Garfield County, Montana

Garfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,173.[2] Its county seat is Jordan.[3]

Garfield County
Garfield County Courthouse in Jordan
Garfield County Courthouse in Jordan
Map of Montana highlighting Garfield County
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Map of the United States highlighting Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°17′N 106°59′W / 47.28°N 106.99°W / 47.28; -106.99
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
 (2020)
 • Total1,173
 • Estimate 
(2022)
1,218 Increase
 • Density0.24/sq mi (0.093/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
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 edit

According to the United States 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 per square kilometre (0.274 inhabitants/sq mi) is the third-lowest of any county outside of Alaska (behind Loving County, Texas and Esmeralda County, Nevada).

Major highways edit

Adjacent counties edit

National protected area edit

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
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%
20201,173−2.7%
2022 (est.)1,218[6]3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960,[8] 1900–1990,[9]
1990–2000,[10] 2010–2020[2]

2020 census edit

As of the 2020 census, there were 1,173 people living in the county.[citation needed]

2010 census edit

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,206 people, 532 households, and 347 families living in the county. 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). 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. 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.

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.

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.

Politics edit

Like all of the High Plains outside of Native American counties, Garfield is an overwhelmingly Republican county. It has been the most Republican county in Montana since the 2004 United States presidential election.

The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940,[11] and in the last seven Presidential elections no Democratic candidate has managed to receive more than 15.1 percent.[12]

Garfield County is also Republican at the local level. Democratic governor Brian Schweitzer never received more than 28 percent of the county's vote and no Democratic gubernatorial candidate has carried the county since Ted Schwinden in 1984.[13] 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.[14]

United States presidential election results for Garfield County, Montana[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 764 93.97% 41 5.04% 8 0.98%
2016 653 90.95% 34 4.74% 31 4.32%
2012 622 88.73% 66 9.42% 13 1.85%
2008 598 82.26% 110 15.13% 19 2.61%
2004 590 90.08% 52 7.94% 13 1.98%
2000 651 87.50% 61 8.20% 32 4.30%
1996 562 75.34% 107 14.34% 77 10.32%
1992 403 49.21% 125 15.26% 291 35.53%
1988 631 74.15% 196 23.03% 24 2.82%
1984 770 84.52% 134 14.71% 7 0.77%
1980 760 78.03% 169 17.35% 45 4.62%
1976 625 67.79% 273 29.61% 24 2.60%
1972 695 77.83% 173 19.37% 25 2.80%
1968 542 64.22% 190 22.51% 112 13.27%
1964 509 56.81% 384 42.86% 3 0.33%
1960 515 58.52% 363 41.25% 2 0.23%
1956 558 56.82% 424 43.18% 0 0.00%
1952 723 72.74% 269 27.06% 2 0.20%
1948 501 51.49% 451 46.35% 21 2.16%
1944 553 53.53% 478 46.27% 2 0.19%
1940 625 49.17% 644 50.67% 2 0.16%
1936 548 34.75% 991 62.84% 38 2.41%
1932 678 37.98% 1,044 58.49% 63 3.53%
1928 1,176 69.67% 499 29.56% 13 0.77%
1924 876 50.55% 355 20.48% 502 28.97%
1920 1,226 68.19% 484 26.92% 88 4.89%

Communities edit

Town edit

Unincorporated communities edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ County Timeline Genealogy Trails
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  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". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 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 28, 2014.
  11. ^ Geographie Electorale
  12. ^ The New York Times electoral map (Zoom in on Montana)
  13. ^ David Leip US Election Atlas
  14. ^ Montana legislative site
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  16. ^ Benzien, Garfield County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  17. ^ Brusett Post Office, Garfield County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  18. ^ Haxby, Garfield County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  19. ^ Hillside, Garfield County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  20. ^ Histopolis: Tindall, Garfield County, Montana, United States. Accessed 23 Jul 2021.

External links edit

47°17′N 106°59′W / 47.28°N 106.99°W / 47.28; -106.99