Phillips County, Montana
County in Montana, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Phillips County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,217.[2] Its county seat is Malta.[3] Before February 5, 1915, Phillips County was part of Blaine County, and before 1912 both were part of Chouteau County.[4] It was named for rancher and state senator Benjamin D. Phillips.
Phillips County, Montana | |
|---|---|
Phillips County Courthouse in Malta | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Montana | |
| Coordinates: 48°16′N 107°55′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Montana |
| Founded | February 5, 1915 |
| Seat | Malta |
| Largest city | Malta |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,212 sq mi (13,500 km2) |
| • Land | 5,140 sq mi (13,300 km2) |
| • Water | 72 sq mi (190 km2) 1.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 4,217 |
4,203  | |
| • Density | 0.8/sq mi (0.31/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| |
Its northern boundary is the Canada–United States border with Saskatchewan. The Missouri River defines its southern boundary.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,212 square miles (13,500 km2), of which 5,140 square miles (13,300 km2) is land and 72 square miles (190 km2) (1.4%) is water.[5] It is the second-largest county in Montana by land area and third-largest by total area.
Adjacent counties and rural municipalities
- Blaine County - west
- Fergus County - southwest
- Petroleum County - south
- Garfield County - southeast
- Valley County - east
- Rural Municipality (RM) of Lone Tree No. 18, Saskatchewan (SK) - north
- RM of Val Marie No. 17, SK - north
- RM of Mankota No. 45, SK - northeast
National protected areas
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,217.[12]
Of the residents, 23.3% were under the age of 18 and 23.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 44.7 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.6 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.[13]
The racial makeup of the county was 83.6% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 8.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 1.2% from some other race, and 6.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.7% of the population.[12]
There were 1,770 households in the county, of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]
There were 2,229 housing units, of which 20.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.2% were owner-occupied and 25.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.8%.[14]
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 4,253 people, 1,819 households, and 1,159 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.8 inhabitants per square mile (0.31/km2). There were 2,335 housing units at an average density of 0.5 per square mile (0.19/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.0% white, 8.3% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 4.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 26.2% were Norwegian, 24.3% were German, 13.4% were Irish, 10.1% were American, and 9.0% were English.
Of the 1,819 households, 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.3% were non-families, and 32.2% 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 46.8 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,453 and the median income for a family was $55,362. Males had a median income of $41,826 versus $26,417 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,227. About 11.4% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
From its creation until 1964, voters of Phillips County were fairly balanced; they selected Democratic Party candidates in 58% of national elections. After 1964 the Republican presidential candidate has garnered the county's vote in every election.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1916 | 999 | 42.42% | 1,252 | 53.16% | 104 | 4.42% |
| 1920 | 1,693 | 67.13% | 648 | 25.69% | 181 | 7.18% |
| 1924 | 1,236 | 46.69% | 473 | 17.87% | 938 | 35.44% |
| 1928 | 1,671 | 59.09% | 1,135 | 40.13% | 22 | 0.78% |
| 1932 | 1,127 | 33.90% | 2,054 | 61.79% | 143 | 4.30% |
| 1936 | 850 | 24.33% | 2,555 | 73.13% | 89 | 2.55% |
| 1940 | 1,110 | 32.98% | 2,225 | 66.10% | 31 | 0.92% |
| 1944 | 1,089 | 42.82% | 1,435 | 56.43% | 19 | 0.75% |
| 1948 | 964 | 37.52% | 1,506 | 58.62% | 99 | 3.85% |
| 1952 | 1,771 | 58.70% | 1,224 | 40.57% | 22 | 0.73% |
| 1956 | 1,605 | 52.94% | 1,427 | 47.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,457 | 49.81% | 1,455 | 49.74% | 13 | 0.44% |
| 1964 | 1,242 | 43.47% | 1,612 | 56.42% | 3 | 0.11% |
| 1968 | 1,353 | 51.41% | 1,100 | 41.79% | 179 | 6.80% |
| 1972 | 1,659 | 64.88% | 828 | 32.38% | 70 | 2.74% |
| 1976 | 1,347 | 54.18% | 1,117 | 44.93% | 22 | 0.88% |
| 1980 | 1,723 | 64.95% | 745 | 28.08% | 185 | 6.97% |
| 1984 | 1,934 | 70.35% | 787 | 28.63% | 28 | 1.02% |
| 1988 | 1,462 | 60.26% | 905 | 37.30% | 59 | 2.43% |
| 1992 | 1,026 | 39.09% | 634 | 24.15% | 965 | 36.76% |
| 1996 | 1,392 | 55.44% | 705 | 28.08% | 414 | 16.49% |
| 2000 | 1,727 | 77.51% | 423 | 18.99% | 78 | 3.50% |
| 2004 | 1,677 | 77.28% | 456 | 21.01% | 37 | 1.71% |
| 2008 | 1,423 | 67.03% | 638 | 30.05% | 62 | 2.92% |
| 2012 | 1,688 | 75.76% | 471 | 21.14% | 69 | 3.10% |
| 2016 | 1,723 | 79.36% | 318 | 14.65% | 130 | 5.99% |
| 2020 | 1,936 | 81.28% | 416 | 17.46% | 30 | 1.26% |
| 2024 | 1,753 | 80.08% | 385 | 17.59% | 51 | 2.33% |
