Powell County, Montana

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Powell County
Powell County Courthouse 05.jpg
Powell County Courthouse, Deer Lodge
Map of Montana highlighting Powell County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Montana in United States.svg
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°51′N112°56′W / 46.85°N 112.94°W / 46.85; -112.94
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Montana.svg Montana
FoundedFebruary 2, 1901 [1]
Named after Mount Powell, which was named in turn for John Wesley Powell
Seat Deer Lodge
Largest cityDeer Lodge
Area
  Total
2,333 sq mi (6,040 km2)
  Land2,326 sq mi (6,020 km2)
  Water6.3 sq mi (16 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
6,946
  Estimate 
(2024)
7,120 Increase2.svg
  Density3.0/sq mi (1.1/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
  Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 1st
Website www.powellcountymt.gov/ez/index.php
  • Montana county number 28

Powell County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,946. [2] Its county seat is Deer Lodge. [3]

Contents

Geography

Powell County countryside, near Avon, Montana. Beaverslide Haystack Avon 07.jpg
Powell County countryside, near Avon, Montana.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,332.7 square miles (6,042 km2), of which 2,326.4 square miles (6,025 km2) is land and 6.3 square miles (16 km2) (0.3%) is water. [4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1910 5,904
1920 6,90917.0%
1930 6,202−10.2%
1940 6,152−0.8%
1950 6,3012.4%
1960 7,00211.1%
1970 6,660−4.9%
1980 6,9584.5%
1990 6,620−4.9%
2000 7,1808.5%
2010 7,027−2.1%
2020 6,946−1.2%
2024 (est.)7,120 [5] 2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]
1790–1960, [7] 1900–1990, [8]
1990–2000, [9] 2010–2020 [2]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 6,946 people living in the county.[ citation needed ]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 7,027 people, 2,466 households, and 1,582 families in the county. The population density was 3.0 inhabitants per square mile (1.2/km2). There were 3,105 housing units at an average density of 1.3 units per square mile (0.50 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.4% white, 4.4% American Indian, 1.0% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 27.9% were German, 19.1% were Irish, 14.6% were English, 8.5% were Norwegian, and 4.7% were American.

Of the 2,466 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.8% were non-families, and 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.79. The median age was 45.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,851 and the median income for a family was $45,339. Males had a median income of $30,163 versus $24,837 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,849. About 12.3% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.4% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The current Montana State Prison facility is located in an unincorporated area in the county, near Deer Lodge. [10]

Powell County voters have supported Republican Party candidates in every national election since 1964.

United States presidential election results for Powell County, Montana [11] [12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
1904 72160.54%42235.43%484.03%
1908 59949.63%56046.40%483.98%
1912 33523.18%54537.72%56539.10%
1916 93939.75%1,34056.73%833.51%
1920 1,34557.19%78733.46%2209.35%
1924 98240.39%55922.99%89036.61%
1928 1,56859.80%1,03139.32%230.88%
1932 1,03134.42%1,86962.40%953.17%
1936 79927.42%2,06070.69%551.89%
1940 1,11638.46%1,76560.82%210.72%
1944 1,10041.59%1,52757.73%180.68%
1948 1,16343.49%1,42753.37%843.14%
1952 1,78357.85%1,28141.56%180.58%
1956 1,68358.09%1,21441.91%00.00%
1960 1,49749.49%1,52250.31%60.20%
1964 1,14037.50%1,89662.37%40.13%
1968 1,30147.50%1,20644.03%2328.47%
1972 1,72059.68%1,05036.43%1123.89%
1976 1,61054.56%1,30244.12%391.32%
1980 1,77059.14%88329.50%34011.36%
1984 1,87762.32%1,06635.39%692.29%
1988 1,57456.31%1,17442.00%471.68%
1992 1,05836.01%98933.66%89130.33%
1996 1,27445.47%95233.98%57620.56%
2000 1,97169.60%63822.53%2237.87%
2004 1,99370.42%76126.89%762.69%
2008 1,68359.81%1,02136.28%1103.91%
2012 1,80665.03%88831.98%832.99%
2016 2,02972.62%55119.72%2147.66%
2020 2,35574.08%75223.66%722.26%
2024 2,46675.14%71021.63%1063.23%

Communities

City

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Education

Elementary school districts include: [17]

All areas in the county are in the Powell County High School District. [17]

Deer Lodge School District has two components: Deer Lodge Elementary School District and Powell County High School District. [18]

See also

References

  1. Powell County History
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  5. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  9. "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.
  10. Montana State Prison Archived November 19, 2010, at the Wayback Machine . Montana Department of Corrections. Retrieved on December 2, 2010. "Address: 400 Conley Lake Road; Deer Lodge, MT; 59722"
  11. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  12. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 418 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 147 votes.
  13. Danielsville MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)
  14. Jens MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)
  15. Pioneer MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)
  16. Wall City MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)
  17. 1 2 "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Powell County, MT" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved November 9, 2024. - Text list
  18. "Directory of Montana Schools". Montana Office of Public Instruction. November 9, 2024. pp. 84-85/319. Retrieved November 9, 2024.

46°51′N112°56′W / 46.85°N 112.94°W / 46.85; -112.94