Garfield County, Montana

Garfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 1,206.[2] Its county seat is Jordan.[3]

Garfield County
U.S. county
Garfield County Courthouse in Jordan
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°17′N 106°59′W
Country United States
State Montana
FoundedFebruary 7, 1919[1]
SeatJordan
Largest townJordan
Area
 • Total4,847 sq mi (12,550 km2)
 • Land4,675 sq mi (12,110 km2)
 • Water172 sq mi (450 km2)  3.6%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total1,206
 • Estimate 
(2019)
1,258
 • Density0.25/sq mi (0.096/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.garfieldco.us/index.html
 
  • Montana county number 50

Garfield County is noteworthy as the site of the discovery and excavation of four of the world's dozen or so major specimens (as of 1994) of Tyrannosaurus rex. A cast of the skull of one of these dinosaurs is on display at the Garfield County Museum.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,847 square miles (12,550 km2), of which 4,675 square miles (12,110 km2) is land and 172 square miles (450 km2) (3.6%) is water.[5] Its average population density of 0.1058 inhabitants/km2 (0.274/sq mi) is the third-lowest of any county outside of Alaska (behind Loving County, Texas and Esmeralda County, Nevada).

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19205,368—
19304,252−20.8%
19402,641−37.9%
19502,172−17.8%
19601,981−8.8%
19701,796−9.3%
19801,656−7.8%
19901,589−4.0%
20001,279−19.5%
20101,206−5.7%
2018 (est.)1,268[6]5.1%
US Decennial Census[7]
2010-2019[2]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census,[8] there were 1,279 people, 532 households, and 366 families living in the county. The population density was <1/km2 (<1/sq mi). There were 961 housing units at an average density of <1/km2 (<1/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 99.14% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, and 0.23% from two or more races. 0.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.9% were of German, 15.4% English, 14.4% American, 8.1% Scottish, 8.1% Irish, 6.7% Norwegian and 5.5% Scots-Irish ancestry.

There were 532 households, out of which 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 4.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.93.

The county population contained 24.50% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 25.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,917, and the median income for a family was $31,111. Males had a median income of $20,474 versus $14,531 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,930. About 16.70% of families and 21.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.90% of those under age 18 and 17.40% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 1,206 people, 532 households, and 347 families living in the county.[9] The population density was 0.3 inhabitants per square mile (0.12/km2). There were 844 housing units at an average density of 0.2 per square mile (0.077/km2).[10] The racial makeup of the county was 98.6% white, 0.4% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.2% of the population.[9] In terms of ancestry, 33.3% were German, 16.9% were Irish, 15.0% were Norwegian, 13.3% were English, 10.5% were American, 8.1% were Swedish, and 7.4% were Scottish.[11]

Of the 532 households, 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.8% were non-families, and 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 46.4 years.[9]

The median income for a household in the county was $42,955 and the median income for a family was $54,375. Males had a median income of $37,813 versus $19,286 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,424. About 8.1% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.[12]

Politics

Like all of the High Plains outside of Native American counties, Garfield is an overwhelmingly Republican county. It was the most Republican county in Montana in the 2012, 2016 and 2020 United States presidential elections.

The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940,[13] and in the last seven Presidential elections no Democratic candidate has managed to receive more than 15.1 percent.[14] The last Democrat to pass so much as thirty percent was Lyndon Johnson during his 1964 landslide win over Barry Goldwater, and even then Goldwater won the county by double digits and it was his second-best county in the Treasure State behind Powder River.

In the 2000 presidential election Republican George W. Bush won 89% of the vote to Democrat Al Gore's 7%. In the 2004 presidential election, Garfield County gave 92.08% of its votes to President George W. Bush, with John Kerry receiving 6.21% of the vote. In the 2008 presidential election, Senator John McCain received 87.2% with Senator Barack Obama receiving 9.1%. In the 2012 presidential election, Governor Mitt Romney received 90.2% of the vote with president Barack Obama receiving only 6.4% of the vote. In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump received 91.20% of the vote while Hillary Clinton got 4.75% of the vote.[15] Trump’s showing of 94% in the 2020 election is the strongest for any candidate in the county’s history.

Garfield County is also Republican at a local level. Democratic governor Brian Schweitzer has never received more than 28 percent of the county's vote and no Democratic gubernatorial candidate has carried the county in decades.[16] As part of the 15th district of the Montana Senate, the county is represented by Republican Jim Peterson and as part of the 30th district of the Montana House of Representatives it is represented by Republican Dave Kasten.[17]

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 94.0% 764 5.0% 41 1.0% 8
2016 91.0% 653 4.7% 34 4.3% 31
2012 88.7% 622 9.4% 66 1.9% 13
2008 82.3% 598 15.1% 110 2.6% 19
2004 90.1% 590 7.9% 52 2.0% 13
2000 87.5% 651 8.2% 61 4.3% 32
1996 75.3% 562 14.3% 107 10.3% 77
1992 49.2% 403 15.3% 125 35.5% 291
1988 74.2% 631 23.0% 196 2.8% 24
1984 84.5% 770 14.7% 134 0.8% 7
1980 78.0% 760 17.4% 169 4.6% 45
1976 67.8% 625 29.6% 273 2.6% 24
1972 77.8% 695 19.4% 173 2.8% 25
1968 64.2% 542 22.5% 190 13.3% 112
1964 56.8% 509 42.9% 384 0.3% 3
1960 58.5% 515 41.3% 363 0.2% 2
1956 56.8% 558 43.2% 424
1952 72.7% 723 27.1% 269 0.2% 2
1948 51.5% 501 46.4% 451 2.2% 21
1944 53.5% 553 46.3% 478 0.2% 2
1940 49.2% 625 50.7% 644 0.2% 2
1936 34.8% 548 62.8% 991 2.4% 38
1932 38.0% 678 58.5% 1,044 3.5% 63
1928 69.7% 1,176 29.6% 499 0.8% 13
1924 50.6% 876 20.5% 355 29.0% 502
1920 68.2% 1,226 26.9% 484 4.9% 88

Communities

Town

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. County Timeline Genealogy Trails
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. David Quammen, "Local Bird Makes Good" (1995), collected in The Boilerplate Rhino (2000), ISBN 0-684-83728-5
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  7. "US Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  8. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  9. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  10. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  11. "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  12. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  13. Geographie Electorale
  14. The New York Times electoral map (Zoom in on Montana)
  15. "Montana Secretary of State". mtelectionresults.gov. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  16. David Leip US Election Atlas
  17. Montana legislative site
  18. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  19. Benzien, Garfield County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  20. Brusett Post Office, Garfield County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  21. Haxby, Garfield County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  22. Hillside, Garfield County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)

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