Glacier County
County
Glacier County Courthouse in Cut Bank
Glacier County Courthouse in Cut Bank
Map of Montana highlighting Glacier 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°42′N 113°01′W / 48.7°N 113.02°W / 48.7; -113.02
Country United States
State Montana
Founded1919
Named forThe glaciers in Glacier National Park
SeatCut Bank
Largest cityCut Bank
Area
 • Total3,037 sq mi (7,870 km2)
 • Land2,996 sq mi (7,760 km2)
 • Water41 sq mi (110 km2)  1.40%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total13,778
 • Estimate 
(2022)
13,681 Decrease
 • Density4.5/sq mi (1.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.glaciercountymt.org
  • Montana county number 38

Glacier County is located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,778.[1] The county is located in northwestern Montana between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, known to the Blackfeet as the "Backbone of the World". The county is geographically and culturally diverse and includes the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Glacier National Park, and Lewis and Clark National Forest. The county is bordered by 75 miles of international boundary with two ports of entry (Piegan and Del Bonita) open year-round and one seasonal (Chief Mountain) international border crossing into Alberta, Canada.

Settlements

Several small unincorporated communities, one incorporated town, and one incorporated city are located within the county.

Cut Bank, the county seat[2] with a population of around 3000, is located in eastern Glacier County, on the edge of the Great Plains. Cut Bank arose from the railroad[3] and agriculture needs of the surrounding area, and was fostered by an oil boom in the 1920s.[4] The town's diverse population is the result of this settlement. Town resources include a hospital and clinic, a historic airport with regional and international connections, a nine-hole golf course, and a swimming pool. Nearby sites of the Lewis and Clark expedition and other historic and prehistoric sites can be visited. The Glacier County Museum has a collection of area artifacts, historic buildings, community memorabilia, and a comprehensive archive of early area history and individuals, including a large collection of data on Blackfeet history.

Browning is the home and government seat of the Blackfeet Tribe.[5] The incorporated portion of Browning, at 1,400, does not reflect the population of 7,000 in the community that is largely representative of the Blackfeet Tribe on a part of their ancestral homeland dating back over 400 years. Town resources include a federal building, community college, Native American Museum and Heritage Center, casino, fairgrounds, race track, and Native American camp area that hosts an annual Native American celebration and pow-wow. Many events center on this area during the summer months. Blackfeet tribal fishing and recreational permits, along with guide and tour services to blue ribbon trout fishing and other recreational opportunities, can be found there.

Babb is a small unincorporated farming and ranching community on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The community experiences a large influx of tourists in the summer months as it is the gateway to the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park. Community infrastructure includes one school, a US post office, a fire station, a general store and motel, several restaurants, two churches, and a gas station. Nearby attractions include Glacier National Park, the Many Glacier Hotel, the St. Mary River, the St. Mary Irrigation Canal, Chief Mountain, and the US ports of entry of Piegan and Chief Mountain.

East Glacier Park Village, a small winter community, grows in the summer with many visitors and the summer help from all parts of the globe that meet the needs of the larger population. It is the site of the largest of Glacier Park's historic hotels and fleet of “red buses”. It has a nine-hole golf course, campgrounds, trail rides, boat rides, and native interpretive tours.

St. Mary is an unincorporated community on the western border of the Blackfeet Native American Reservation adjacent to Glacier National Park. The village is the eastern terminus of the Going-to-the-Sun Road which bisects the park east to west, a distance of 53 miles (85 km). Fewer than 50 people reside in the village year-round; however, the population increases tenfold on a busy summer evening. It has several lodges, restaurants and cafés, a small grocery store, two gas stations and campgrounds. A large housing area for National Park Service personnel is located adjacent to the village, but within the park. U.S. Route 89 passes through the village, which lies between Saint Mary Lake in Glacier National Park and Lower St. Mary Lake on the Blackfeet Native American Reservation.

Starr School is a census-designated place (CDP) in Glacier County. The population was 252 at the 2010 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,037 square miles (7,870 km2), of which 2,996 square miles (7,760 km2) is land and 41 square miles (110 km2) (1.3%) is water.[6] About 71% of the county's land area lies within the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Another 21% lies within Glacier National Park in western Glacier County.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Politics

Owing largely to its majority Native American population, Glacier County generally votes Democratic, in contrast with most other rural Montana counties, which trend Republican.

United States presidential election results for Glacier County, Montana[7]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 1,884 33.54% 3,610 64.27% 123 2.19%
2016 1,620 31.92% 3,121 61.50% 334 6.58%
2012 1,415 31.76% 2,924 65.63% 116 2.60%
2008 1,451 29.19% 3,423 68.86% 97 1.95%
2004 1,828 40.07% 2,641 57.89% 93 2.04%
2000 1,709 41.44% 2,211 53.61% 204 4.95%
1996 1,270 31.01% 2,292 55.97% 533 13.02%
1992 1,222 28.27% 2,076 48.02% 1,025 23.71%
1988 1,728 43.16% 2,151 53.72% 125 3.12%
1984 2,228 50.24% 2,167 48.86% 40 0.90%
1980 2,283 55.78% 1,394 34.06% 416 10.16%
1976 1,892 50.81% 1,755 47.13% 77 2.07%
1972 2,143 56.11% 1,469 38.47% 207 5.42%
1968 1,643 44.76% 1,723 46.94% 305 8.31%
1964 1,458 39.44% 2,218 59.99% 21 0.57%
1960 1,775 43.95% 2,260 55.95% 4 0.10%
1956 2,054 52.99% 1,822 47.01% 0 0.00%
1952 2,061 54.68% 1,698 45.05% 10 0.27%
1948 1,238 35.29% 2,238 63.80% 32 0.91%
1944 1,228 36.34% 2,142 63.39% 9 0.27%
1940 1,352 35.96% 2,399 63.80% 9 0.24%
1936 781 23.92% 2,453 75.13% 31 0.95%
1932 702 28.78% 1,717 70.40% 20 0.82%
1928 847 46.39% 976 53.45% 3 0.16%
1924 586 41.68% 511 36.34% 309 21.98%
1920 1,297 69.14% 531 28.30% 48 2.56%

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19204,178—
19305,29726.8%
19409,03470.5%
19509,6456.8%
196011,56519.9%
197010,783−6.8%
198010,628−1.4%
199012,12114.0%
200013,2479.3%
201013,4471.5%
202013,7782.5%
2022 (est.)13,681[8]−0.7%
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 13,778 people living in the county.[citation needed]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 13,399 people, 4,361 households, and 3,088 families residing in the county. The population density was 4.5 inhabitants per square mile (1.7/km2). There were 5,348 housing units at an average density of 1.8 per square mile (0.69/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.6% Native American, 31.1% white, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 13.6% were German, 7.2% were Irish, 5.6% were Norwegian, and 1.4% were American.

Of the 4,361 households, 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.2% were non-families, and 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.49. The median age was 31.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,075 and the median income for a family was $44,397. Males had a median income of $31,700 versus $30,594 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,053. About 21.4% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.0% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

The sign for Glacier County on U.S. Route 2

City

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ History of Cut Bank Cut Bank Chamber of Commerce (accessed January 2, 2019)
  4. ^ Glacier County Historical Museum (accessed January 2, 2019)
  5. ^ "Welcome to Blackfeet Country ~Browning Montana~ Glacier Park". www.blackfeetcountry.com. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  7. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 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 28, 2014.
  13. ^ Bison, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  14. ^ False Summit, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  15. ^ Fort Piegan, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  16. ^ Gunsight, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  17. ^ Kiowa, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  18. ^ Meriwether, Glacier MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  19. ^ Piegan, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  20. ^ Rising Sun, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  21. ^ Star, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  22. ^ Summit, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  23. ^ Sundance, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  24. ^ Swiftcurrent, Glacier County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)

48°42′N 113°01′W / 48.70°N 113.02°W / 48.70; -113.02

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