Glacier County, Montana

Glacier County
U.S. county
Glacier County Courthouse in Cut Bank
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 48°42′N113°01′W / 48.7°N 113.02°W / 48.7; -113.02
Country	United States
State	Montana
Founded	1919
Named for	The glaciers in Glacier National Park
Seat	Cut Bank
Largest city	Cut Bank
Area
• Total	3,037 sq mi (7,870 km2)
• Land	2,996 sq mi (7,760 km2)
• Water	41 sq mi (110 km2)  1.40%
Population  (2010)
• Total	13,399
• Estimate  (2019)	13,753
• Density	4.4/sq mi (1.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	At-large
Website	www.glaciercountymt.org
Montana county number 38

Glacier County is located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 13,399. ^[1] The county is located in northwestern Montana between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, known to the Blackfeet as the "Backbone of the World". The county is geographically and culturally diverse and includes the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Glacier National Park, and Lewis and Clark National Forest. The county is bordered by 75 miles of international boundary with two ports of entry (Piegan and Del Bonita) open year-round and one seasonal (Chief Mountain) international border crossing into Alberta, Canada.

Settlements

Several small unincorporated communities, one incorporated town, and one incorporated city are located within the county.

Cut Bank, the county seat ^[2] with a population of around 3000, is located in eastern Glacier County, on the edge of the Great Plains. Cut Bank arose from the railroad ^[3] and agriculture needs of the surrounding area, and was fostered by an oil boom in the 1920s. ^[4] The town's diverse population is the result of this settlement. Town resources include a hospital and clinic, a historic airport with regional and international connections, a nine-hole golf course, and a swimming pool. Nearby sites of the Lewis and Clark expedition and other historic and prehistoric sites can be visited. The Glacier County Museum has a collection of area artifacts, historic buildings, community memorabilia, and a comprehensive archive of early area history and individuals, including a large collection of data on Blackfeet history.

Browning is the home and government seat of the Blackfeet Tribe. ^[5] The incorporated portion of Browning, at 1,400, does not reflect the population of 7,000 in the community that is largely representative of the Blackfeet Tribe on a part of their ancestral homeland dating back over 400 years. Town resources include a federal building, community college, Native American Museum and Heritage Center, casino, fairgrounds, race track, and Native American camp area that hosts an annual Native American celebration and pow-wow. Many events center on this area during the summer months. Blackfeet tribal fishing and recreational permits, along with guide and tour services to blue ribbon trout fishing and other recreational opportunities, can be found there.

Babb is a small unincorporated farming and ranching community on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The community experiences a large influx of tourists in the summer months as it is the gateway to the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park. Community infrastructure includes one school, a US post office, a fire station, a general store and motel, several restaurants, two churches, and a gas station. Nearby attractions include Glacier National Park, the Many Glacier Hotel, the St. Mary River, the St. Mary Irrigation Canal, Chief Mountain, and the US ports of entry of Piegan and Chief Mountain.

East Glacier Park Village, a small winter community, grows in the summer with many visitors and the summer help from all parts of the globe that meet the needs of the larger population. It is the site of the largest of Glacier Park's historic hotels and fleet of “red buses”. It has a nine-hole golf course, campgrounds, trail rides, boat rides, and native interpretive tours.

St. Mary is an unincorporated community on the western border of the Blackfeet Native American Reservation adjacent to Glacier National Park. The village is the eastern terminus of the Going-to-the-Sun Road which bisects the park east to west, a distance of 53 miles (85 km). Fewer than 50 people reside in the village year-round; however, the population increases tenfold on a busy summer evening. It has several lodges, restaurants and cafés, a small grocery store, two gas stations and campgrounds. A large housing area for National Park Service personnel is located adjacent to the village, but within the park. U.S. Route 89 passes through the village, which lies between Saint Mary Lake in Glacier National Park and Lower St. Mary Lake on the Blackfeet Native American Reservation.

Starr School is a census-designated place (CDP) in Glacier County. The population was 252 at the 2010 census.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,037 square miles (7,870 km²), of which 2,996 square miles (7,760 km²) is land and 41 square miles (110 km²) (1.3%) is water. ^[6] About 71% of the county's land area lies within the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Another 21% lies within Glacier National Park in western Glacier County.

Adjacent counties

• Flathead County - west
• Pondera County - south
• Toole County - east
• Cardston County, Alberta - north
• Improvement District No. 4, Alberta (Waterton Lakes National Park) - northwest
• County of Warner No. 5, Alberta - northeast

National protected areas

• Glacier National Park (part)
• Lewis and Clark National Forest (part)

Politics

Owing largely to its majority Native American population, Glacier County generally votes Democratic, in contrast with most other rural Montana counties, which trend Republican.

Presidential elections results

Presidential elections results ^[7]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2016	31.9% 1,620	61.5%3,121	6.6% 334
2012	31.8% 1,415	65.6%2,924	2.6% 116
2008	29.2% 1,451	68.9%3,423	2.0% 97
2004	40.1% 1,828	57.9%2,641	2.0% 93
2000	41.4% 1,709	53.6%2,211	5.0% 204
1996	31.0% 1,270	56.0%2,292	13.0% 533
1992	28.3% 1,222	48.0%2,076	23.7% 1,025
1988	43.2% 1,728	53.7%2,151	3.1% 125
1984	50.2%2,228	48.9% 2,167	0.9% 40
1980	55.8%2,283	34.1% 1,394	10.2% 416
1976	50.8%1,892	47.1% 1,755	2.1% 77
1972	56.1%2,143	38.5% 1,469	5.4% 207
1968	44.8% 1,643	46.9%1,723	8.3% 305
1964	39.4% 1,458	60.0%2,218	0.6% 21
1960	44.0% 1,775	56.0%2,260	0.1% 4
1956	53.0%2,054	47.0% 1,822	0.0% 0
1952	54.7%2,061	45.1% 1,698	0.3% 10
1948	35.3% 1,238	63.8%2,238	0.9% 32
1944	36.3% 1,228	63.4%2,142	0.3% 9
1940	36.0% 1,352	63.8%2,399	0.2% 9
1936	23.9% 781	75.1%2,453	1.0% 31
1932	28.8% 702	70.4%1,717	0.8% 20
1928	46.4% 847	53.5%976	0.2% 3
1924	41.7%586	36.3% 511	22.0% 309
1920	69.1%1,297	28.3% 531	2.6% 48

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1920	4,178		—
1930	5,297		26.8%
1940	9,034		70.5%
1950	9,645		6.8%
1960	11,565		19.9%
1970	10,783		−6.8%
1980	10,628		−1.4%
1990	12,121		14.0%
2000	13,247		9.3%
2010	13,447		1.5%
2019 (est.)	13,753	[8]	2.3%
US Decennial Census [9] 1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11] 1990-2000 [12] 2010-2019 [1]

2000 census

At the 2000 United States Census, ^[13] there were 13,247 people, 4,304 households and 3,245 families in the county. The population density was 4 per square mile (2/km²). There were 5,243 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 35.43% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 61.80% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 2.39% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 11.3% were of German ancestry. 90.1% spoke English, 6.0% Blackfoot and 3.6% German as their first language.

There were 4,304 households, of which 42.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.56.

The county population contained 34.9% under age 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.

The median household income was $27,921 and the median family income was $31,193. Males had a median income of $27,445 compared $23,036 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,597. About 23.5% of families and 27.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 20.1% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 13,399 people, 4,361 households, and 3,088 families residing in the county. ^[14] The population density was 4.5 inhabitants per square mile (1.7/km²). There were 5,348 housing units at an average density of 1.8 per square mile (0.69/km²). ^[15] The racial makeup of the county was 65.6% Native American, 31.1% white, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population. ^[14] In terms of ancestry, 13.6% were German, 7.2% were Irish, 5.6% were Norwegian, and 1.4% were American. ^[16]

Of the 4,361 households, 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.2% were non-families, and 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.49. The median age was 31.7 years. ^[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $38,075 and the median income for a family was $44,397. Males had a median income of $31,700 versus $30,594 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,053. About 21.4% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.0% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over. ^[17]

Communities

The sign for Glacier County on U.S. Route 2

City

• Cut Bank (county seat)

Town

• Browning

Census-designated places

• Babb
• East Glacier Park Village
• Little Browning
• North Browning
• Santa Rita
• South Browning
• Starr School

Unincorporated communities

• Big Sky Colony ^[18]
• Bison ^[19]
• Blackfoot ^[20]
• False Summit ^[21]
• Fort Piegan ^[22]
• Glacier Colony ^[23]
• Gunsight ^[24]
• Hidden Lake Colony ^[25]
• Kiowa ^[26]
• Meriwether ^[27]
• Piegan ^[28]
• Rising Sun ^[29]
• Saint Mary
• Star ^[30]
• Summit ^[31]
• Sundance ^[32]
• Swift Current ^[33]

See also

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

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. History of Cut Bank Cut Bank Chamber of Commerce (accessed January 2, 2019)
4. Glacier County Historical Museum (accessed January 2, 2019)
5. "Welcome to Blackfeet Country ~Browning Montana~ Glacier Park". www.blackfeetcountry.com. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
7. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates" . Retrieved October 23, 2020.
9. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
13. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. "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.
15. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
16. "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.
17. "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.
18. Big Sky Colony, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
19. Bison, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
20. Blackfoot, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
21. False Summit, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
22. Fort Piegan, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
23. Glacier Colony MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
24. Gunsight, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
25. Hidden Lake Colony, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
26. Kiowa, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
27. Meriwether, Glacier MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
28. Piegan, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
29. Rising Sun, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
30. Star, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
31. Summit, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
32. Sundance, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
33. Swiftcurrent, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)

Coordinates: 48°42′N113°01′W / 48.70°N 113.02°W / 48.70; -113.02