Teton County, Montana
County in Montana, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Teton County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,226.[2] Its county seat is Choteau.[3] The county was founded in 1893.[4]
Teton County, Montana | |
|---|---|
| |
 Location within the U.S. state of Montana | |
| Coordinates: 47°51′N 112°14′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Montana |
| Founded | 1893 |
| Seat | Choteau |
| Largest city | Choteau |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,293 sq mi (5,940 km2) |
| • Land | 2,272 sq mi (5,880 km2) |
| • Water | 20 sq mi (52 km2) 0.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,226 |
6,496  | |
| • Density | 2.8/sq mi (1.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
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Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,293 square miles (5,940 km2), of which 2,272 square miles (5,880 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (0.9%) is water.[5]
Adjacent counties
- Pondera County – north
- Chouteau County – east
- Cascade County – southeast
- Lewis and Clark County – south
- Flathead County – west
National protected area
- Lewis and Clark National Forest (part)
- Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Area (part)
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 6,226.[11]
Of the residents, 23.4% were under the age of 18 and 23.8% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 45.1 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.6 males.[12]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.[13]
The racial makeup of the county was 91.3% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 1.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.7% from some other race, and 5.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.4% of the population.[11]
There were 2,490 households in the county, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 2,935 housing units, of which 15.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.1% were owner-occupied and 25.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.3%.[12]
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 6,073 people, 2,450 households, and 1,643 families residing in the county. The population density was 2.7 inhabitants per square mile (1.0/km2). There were 2,892 housing units at an average density of 1.3 units per square mile (0.50 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.3% white, 1.4% American Indian, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 40.2% were German, 14.7% were Norwegian, 14.5% were Irish, 11.9% were English, 6.4% were Swedish, 6.0% were Dutch, and 4.3% were American.
Of the 2,450 households, 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.9% were non-families, and 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age was 45.8 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,516 and the median income for a family was $49,102. Males had a median income of $34,824 versus $24,419 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,509. About 11.0% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Teton County voters have not selected the Democratic Party candidate in a national election since 1964.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1904 | 808 | 64.23% | 420 | 33.39% | 30 | 2.38% |
| 1908 | 622 | 60.39% | 358 | 34.76% | 50 | 4.85% |
| 1912 | 612 | 30.74% | 646 | 32.45% | 733 | 36.82% |
| 1916 | 1,603 | 38.41% | 2,273 | 54.47% | 297 | 7.12% |
| 1920 | 1,319 | 62.25% | 671 | 31.67% | 129 | 6.09% |
| 1924 | 775 | 40.36% | 396 | 20.63% | 749 | 39.01% |
| 1928 | 1,263 | 60.58% | 804 | 38.56% | 18 | 0.86% |
| 1932 | 875 | 36.04% | 1,496 | 61.61% | 57 | 2.35% |
| 1936 | 604 | 23.69% | 1,917 | 75.18% | 29 | 1.14% |
| 1940 | 1,132 | 39.12% | 1,735 | 59.95% | 27 | 0.93% |
| 1944 | 1,074 | 41.29% | 1,508 | 57.98% | 19 | 0.73% |
| 1948 | 1,005 | 36.95% | 1,632 | 60.00% | 83 | 3.05% |
| 1952 | 1,978 | 58.56% | 1,389 | 41.12% | 11 | 0.33% |
| 1956 | 1,728 | 51.58% | 1,622 | 48.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,623 | 49.54% | 1,648 | 50.31% | 5 | 0.15% |
| 1964 | 1,388 | 43.39% | 1,808 | 56.52% | 3 | 0.09% |
| 1968 | 1,697 | 54.58% | 1,228 | 39.50% | 184 | 5.92% |
| 1972 | 1,991 | 59.95% | 1,121 | 33.75% | 209 | 6.29% |
| 1976 | 1,730 | 51.72% | 1,506 | 45.02% | 109 | 3.26% |
| 1980 | 2,415 | 67.76% | 902 | 25.31% | 247 | 6.93% |
| 1984 | 2,257 | 66.70% | 1,102 | 32.57% | 25 | 0.74% |
| 1988 | 1,876 | 57.83% | 1,303 | 40.17% | 65 | 2.00% |
| 1992 | 1,364 | 40.06% | 1,043 | 30.63% | 998 | 29.31% |
| 1996 | 1,701 | 51.14% | 1,188 | 35.72% | 437 | 13.14% |
| 2000 | 2,294 | 69.22% | 847 | 25.56% | 173 | 5.22% |
| 2004 | 2,232 | 66.45% | 1,047 | 31.17% | 80 | 2.38% |
| 2008 | 1,874 | 57.27% | 1,294 | 39.55% | 104 | 3.18% |
| 2012 | 2,113 | 64.40% | 1,082 | 32.98% | 86 | 2.62% |
| 2016 | 2,170 | 68.07% | 808 | 25.35% | 210 | 6.59% |
| 2020 | 2,608 | 70.89% | 1,007 | 27.37% | 64 | 1.74% |
| 2024 | 2,533 | 70.99% | 927 | 25.98% | 108 | 3.03% |
Communities
Education
There is one PK-12 school district with territory in the county: Dutton/Brady K-12 Schools.[21]
High school districts include:[21]
- Choteau High School District
- Fairfield High School District
- Power High School District
Elementary school districts include:[21]
- Bynum Elementary School District
- Choteau Elementary School District
- Fairfield Elementary School District
- Golden Ridge Elementary School District
- Greenfield Elementary School District
- Pendroy Elementary School District
- Power Elementary School District
Notable people
- Joe De Yong, artist, sculptor, illustrator, Hollywood movie technical advisor and protégé of Charles M. Russell; lived in Choteau, 1924
- John Edward Erickson, Teton County Attorney (1897–1905), governor of Montana