Richland County, Montana

Richland County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,491.[2] Its county seat is Sidney.[3]

Richland County
Richland County Courthouse in Sidney
Richland County Courthouse in Sidney
Map of Montana highlighting Richland 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°47′N 104°34′W / 47.79°N 104.56°W / 47.79; -104.56
Country United States
State Montana
FoundedMay 27, 1914[1]
SeatSidney
Largest citySidney
Area
 • Total2,103 sq mi (5,450 km2)
 • Land2,084 sq mi (5,400 km2)
 • Water19 sq mi (50 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total11,491
 • Estimate 
(2022)
11,237 Decrease
 • Density5.5/sq mi (2.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.richland.org
  • Montana county number 27

Richland County was created by the Montana Legislature in 1914 from part of Dawson County. An early proposed name for the county was Gate, but Richland was decided upon instead as a way to entice new settlers.[4]

Geography edit

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,103 square miles (5,450 km2), of which 2,084 square miles (5,400 km2) is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (0.9%) is water.[5]

Major highways edit

Adjacent counties edit

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19208,989
19309,6337.2%
194010,2096.0%
195010,3661.5%
196010,5041.3%
19709,837−6.3%
198012,24324.5%
199010,716−12.5%
20009,667−9.8%
20109,7460.8%
202011,49117.9%
2022 (est.)11,237[6]−2.2%
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 11,491 people living in the county.[citation needed]

2010 census edit

As of the 2010 census, there were 9,746 people, 4,167 households, and 2,698 families in the county. The population density was 4.7 inhabitants per square mile (1.8/km2). There were 4,550 housing units at an average density of 2.2 per square mile (0.85/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.0% white, 1.7% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.8% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 37.8% were German, 23.1% were Norwegian, 13.0% were Irish, 8.7% were American, and 6.5% were English.

Of the 4,167 households, 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.3% were non-families, and 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 41.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $52,516 and the median income for a family was $60,236. Males had a median income of $44,788 versus $23,135 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,888. About 10.2% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy edit

Although most of the surface land of the county is devoted to ranching, oil exploration and production became important elements of the county's economy beginning with the discovery in 2000 of Elm Coulee Oil Field, part of the Bakken formation.[11]

Politics edit

Richland County voters have been reliably Republican, opting only one time for the Democratic Party candidate in national elections since 1948 (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for Richland County, Montana[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 4,800 82.79% 875 15.09% 123 2.12%
2016 3,908 80.23% 671 13.78% 292 5.99%
2012 3,510 75.52% 1,002 21.56% 136 2.93%
2008 3,184 70.50% 1,203 26.64% 129 2.86%
2004 3,110 72.19% 1,120 26.00% 78 1.81%
2000 2,858 70.87% 1,018 25.24% 157 3.89%
1996 2,021 44.24% 1,614 35.33% 933 20.42%
1992 1,760 37.07% 1,440 30.33% 1,548 32.60%
1988 2,628 57.81% 1,824 40.12% 94 2.07%
1984 3,847 72.85% 1,382 26.17% 52 0.98%
1980 3,348 66.45% 1,252 24.85% 438 8.69%
1976 2,189 51.35% 1,961 46.00% 113 2.65%
1972 2,645 61.51% 1,438 33.44% 217 5.05%
1968 2,381 59.29% 1,399 34.84% 236 5.88%
1964 1,784 43.19% 2,320 56.16% 27 0.65%
1960 2,395 56.10% 1,863 43.64% 11 0.26%
1956 2,366 55.67% 1,884 44.33% 0 0.00%
1952 2,506 67.28% 1,196 32.11% 23 0.62%
1948 1,332 43.11% 1,673 54.14% 85 2.75%
1944 1,347 42.61% 1,777 56.22% 37 1.17%
1940 1,497 41.07% 2,095 57.48% 53 1.45%
1936 1,066 28.99% 2,516 68.43% 95 2.58%
1932 1,216 39.02% 1,768 56.74% 132 4.24%
1928 1,648 63.53% 917 35.35% 29 1.12%
1924 926 49.95% 238 12.84% 690 37.22%
1920 1,759 65.46% 744 27.69% 184 6.85%
1916 1,223 36.51% 1,947 58.12% 180 5.37%

Communities edit

City edit

Town edit

Census-designated places edit

Other unincorporated places edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Greenfield, Chas. (1920). Resources of Montana (1920 ed.). Montana. Dept. of Agriculture, Labor, and Industry. p. 174. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. 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. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  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. ^ Browning, Gil. "Montana's Vast Untapped Oil Reserves". Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  12. ^ Leip, David. "US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  13. ^ Andes MT Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)
  14. ^ Enid MT Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)
  15. ^ Nohly MT Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)
  16. ^ Ridgelawn MT Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)
  17. ^ Sioux Pass MT Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)

47°47′N 104°34′W / 47.79°N 104.56°W / 47.79; -104.56