Powder River County, Montana

Powder River County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,694.[2] Its county seat is Broadus.[3]

Powder River County
County
Powder River Courthouse in Broadus
Powder River Courthouse in Broadus
Map of Montana highlighting Powder River County
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Map of the United States highlighting Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°23′N 105°38′W
Country United States
State Montana
FoundedMarch 17, 1919[1]
Named forPowder River
SeatBroadus
Largest townBroadus
Area
 • Total3,298 sq mi (8,540 km2)
 • Land3,297 sq mi (8,540 km2)
 • Water0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.02%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,694
 • Estimate 
(2022)
1,725 Increase
 • Density0.51/sq mi (0.20/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.prco.mt.gov
  • Montana county number 09

History

Powder River County's area was probably first entered by Europeans when French trappers worked its streams in the early 1800s. In 1865 the federal government sent soldiers (Powder River Expedition) to the Powder River country to combat Native Americans from the Cheyenne, Lakota Sioux, and Arapaho tribes. September 1865 saw several skirmishes (Powder River Battles) near present-day Broadus.[4] On March 17, 1876, the Battle of Powder River occurred in the south-central part of the county, about 34 miles (55 km) southwest of Broadus.[5]

Powderville was the area's first established settlement; it began operating on November 1, 1878, as the Powder River Telegraph Station on a line connecting Fort Keogh to Deadwood, South Dakota.[6] On April 5, 1879, the Mizpah Creek Incidents began near the Powderville telegraph station.

Custer County was organized in early 1877, consisting of most of SE Montana Territory. In February 1900, the Broadus Post Office opened. In October 1918 the first edition of the area's first newspaper[7] appeared. On March 17, 1919, Powder River County was formed from southern Custer County. In a 1920 election, Broadus was chosen as the county seat.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,298 square miles (8,540 km2), of which 3,297 square miles (8,540 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (0.02%) is water.[8]

Major highways

Transit

Powder River County Transit provides demand-response services throughout the county.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19203,357—
19303,90916.4%
19403,159−19.2%
19502,693−14.8%
19602,485−7.7%
19702,86215.2%
19802,520−11.9%
19902,090−17.1%
20001,858−11.1%
20101,743−6.2%
20201,694−2.8%
2022 (est.)1,725[9]1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[2]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 1,694 people.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,743 people, 755 households, and 505 families in the county. The population density was 0.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.19/km2). There were 1,022 housing units at an average density of 0.3 per square mile (0.12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.0% white, 1.5% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 1.1% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 34.6% were German, 31.0% were American, 15.1% were English, 14.0% were Irish, and 8.6% were Norwegian.

Of the 755 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.1% were non-families, and 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age was 49.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,685 and the median income for a family was $50,156. Males had a median income of $27,721 versus $26,250 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,543. About 11.6% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Powder River County is heavily Republican; it has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1940.

United States presidential election results for Powder River County, Montana[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 970 85.39% 154 13.56% 12 1.06%
2016 884 83.95% 127 12.06% 42 3.99%
2012 833 81.11% 170 16.55% 24 2.34%
2008 802 77.26% 208 20.04% 28 2.70%
2004 856 83.19% 154 14.97% 19 1.85%
2000 860 85.32% 115 11.41% 33 3.27%
1996 663 63.44% 236 22.58% 146 13.97%
1992 547 47.32% 258 22.32% 351 30.36%
1988 815 66.15% 395 32.06% 22 1.79%
1984 1,066 74.60% 346 24.21% 17 1.19%
1980 985 68.26% 336 23.28% 122 8.45%
1976 683 55.30% 429 34.74% 123 9.96%
1972 844 69.35% 267 21.94% 106 8.71%
1968 699 64.96% 258 23.98% 119 11.06%
1964 649 59.05% 449 40.86% 1 0.09%
1960 665 60.18% 438 39.64% 2 0.18%
1956 700 60.55% 456 39.45% 0 0.00%
1952 888 72.67% 327 26.76% 7 0.57%
1948 784 60.17% 480 36.84% 39 2.99%
1944 650 57.17% 476 41.86% 11 0.97%
1940 633 52.23% 561 46.29% 18 1.49%
1936 545 40.40% 758 56.19% 46 3.41%
1932 515 35.52% 875 60.34% 60 4.14%
1928 780 65.05% 410 34.20% 9 0.75%
1924 480 48.68% 123 12.47% 383 38.84%
1920 955 71.27% 330 24.63% 55 4.10%

Communities

Town

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "Powder River County, Montana". www.prco.mt.gov. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Wagner, David E. (2009). Powder River Odyssey: Nelson Cole's Western Campaign of 1865, The Journals of Lyman G. Bennett and Other Eyewitness Accounts. Arthur H. Clark Co.
  5. Vaughn, J.W. (1961). The Reynolds Campaign on Powder River. University of Oklahoma Press.
  6. Powderville: A Personal History.
  7. The Broadus Independent, now called Powder River Examiner.
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  9. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  13. "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.
  14. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  15. Bay Horse MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)
  16. Cameron Crossing MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)
  17. Sayle MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)
  18. Willow Crossing MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)

45.38°N 105.64°W / 45.38; -105.64

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