McCone County, Montana

Last updated

McCone County, Montana
Gladstone Hotel (2013).jpg
Map of Montana highlighting McCone County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Montana in United States.svg
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°39′N105°48′W / 47.65°N 105.8°W / 47.65; -105.8
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Montana.svg Montana
Founded1919
Seat Circle
Largest townCircle
Area
  Total
2,683 sq mi (6,950 km2)
  Land2,643 sq mi (6,850 km2)
  Water40 sq mi (100 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
1,729
  Estimate 
(2024)
1,717 Decrease2.svg
  Density0.6542/sq mi (0.2526/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
  Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website mcconecountymt.com
  • Montana county number 41

McCone County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,729. [1] Its county seat is Circle. [2]

Contents

The county was created in 1919. It was named for State Senator George McCone, [3] who had been one of the first county commissioners of Dawson County. [4]

Geography

Typical McCone County landscape. McCone Geography.jpg
Typical McCone County landscape.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,683 square miles (6,950 km2), of which 2,643 square miles (6,850 km2) is land and 40 square miles (100 km2) (1.5%) is water. [5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1920 4,747
1930 4,7900.9%
1940 3,744−21.8%
1950 3,258−13.0%
1960 3,3211.9%
1970 2,875−13.4%
1980 2,702−6.0%
1990 2,276−15.8%
2000 1,977−13.1%
2010 1,734−12.3%
2020 1,729−0.3%
2024 (est.)1,717 [6] −0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1790–1960, [8] 1900–1990, [9]
1990–2000, [10] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,729. Of the residents, 21.7% were under the age of 18 and 23.6% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 46.2 years. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.9 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas. [11] [12] [13]

The racial makeup of the county was 92.9% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.9% from some other race, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.9% of the population. [13]

There were 747 households in the county, of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 18.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [12]

There were 1,025 housing units, of which 27.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.6% were owner-occupied and 19.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.7%. [12]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,734 people, 774 households, and 514 families living in the county. The population density was 0.7 inhabitants per square mile (0.27 inhabitants/km2), the 10th lowest in the United States. There were 1,008 housing units at an average density of 0.4 units per square mile (0.15 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.0% white, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 44.5% were German, 23.1% were Norwegian, 12.7% were American, 12.0% were Irish, and 8.8% were English.

Of the 774 households, 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples living together, 3.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.6% were non-families, and 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.77. The median age was 48.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,167 and the median income for a family was $56,406. Males had a median income of $33,185 versus $26,454 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,265. About 5.9% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Looking south on MT 13 toward Vida. MThwy13.jpg
Looking south on MT 13 toward Vida.

Town

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Politics

McCone county is a solid Republican county. In the 2004 Presidential Election McCone County gave 69.6% of its votes to President George W. Bush and 28.1% to Senator John Kerry. In the 2012 presidential election Governor Mitt Romney received 75.0% of the county's votes, while President Barack Obama only received 22.5% of the votes.

United States presidential election results for McCone County, Montana [16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
%%%
1920 1,17762.01%53728.29%1849.69%
1924 49438.18%14311.05%65750.77%
1928 94661.87%55436.23%291.90%
1932 45626.34%1,02058.93%25514.73%
1936 33219.09%1,36678.55%412.36%
1940 52935.24%92861.83%442.93%
1944 52639.85%76357.80%312.35%
1948 51837.78%70251.20%15111.01%
1952 90056.32%67442.18%241.50%
1956 75245.83%88954.17%00.00%
1960 74349.04%76450.43%80.53%
1964 61540.81%89159.12%10.07%
1968 73352.17%58941.92%835.91%
1972 85458.29%56238.36%493.34%
1976 73048.70%74949.97%201.33%
1980 1,00067.98%34923.73%1228.29%
1984 1,01567.80%45930.66%231.54%
1988 81458.18%56740.53%181.29%
1992 52839.00%42431.31%40229.69%
1996 61548.96%39031.05%25119.98%
2000 82772.42%26723.38%484.20%
2004 79169.57%32028.14%262.29%
2008 72666.54%32129.42%444.03%
2012 74575.03%22322.46%252.52%
2016 86278.72%15414.06%797.21%
2020 95684.75%15513.74%171.51%
2024 93186.04%12911.92%222.03%

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. "McCone County - Home". www.mccone.mt.gov. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  4. Bill Babcock (August 1987). "Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory: McCone Residence / Dobson Residence". National Park Service . Retrieved July 9, 2017. With two photos from 1987.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 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 29, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 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 29, 2014.
  11. "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  12. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  13. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  14. Nickwall MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
  15. Weldon MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
  16. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.

47°39′N105°48′W / 47.65°N 105.80°W / 47.65; -105.80