Lincoln County, Montana

Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,677.[2] Its county seat is Libby.[3] The county was founded in 1909 and named for President Abraham Lincoln. The county lies on Montana's north border and thus shares the US-Canadian border with the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Lincoln County
County
Lincoln County Courthouse
Lincoln County Courthouse
Map of Montana highlighting Lincoln County
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Map of the United States highlighting Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 48°32′N 115°25′W
Country United States
State Montana
FoundedMarch 9, 1909[1]
Named forAbraham Lincoln
SeatLibby
Largest cityLibby
Area
 • Total3,675 sq mi (9,520 km2)
 • Land3,613 sq mi (9,360 km2)
 • Water62 sq mi (160 km2)  1.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total19,677
 • Estimate 
(2022)
21,525 Increase
 • Density5.4/sq mi (2.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.lincolncountymt.us
  • Montana county number 56,
    the highest county number

This heavily wooded and mountainous county once was part of Flathead County until residents of Libby and Eureka petitioned the state legislature for separation. Libby won an election over Eureka to host the county seat.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,675 square miles (9,520 km2), of which 3,615 square miles (9,360 km2) is land and 62 square miles (160 km2) (1.7%) is water.[4] The county borders the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north. The lowest point in the state of Montana is located on the Kootenai River in Lincoln County, where it flows out of Montana and into Idaho. Upstream, Libby Dam backs up huge Lake Koocanusa (combination name of Kootenai, Canada, USA) into Canada's British Columbia.

Adjacent counties and county-equivalents

National protected areas

Economics

Top employers

In 2003, the top employers are listed in the table below.[5]

# Employer # of Employees
1 Kootenai National Forest 276
2 Libby Public School District 203
3 St John's Lutheran Hospital 182
4 Lincoln County Government 135
5 Owens & Hurst Lumber 120

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19103,638—
19207,797114.3%
19307,089−9.1%
19407,88211.2%
19508,69310.3%
196012,53744.2%
197018,06344.1%
198017,752−1.7%
199017,481−1.5%
200018,8377.8%
201019,6874.5%
202019,677−0.1%
2022 (est.)21,525[6]9.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[2]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 19,677 people.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 19,687 people, 8,843 households, and 5,608 families living in the county. The population density was 5.4 inhabitants per square mile (2.1/km2). There were 11,413 housing units at an average density of 3.2 units per square mile (1.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.9% white, 0.9% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.4% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 31.5% were German, 15.7% were Irish, 15.3% were English, 10.2% were Norwegian, and 3.3% were American.

Of the 8,843 households, 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.6% were non-families, and 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age was 48.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,823 and the median income for a family was $39,600. Males had a median income of $40,944 versus $24,965 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,626. About 13.7% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.2% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

Communities
Welcome sign for Lincoln County on U.S. Route 93

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Politics

For its first eighty years, Lincoln County was a Democratic-leaning area that would vote Republican only during large GOP landslides. Only four Republicans were to win the county in the seventeen Presidential elections between its inaugural election in 1912 and 1976. However, like many timber-dependent counties, it has become overwhelmingly Republican since that time. The last Democrat to carry Lincoln County was Michael Dukakis during the drought-influenced 1988 election. Since then, no Democrat has reached 35 percent of the county's vote.

United States presidential election results for Lincoln County, Montana[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 8,672 73.81% 2,835 24.13% 242 2.06%
2016 6,729 72.12% 2,041 21.88% 560 6.00%
2012 6,057 68.13% 2,552 28.71% 281 3.16%
2008 5,704 61.82% 3,025 32.78% 498 5.40%
2004 5,889 69.70% 2,320 27.46% 240 2.84%
2000 5,578 71.09% 1,629 20.76% 639 8.14%
1996 3,552 45.16% 2,705 34.39% 1,609 20.46%
1992 2,799 33.41% 2,765 33.00% 2,814 33.59%
1988 3,500 47.98% 3,601 49.37% 193 2.65%
1984 4,080 56.79% 2,959 41.19% 145 2.02%
1980 4,202 57.19% 2,422 32.96% 724 9.85%
1976 3,017 48.02% 3,146 50.07% 120 1.91%
1972 3,276 52.77% 2,402 38.69% 530 8.54%
1968 2,355 40.55% 2,677 46.10% 775 13.35%
1964 1,554 33.00% 3,140 66.68% 15 0.32%
1960 1,902 41.84% 2,623 57.70% 21 0.46%
1956 2,321 50.38% 2,286 49.62% 0 0.00%
1952 1,881 49.23% 1,907 49.91% 33 0.86%
1948 1,079 37.30% 1,689 58.38% 125 4.32%
1944 1,109 42.84% 1,445 55.81% 35 1.35%
1940 1,250 36.25% 2,150 62.35% 48 1.39%
1936 745 24.43% 2,117 69.41% 188 6.16%
1932 833 28.66% 1,867 64.25% 206 7.09%
1928 1,217 52.30% 1,067 45.85% 43 1.85%
1924 976 40.89% 374 15.67% 1,037 43.44%
1920 1,187 57.54% 683 33.11% 193 9.36%
1916 807 35.35% 1,186 51.95% 290 12.70%
1912 218 21.69% 346 34.43% 441 43.88%

See also

Notes

    References
    1. "Montana County Formation Table". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
    2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
    3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
    4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
    5. "Community Information - Employment by Industry Chart - Lincoln County, Montana". libbymt.com. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
    6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved May 7, 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. Dodge Summit MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
    12. Jennings MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
    13. Kootenai Falls MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
    14. Tobacco MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
    15. Yarnell MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
    16. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.

    48.54°N 115.41°W / 48.54; -115.41

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