Liberty County, Montana

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Liberty County
County
Liberty County Courthouse2.JPG
Liberty County Courthouse in Chester
Map of Montana highlighting Liberty County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Montana in United States.svg
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 48°33′N111°02′W / 48.55°N 111.03°W / 48.55; -111.03
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Montana.svg Montana
FoundedFebruary 11, 1920 [1]
Named after Liberty
Seat Chester
Largest townChester
Area
 • Total
1,447 sq mi (3,750 km2)
 • Land1,430 sq mi (3,700 km2)
 • Water17 sq mi (40 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,959
 • Estimate 
(2024)
1,934 Decrease2.svg
 • Density1.4/sq mi (0.52/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website www.co.liberty.mt.us
  • Montana county number 48

Liberty County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,959. [2] Its county seat is Chester. [3] The decision to separate the future Liberty County area from the previous Hill and Chouteau counties was carried in a 1919 vote; the organization was authorized to commence in the following February. [1] [4]

Contents

The southwestern corner of Liberty County holds Tiber Dam, a popular tourist and recreation area.

Geography

Liberty County is on the state's north line, so that it shares the US border with Canada. It abuts the Canadian province of Alberta. According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,447 square miles (3,750 km2), of which 1,430 square miles (3,700 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (1.2%) is water. [5]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1920 2,416—
1930 2,198−9.0%
1940 2,2090.5%
1950 2,180−1.3%
1960 2,62420.4%
1970 2,359−10.1%
1980 2,329−1.3%
1990 2,295−1.5%
2000 2,158−6.0%
2010 2,3398.4%
2020 1,959−16.2%
2024 (est.)1,934 [6] −1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1790–1960 [8] 1900–1990 [9]
1990–2000 [10] 2010–2020 [2]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 1,959 people living in the county.[ citation needed ]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 2,339 people, 822 households, and 537 families living in the county. The population density was 1.6 inhabitants per square mile (0.62/km2). There were 1,043 housing units at an average density of 0.7 units per square mile (0.27 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.2% white, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 55.4% were German, 24.1% were Norwegian, 14.5% were Irish, 9.9% were English, and 1.4% were American.

Of the 822 households, 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.7% were non-families, and 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 44.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,212 and the median income for a family was $44,957. Males had a median income of $35,788 versus $30,714 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,097. About 12.4% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.6% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census record

Researchers William P. O'Hare and Kenneth M. Johnson described the county as typical of the northern Great Plains in being very thinly settled, almost fully dependent on agriculture, and lacking in urban areas. They noted that income can fluctuate substantially from year to year, depending on rainfall (which affects harvest yields) as well as grain and cattle prices, and that the 2000 Census recorded low incomes in 1999 after several years of drought. Also, the presence of Hutterite colonies in the county depresses per capita incomes because Hutterite families have significantly more children than the general population. [11]

Politics

As of 2024 Liberty County is a solid Republican county.

United States presidential election results for Liberty County, Montana [12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1920 75763.61%33127.82%1028.57%
1924 23933.71%14119.89%32946.40%
1928 44656.74%33242.24%81.02%
1932 25224.95%73172.38%272.67%
1936 27625.92%75871.17%312.91%
1940 43443.66%55055.33%101.01%
1944 39346.67%44052.26%91.07%
1948 35438.23%54258.53%303.24%
1952 67161.67%41137.78%60.55%
1956 60155.19%48844.81%00.00%
1960 59754.27%50145.55%20.18%
1964 53346.15%61953.59%30.26%
1968 67058.57%39034.09%847.34%
1972 80865.43%36529.55%625.02%
1976 63854.86%50643.51%191.63%
1980 87269.43%28322.53%1018.04%
1984 89572.82%32326.28%110.90%
1988 77163.82%41834.60%191.57%
1992 51242.28%32126.51%37831.21%
1996 63454.56%37932.62%14912.82%
2000 75272.03%24323.28%494.69%
2004 73471.06%28127.20%181.74%
2008 59459.34%36736.66%404.00%
2012 70270.34%25725.75%393.91%
2016 69872.63%20621.44%575.93%
2020 82175.81%24922.99%131.20%
2024 75276.11%21421.66%222.23%

Communities

Town

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Montana County Formation Table". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "History". Liberty County. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  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 28, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 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 28, 2014.
  11. ↑ Facing Child Poverty in Rural America Archived February 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine by William P. O'Hare and Kenneth M. Johnson, Population Reference Bureau, January 2004
  12. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  13. ↑ Hill MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  14. ↑ Lothair MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  15. ↑ Tiber MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)

48°33′N111°02′W / 48.55°N 111.03°W / 48.55; -111.03

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