Custer County
County
Custer County Courthouse in Miles City
Custer County Courthouse in Miles City
Map of Montana highlighting Custer County
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Map of the United States highlighting Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°16′N 105°35′W / 46.27°N 105.58°W / 46.27; -105.58
Country United States
State Montana
FoundedJune 2, 1865
Named forGeorge Armstrong Custer
SeatMiles City
Largest cityMiles City
Area
 • Total3,793 sq mi (9,820 km2)
 • Land3,783 sq mi (9,800 km2)
 • Water9.9 sq mi (26 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total11,867
 • Estimate 
(2022)
12,032 Increase
 • Density3.1/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitehttps://custercountymt.com/
  • Montana county number 14

Custer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,867.[1] Its county seat is Miles City.[2] The county was established on June 2, 1865, as one of the nine original counties of the Territory of Montana named Big Horn County,[3] and was renamed on February 16, 1877, in honor of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer.[4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,793 square miles (9,820 km2), of which 3,783 square miles (9,800 km2) is land and 9.9 square miles (26 km2) (0.3%) is water.[5]

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Custer County has a mostly cold semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

Climate data for Mizpah, Montana, 1991—2020 normals, extremes 1960—present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 69
(21) 		73
(23) 		85
(29) 		92
(33) 		101
(38) 		111
(44) 		112
(44) 		110
(43) 		106
(41) 		96
(36) 		80
(27) 		70
(21) 		112
(44)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 51.6
(10.9) 		56.3
(13.5) 		71.9
(22.2) 		81.3
(27.4) 		87.2
(30.7) 		95.8
(35.4) 		102.5
(39.2) 		101.5
(38.6) 		97.1
(36.2) 		84.2
(29.0) 		67.9
(19.9) 		54.2
(12.3) 		104.4
(40.2)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 32.6
(0.3) 		36.9
(2.7) 		49.7
(9.8) 		61.2
(16.2) 		70.9
(21.6) 		81.1
(27.3) 		91.3
(32.9) 		90.9
(32.7) 		79.4
(26.3) 		62.1
(16.7) 		46.4
(8.0) 		35.2
(1.8) 		61.5
(16.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 19.4
(−7.0) 		23.7
(−4.6) 		35.4
(1.9) 		46.1
(7.8) 		55.8
(13.2) 		65.6
(18.7) 		73.5
(23.1) 		72.0
(22.2) 		61.0
(16.1) 		46.2
(7.9) 		32.3
(0.2) 		21.9
(−5.6) 		46.1
(7.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 6.3
(−14.3) 		10.6
(−11.9) 		21.0
(−6.1) 		31.0
(−0.6) 		40.8
(4.9) 		50.1
(10.1) 		55.6
(13.1) 		53.0
(11.7) 		42.6
(5.9) 		30.4
(−0.9) 		18.3
(−7.6) 		8.6
(−13.0) 		30.7
(−0.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −23.5
(−30.8) 		−15.4
(−26.3) 		−4.1
(−20.1) 		13.1
(−10.5) 		24.3
(−4.3) 		36.1
(2.3) 		43.2
(6.2) 		37.6
(3.1) 		25.5
(−3.6) 		12.3
(−10.9) 		−6.3
(−21.3) 		−17.2
(−27.3) 		−32.0
(−35.6)
Record low °F (°C) −45
(−43) 		−45
(−43) 		−40
(−40) 		−5
(−21) 		13
(−11) 		21
(−6) 		33
(1) 		31
(−1) 		16
(−9) 		−11
(−24) 		−29
(−34) 		−49
(−45) 		−49
(−45)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.44
(11) 		0.48
(12) 		0.70
(18) 		1.65
(42) 		2.92
(74) 		2.31
(59) 		1.78
(45) 		1.02
(26) 		1.26
(32) 		1.04
(26) 		0.50
(13) 		0.41
(10) 		14.51
(368)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 5.6
(14) 		5.0
(13) 		5.4
(14) 		2.2
(5.6) 		0.8
(2.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.1
(0.25) 		1.6
(4.1) 		3.7
(9.4) 		5.5
(14) 		29.9
(76.35)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 6.2 6.3 6.3 8.4 10.5 10.4 8.0 5.8 6.3 7.2 5.7 5.9 87.0
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 4.7 4.4 3.2 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 3.2 4.8 22.9
Source 1: NOAA[6]
Source 2: National Weather Service[7]

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
187038—
18802,5106,505.3%
18905,308111.5%
19007,89148.7%
191014,12379.0%
192012,194−13.7%
193011,242−7.8%
194010,422−7.3%
195012,66121.5%
196013,2274.5%
197012,174−8.0%
198013,1097.7%
199011,697−10.8%
200011,6960.0%
201011,6990.0%
202011,8671.4%
2022 (est.)12,032[8]1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960,[10] 1900–1990,[11]
1990–2000,[12] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 11,867 people living in the county.[citation needed]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 11,699 people, 5,031 households, and 3,014 families living in the county. The population density was 3.1 inhabitants per square mile (1.2/km2). There were 5,560 housing units at an average density of 1.5 per square mile (0.58/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.5% white, 1.7% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.5% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 33.6% were German, 18.3% were Irish, 14.3% were American, 14.1% were Norwegian, and 10.6% were English.

Of the 5,031 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.1% were non-families, and 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 42.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,913 and the median income for a family was $49,011. Males had a median income of $37,535 versus $26,576 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,676. About 12.4% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Custer County, Montana[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 4,205 71.76% 1,514 25.84% 141 2.41%
2016 3,657 70.53% 1,176 22.68% 352 6.79%
2012 3,373 62.87% 1,833 34.17% 159 2.96%
2008 3,047 55.89% 2,267 41.58% 138 2.53%
2004 3,297 65.31% 1,630 32.29% 121 2.40%
2000 3,156 64.34% 1,501 30.60% 248 5.06%
1996 2,467 46.29% 2,115 39.69% 747 14.02%
1992 2,105 37.52% 1,968 35.07% 1,538 27.41%
1988 3,007 55.05% 2,343 42.90% 112 2.05%
1984 3,879 65.53% 1,982 33.49% 58 0.98%
1980 3,533 60.75% 1,822 31.33% 461 7.93%
1976 3,120 55.25% 2,425 42.94% 102 1.81%
1972 3,486 63.31% 1,875 34.05% 145 2.63%
1968 2,831 58.06% 1,760 36.10% 285 5.84%
1964 2,302 45.13% 2,790 54.70% 9 0.18%
1960 2,943 55.00% 2,393 44.72% 15 0.28%
1956 3,240 58.30% 2,317 41.70% 0 0.00%
1952 3,461 62.53% 2,050 37.04% 24 0.43%
1948 1,845 43.28% 2,359 55.34% 59 1.38%
1944 1,830 46.96% 2,038 52.30% 29 0.74%
1940 2,017 41.73% 2,782 57.55% 35 0.72%
1936 1,381 29.30% 3,196 67.81% 136 2.89%
1932 1,675 36.99% 2,729 60.27% 124 2.74%
1928 2,503 64.08% 1,386 35.48% 17 0.44%
1924 1,654 43.78% 412 10.91% 1,712 45.31%
1920 2,347 64.53% 1,127 30.99% 163 4.48%
1916 1,615 37.05% 2,602 59.69% 142 3.26%
1912 695 21.70% 1,068 33.34% 1,440 44.96%
1908 967 60.66% 531 33.31% 96 6.02%
1904 824 72.22% 285 24.98% 32 2.80%

Economy

Agriculture (dryland farming) and cattle raising provide the bulk of Custer County economy.[14] Miles City serves as the center of commerce in an area extending for 100 miles in every direction.[15] As of 2009 the county's largest employers were Holy Rosary Healthcare, Sanjel USA, Stockman Bank, and Walmart.[15]

Communities

County Courthouse in Miles City

City

Town

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Big Horn County, Montana Territory was not the same county as present day Big Horn County, Montana.
  4. ^ "A Brief Custer County History". Custer County Montana. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  6. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  7. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  12. ^ "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 27, 2014.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  14. ^ Merrill, Andrea; Judy Jacobson (1997). Montana almanac. Helena MT: Falcon Publishing. ISBN 1-56044-493-2.
  15. ^ a b Montana Dept. of Labor and Industry (September 2010). "Demographic & Economic Information for Custer County" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  16. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Garland
  17. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Garland
  18. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Garland
  19. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Tusler

46°16′N 105°35′W / 46.27°N 105.58°W / 46.27; -105.58

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