Prairie County, Montana

Last updated

Prairie County
County
Typical.Snowday.Terry.JPG
Downtown Terry, Montana during a typical snowy day.
Map of Montana highlighting Prairie 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′N105°22′W / 46.85°N 105.37°W / 46.85; -105.37
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Montana.svg Montana
FoundedFebruary 5, 1915
Named after Prairie landscape
Seat Terry
Largest townTerry
Area
 • Total
1,743 sq mi (4,510 km2)
 • Land1,737 sq mi (4,500 km2)
 • Water5.8 sq mi (15 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,088
 • Estimate 
(2024)
1,112 Increase2.svg
 • Density0.6/sq mi (0.2/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website visitterrymt.com (Terry Chamber of Commerce)
  • Montana county number 45

Prairie County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,088, [1] making it the fifth-least populous county in Montana. [2] Its county seat is Terry. [3] Prairie County was created by the Montana Legislature in 1915 out of parts of Custer, Dawson, and Fallon Counties. The name was selected in a contest and reflects the predominant landscape of the region. [4]

Contents

The county was the site of the 1938 Custer Creek train wreck that killed 47 people and injured 75.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,743 square miles (4,510 km2), of which 1,737 square miles (4,500 km2) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km2) (0.3%) is water. [5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1920 3,684—
1930 3,9417.0%
1940 2,410−38.8%
1950 2,377−1.4%
1960 2,318−2.5%
1970 1,752−24.4%
1980 1,8364.8%
1990 1,383−24.7%
2000 1,199−13.3%
2010 1,179−1.7%
2020 1,088−7.7%
2024 (est.)1,112 [6] 2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1790–1960, [8] 1900–1990, [9]
1990–2000, [10] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 1,088 people living in the county.[ citation needed ]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,179 people, 551 households, and 342 families in the county. The population density was 0.7 inhabitants per square mile (0.27/km2). There were 673 housing units at an average density of 0.4 per square mile (0.15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.4% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 44.7% were German, 18.6% were Norwegian, 14.1% were American, 11.8% were Irish, and 9.5% were English.

Of the 551 households, 18.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.9% were non-families, and 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.67. The median age was 53.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,896 and the median income for a family was $43,500. Males had a median income of $28,438 versus $21,964 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,296. About 12.4% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.6% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voters in Prairie County have voted for Republican Party candidates in all national elections since 1948 (as of 2024).

United States presidential election results for Prairie County, Montana [11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1916 53545.38%62252.76%221.87%
1920 88176.68%24221.06%262.26%
1924 68356.21%16213.33%37030.45%
1928 96870.20%40529.37%60.44%
1932 63445.71%73252.78%211.51%
1936 45433.31%87764.34%322.35%
1940 59751.42%55447.72%100.86%
1944 59855.68%46843.58%80.74%
1948 49947.89%52750.58%161.54%
1952 77169.21%33830.34%50.45%
1956 63761.25%40338.75%00.00%
1960 64965.75%33834.25%00.00%
1964 55552.96%48846.56%50.48%
1968 63567.77%27028.82%323.42%
1972 68568.57%30330.33%111.10%
1976 59758.59%41540.73%70.69%
1980 58062.57%28330.53%646.90%
1984 69369.93%28929.16%90.91%
1988 54160.11%34338.11%161.78%
1992 41248.13%26030.37%18421.50%
1996 41753.46%25933.21%10413.33%
2000 54172.52%16421.98%415.50%
2004 54674.18%18124.59%91.22%
2008 50368.44%21128.71%212.86%
2012 52073.97%16723.76%162.28%
2016 55680.70%10014.51%334.79%
2020 60381.05%12616.94%152.02%
2024 54679.25%12217.71%213.05%

Communities

Town

Census-designated place

Other communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Montana Counties by Population (2024)". www.montana-demographics.com. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Montana Place Names Companion". Montana Place Names From Alzada to Zortman. Montana Historical Society Research Center. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
  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. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  12. ↑ Crow Rock MT Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)
  13. ↑ McCloud MT Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)

46°51′N105°22′W / 46.85°N 105.37°W / 46.85; -105.37

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