Wheatland County, Montana

Wheatland County
County
Wheatland County Courthouse in Harlowton
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°28′N109°50′W / 46.47°N 109.84°W / 46.47; -109.84
Country	United States
State	Montana
Founded	February 22, 1917
Named for	wheat growing
Seat	Harlowton
Largest city	Harlowton
Area
• Total	1,428 sq mi (3,700 km2)
• Land	1,423 sq mi (3,690 km2)
• Water	5.0 sq mi (13 km2)  0.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,069
• Estimate  (2022)	2,032
• Density	1.4/sq mi (0.56/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.harlowtonchamber.com
Montana county number 44

Wheatland County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,069. ^[1] Its county seat is Harlowton. ^[2] Wheatland County was established on February 22, 1917, with areas partitioned from Meagher and Sweet Grass counties. It was named for the abundant wheat-growing areas across the center portion of the new county's area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,428 square miles (3,700 km²), of which 1,423 square miles (3,690 km²) is land and 5.0 square miles (13 km²) (0.4%) is water. ^[3]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 12
• U.S. Highway 191
• Montana Highway 3

Adjacent counties

• Judith Basin County - north
• Fergus County - north
• Golden Valley County - east
• Sweet Grass County - south
• Meagher County - west

National protected area

• Lewis and Clark National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	5,619		—
1930	3,751		−33.2%
1940	3,286		−12.4%
1950	3,187		−3.0%
1960	3,026		−5.1%
1970	2,529		−16.4%
1980	2,359		−6.7%
1990	2,246		−4.8%
2000	2,259		0.6%
2010	2,168		−4.0%
2020	2,069		−4.6%
2022 (est.)	2,032	[4]	−1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [5] 1790–1960, [6] 1900–1990, [7] 1990–2000, [8] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 2,069 people living in the county.^{[ citation needed ]}

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 2,168 people, 887 households, and 538 families in the county. The population density was 1.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.58/km²). There were 1,197 housing units at an average density of 0.8 per square mile (0.31/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.8% white, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.4% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 35.2% were American, 22.7% were German, 14.1% were English, 11.5% were Irish, and 6.6% were Norwegian.

Of the 887 households, 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.3% were non-families, and 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 44.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,321 and the median income for a family was $41,161. Males had a median income of $30,769 versus $17,083 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,474. About 5.1% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 27.6% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Wheatland County voters have selected the Republican Party candidate in every national election since 1964 (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for Wheatland County, Montana ^[9]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	843	77.62%	209	19.24%	34	3.13%
2020	823	77.06%	225	21.07%	20	1.87%
2016	702	74.21%	179	18.92%	65	6.87%
2012	693	69.86%	272	27.42%	27	2.72%
2008	657	66.84%	289	29.40%	37	3.76%
2004	706	72.11%	250	25.54%	23	2.35%
2000	708	70.87%	243	24.32%	48	4.80%
1996	563	51.75%	391	35.94%	134	12.32%
1992	478	41.57%	384	33.39%	288	25.04%
1988	667	59.03%	443	39.20%	20	1.77%
1984	753	64.19%	407	34.70%	13	1.11%
1980	742	60.33%	381	30.98%	107	8.70%
1976	755	57.20%	535	40.53%	30	2.27%
1972	761	57.39%	445	33.56%	120	9.05%
1968	673	51.77%	525	40.38%	102	7.85%
1964	583	42.46%	790	57.54%	0	0.00%
1960	793	52.24%	724	47.69%	1	0.07%
1956	932	61.72%	578	38.28%	0	0.00%
1952	1,026	63.85%	572	35.59%	9	0.56%
1948	780	50.88%	733	47.81%	20	1.30%
1944	767	50.59%	733	48.35%	16	1.06%
1940	786	45.12%	948	54.42%	8	0.46%
1936	602	36.29%	1,037	62.51%	20	1.21%
1932	828	45.10%	996	54.25%	12	0.65%
1928	1,207	68.81%	542	30.90%	5	0.29%
1924	723	44.22%	221	13.52%	691	42.26%
1920	1,250	68.79%	520	28.62%	47	2.59%

Communities

Cities

• Harlowton (county seat)
• Judith Gap

Census-designated places

• Duncan Ranch Colony
• Martinsdale Colony
• Shawmut
• Springwater Colony
• Twodot

Other unincorporated communities

• Hedgesville ^[10]
• Living Springs ^[11]

See also

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

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
4. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
8. "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 30, 2014.
9. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
10. Hedgesville MT Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)
11. Living Springs MT Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)

46°28′N109°50′W / 46.47°N 109.84°W / 46.47; -109.84