrom Air Force Base is a driving force in the regional economy. ^[21] In 2009, Benefis, Great Falls Clinic, National Electronics Warranty and Walmart were the largest private employers. ^[21]

Education

The Apollos University, the University of Great Falls, and the MSU College of Technology—Great Falls are all located in Great Falls.

K-12 education

Public school districts include: ^[22]

Secondary:

• Belt High School District
• Cascade High School District
• Great Falls High School District
• Simms High School District
• Centerville High School District

Elementary:

• Belt Elementary School District
• Centerville Elementary School District
• Cascade Elementary School District
• Great Falls Elementary School District
• Sun River Valley Elementary School District
• Ulm Elementary School District
• Vaughn Elementary School District

There is also a state-operated school, Montana School for the Deaf & Blind.

Communities

City

• Great Falls (county seat)

Towns

• Belt
• Cascade
• Neihart

Census-designated places

• Big Stone Colony
• Black Eagle
• Cascade Colony
• Centerville
• Fair Haven Colony
• Fort Shaw
• Gibson Flats
• Hardy
• Malmstrom AFB
• Monarch
• Pleasant Valley Colony
• Riceville
• Sand Coulee
• Simms
• Stockett
• Sun Prairie
• Sun River
• Tracy
• Ulm
• Vaughn

Unincorporated communities

• Adel ^[23]
• Armington ^[24]
• Armington Junction ^[25]
• Ashuelot ^[26]
• Dearborn (partially within Lewis & Clark County) ^[27]
• Eden ^[28]
• Emerson Junction ^[29]
• Gordon ^[30]
• Millegan ^[31]
• Number Seven ^[32]
• Salem ^[33]
• Sheffels ^[34]
• Portage ^[35]

In popular culture

Several motion pictures have been filmed in Great Falls. Many have filmed in Cascade County and Great Falls, and a few in Cascade County (outside the Great Falls city limits). Those films shot in the county and outside Great Falls city limits include:

• Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) ^{[36] [a]}
• The Stone Boy (1984) ^[38]
• The Untouchables (1987) ^{[39] [b]}
• Holy Matrimony (1994) ^{[36] [40]}
• The Slaughter Rule (2002) ^[41]
• Northfork (2003) ^{[41] [42] [c]}
• Iron Ridge (2008) ^{[43] [44] [d]}
• Wildlife (2018) ^[45]

See also

• List of lakes in Cascade County, Montana
• List of mountains in Cascade County, Montana
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Cascade County, Montana

References

Notes

1. Shot in Cascade County and in the city of Great Falls, the film's finale was filmed on Interstate 15 about 15 miles (24 km) north of Craig. ^[37]
2. The U.S.-Canada border crossing scene was filmed at Hardy Bridge. ^[39]
3. Filming occurred at various places around Great Falls, ^[41] including Giant Springs State Park on the immediate outskirts of the city. ^[42]
4. A cabin near Monarch, Montana, was used in one critical filming location. ^[43]

Citations

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 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. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p.  70.
5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
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. "Montana Election Results". Archived from the original on June 2, 2006.
12. "1988 Senatorial General Election Results - Montana". Archived from the original on May 30, 2013.
13. "2000 Senatorial General Election Results - Montana". Archived from the original on May 29, 2013.
14. "1992 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Montana". Archived from the original on November 9, 2008.
15. "2000 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Montana". Archived from the original on June 3, 2006.
16. "2000 Secretary of State General Election Results - Montana". Archived from the original on November 9, 2008.
17. "2004 Secretary of State General Election Results - Montana". Archived from the original on November 9, 2008.
18. "2012 Attorney General General Election Results - Montana". Archived from the original on May 30, 2013.
19. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
20. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 999 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 838 votes.
21. Montana Dept. of Labor and Industry (September 2010). "Demographic & Economic Information for Cascade County" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
22. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cascade County, MT" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022. - Text list
23. Adel, Cascade County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
24. Armington, Cascade County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
25. Armington Junction, Cascade County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
26. Ashuelot, Cascade County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
27. Dearborn, Cascade County MT Google Maps (accessed September 4, 2019)
28. Eden, Cascade County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
29. Emerson Junction, Cascade County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
30. Gordon, Cascade County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
31. Millegan, Cascade County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
32. Number Seven, Cascade County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
33. Salem, Cascade County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
34. Sheffels, Cascade County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
35. Portage, Cascade County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
36. "Montana's best and worst all-time films". Great Falls Tribune. November 6, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
37. "Film Crew to Remain in Montana". The Montana Standard. September 20, 1973. p. 19. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
38. Jones, Robert F. (April 23, 1984). "Robert Duvall". People. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
39. Barth 1991, p. 85.
40. Sherman, David (February 27, 2015). "Leonard Nimoy: on the set of "Holy Matrimony" in Great Falls in 1993". KRTV3.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
41. Inbody, Kristen (December 29, 2016). "'Shot in Montana': Big Sky Cinema is scope of new book". USA Today. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
42. Gaiser, Heidi (March 3, 2007). "Family Men". The Daily Inter Lake. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
43. Skornogoski, Kim (June 13, 2006). "Getting One's Life Experience On Film No Easy Task For Great Falls' Brumbaugh". Great Falls Tribune. p. M1.
44. Douglas, Patrick (March 28, 2008). "Montana-made film debuts in Great Falls". Great Falls Tribune. p. A1.
45. McCarthy, Todd (January 20, 2018). "'Wildlife': Film Review | Sundance 2018". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved June 9, 2021.

Bibliography

• Barth, Jack (1991). Roadside Hollywood: The Movie Lover's State-By-State Guide to Film Locations, Celebrity Hangouts, Celluloid Tourist Attractions, and More. Chicago: Contemporary Books. ISBN   9780809243266.

External links

• Cascade County official website

47°19′N111°21′W / 47.31°N 111.35°W / 47.31; -111.35