Liberty_County,_Montana
Liberty County, Montana
County in Montana, United States
Liberty County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,959.[2] Its county seat is Chester.[3] The decision to separate the future Liberty County area from the previous Hill and Chouteau counties was carried in a 1919 vote; the organization was authorized to commence in the following February.[1][4]
Liberty County | |
|---|---|
Liberty County Courthouse in Chester | |
Location within the U.S. state of Montana | |
Montana's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 48°33′N 111°02′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Montana |
| Founded | February 11, 1920[1] |
| Named for | Liberty |
| Seat | Chester |
| Largest town | Chester |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,447 sq mi (3,750 km2) |
| • Land | 1,430 sq mi (3,700 km2) |
| • Water | 17 sq mi (40 km2) 1.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 1,959 |
| • Estimate (2022) | 1,972  |
| • Density | 1.4/sq mi (0.52/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
| |
The southwestern corner of Liberty County holds Tiber Dam, a popular tourist and recreation area.
Liberty County is on the state's north line, so that it shares the US border with Canada. It abuts the Canadian province of Alberta. According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,447 square miles (3,750 km2), of which 1,430 square miles (3,700 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (1.2%) is water.[5]
Adjacent counties
- Toole County – west
- Pondera County – southwest
- Chouteau County – south
- Hill County – east
- County of Forty Mile No. 8, Alberta – north
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 2,416 | — | |
| 1930 | 2,198 | −9.0% | |
| 1940 | 2,209 | 0.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,180 | −1.3% | |
| 1960 | 2,624 | 20.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,359 | −10.1% | |
| 1980 | 2,329 | −1.3% | |
| 1990 | 2,295 | −1.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,158 | −6.0% | |
| 2010 | 2,339 | 8.4% | |
| 2020 | 1,959 | −16.2% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 1,972 | [6] | 0.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[2] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 1,959 people living in the county.[citation needed]
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 2,339 people, 822 households, and 537 families living in the county. The population density was 1.6 inhabitants per square mile (0.62/km2). There were 1,043 housing units at an average density of 0.7 units per square mile (0.27 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.2% white, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 55.4% were German, 24.1% were Norwegian, 14.5% were Irish, 9.9% were English, and 1.4% were American.
Of the 822 households, 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.7% were non-families, and 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 44.6 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,212 and the median income for a family was $44,957. Males had a median income of $35,788 versus $30,714 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,097. About 12.4% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.6% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census record
Researchers William P. O'Hare and Kenneth M. Johnson described the county as typical of the northern Great Plains in being very thinly settled, almost fully dependent on agriculture, and lacking in urban areas. They noted that income can fluctuate substantially from year to year, depending on rainfall (which affects harvest yields) as well as grain and cattle prices, and that the 2000 Census recorded low incomes in 1999 after several years of drought. Also, the presence of Hutterite colonies in the county depresses per capita incomes because Hutterite families have significantly more children than the general population.[11]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 821 | 75.81% | 249 | 22.99% | 13 | 1.20% |
| 2016 | 698 | 72.63% | 206 | 21.44% | 57 | 5.93% |
| 2012 | 702 | 70.34% | 257 | 25.75% | 39 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | 594 | 59.34% | 367 | 36.66% | 40 | 4.00% |
| 2004 | 734 | 71.06% | 281 | 27.20% | 18 | 1.74% |
| 2000 | 752 | 72.03% | 243 | 23.28% | 49 | 4.69% |
| 1996 | 634 | 54.56% | 379 | 32.62% | 149 | 12.82% |
| 1992 | 512 | 42.28% | 321 | 26.51% | 378 | 31.21% |
| 1988 | 771 | 63.82% | 418 | 34.60% | 19 | 1.57% |
| 1984 | 895 | 72.82% | 323 | 26.28% | 11 | 0.90% |
| 1980 | 872 | 69.43% | 283 | 22.53% | 101 | 8.04% |
| 1976 | 638 | 54.86% | 506 | 43.51% | 19 | 1.63% |
| 1972 | 808 | 65.43% | 365 | 29.55% | 62 | 5.02% |
| 1968 | 670 | 58.57% | 390 | 34.09% | 84 | 7.34% |
| 1964 | 533 | 46.15% | 619 | 53.59% | 3 | 0.26% |
| 1960 | 597 | 54.27% | 501 | 45.55% | 2 | 0.18% |
| 1956 | 601 | 55.19% | 488 | 44.81% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 671 | 61.67% | 411 | 37.78% | 6 | 0.55% |
| 1948 | 354 | 38.23% | 542 | 58.53% | 30 | 3.24% |
| 1944 | 393 | 46.67% | 440 | 52.26% | 9 | 1.07% |
| 1940 | 434 | 43.66% | 550 | 55.33% | 10 | 1.01% |
| 1936 | 276 | 25.92% | 758 | 71.17% | 31 | 2.91% |
| 1932 | 252 | 24.95% | 731 | 72.38% | 27 | 2.67% |
| 1928 | 446 | 56.74% | 332 | 42.24% | 8 | 1.02% |
| 1924 | 239 | 33.71% | 141 | 19.89% | 329 | 46.40% |
| 1920 | 757 | 63.61% | 331 | 27.82% | 102 | 8.57% |
Town
- Chester (county seat)
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated communities
- "Montana County Formation Table". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
- "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- "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.
- Facing Child Poverty in Rural America Archived February 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine by William P. O'Hare and Kenneth M. Johnson, Population Reference Bureau, January 2004
- Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.