Silver Bow County
Consolidated city-county
Butte-Silver Bow County
Mike Mansfield Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Butte.
Mike Mansfield Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Butte.
Map of Montana highlighting Silver Bow 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°54′N 112°40′W / 45.9°N 112.66°W / 45.9; -112.66
Country United States
State Montana
FoundedFebruary 16, 1881
Named forSilver Bow Creek
SeatButte
Largest cityButte
Government
 • Chief ExecutiveJ.P. Gallagher
Area
 • Total719 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Land718 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Water0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.08%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total35,133
 • Estimate 
(2022)
36,068 Increase
 • Density49/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district1st
Websiteco.silverbow.mt.us
  • Montana county number 01
  • Unigov with Butte, MT

Silver Bow County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,133.[1] Its county seat is Butte.[2] In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the single entity of Butte-Silver Bow. Additionally, the town of Walkerville is a separate municipality from Butte and is within the county.

Silver Bow County comprises the Butte-Silver Bow, MT Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has an area of 719 square miles (1,860 km2), of which 718 square miles (1,860 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (0.08%) is water.[3] It is Montana's smallest county by area.

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Beaverhead–Deerlodge National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
189023,744—
190047,635100.6%
191056,84819.3%
192060,3136.1%
193056,969−5.5%
194053,209−6.6%
195048,422−9.0%
196046,454−4.1%
197041,981−9.6%
198038,092−9.3%
199033,941−10.9%
200034,6062.0%
201034,200−1.2%
202035,1332.7%
2022 (est.)36,068[4]2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960,[6] 1900–1990,[7]
1990–2000,[8] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 35,133 people living in the county.[citation needed]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 34,200 people, 14,932 households, and 8,651 families living in the county. The population density was 47.6 inhabitants per square mile (18.4/km2). There were 16,717 housing units at an average density of 23.3 per square mile (9.0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.4% white, 1.9% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.7% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 32.6% were Irish, 23.3% were German, 16.1% were English, 8.3% were Italian, 6.9% were Norwegian, and 3.2% were American.

Of the 14,932 households, 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 42.1% were non-families, and 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 41.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,986 and the median income for a family was $52,288. Males had a median income of $41,491 versus $28,132 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,357. About 11.6% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Since 1977, Butte and Silver Bow County have been consolidated into one governmental body under the leadership of the chief executive and the council of commissioners. Elected in November 2020, J.P. Gallagher is the incumbent Chief Executive of Butte-Silver Bow, a nonpartisan office.[9]

A Democratic bastion, Silver Bow County is, along with neighboring Deer Lodge County, one of the two most consistently Democratic-voting counties in Montana in presidential elections, having last voted Republican in 1956 for Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Over the last century, Silver Bow County has voted only once for a Republican gubernatorial candidate (Marc Racicot during the 1996 election).[10] Silver Bow County has not supported any Republican at all for the U.S. Senate since at least 1928.[10]

Silver Bow County is in Montana Senate districts 36 (represented by Republican Jeffrey Welborn), 37 (represented by Democrat Ryan Lynch), 38 (represented by Democrat Edith McClafferty), and 39 (represented by Republican Terry Vermeire). In the Montana House of Representatives, the county is in districts 71 (represented by Republican Kenneth Walsh), 72 (represented by Republican Tom Welch), 73 (represented by Democrat Jennifer Lynch), 74 (represented by Democrat Derek J. Harvey), 76 (represented by Democrat Donavon Hawk), and 78 (represented by Republican Gregory Frazer).[11]

From 2024 to 2032, Silver Bow County will be in State Senate districts 35, 36, and 37, as well as State House of Representatives districts 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74. Two of the three Senate districts are expected to be favorable to Democrats as well as four of the five House districts.[12]

United States presidential election results for Silver Bow County, Montana[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 7,745 41.51% 10,392 55.70% 521 2.79%
2016 6,376 38.76% 8,619 52.39% 1,457 8.86%
2012 5,430 32.41% 10,857 64.79% 469 2.80%
2008 4,818 28.27% 11,676 68.51% 548 3.22%
2004 6,381 39.67% 9,307 57.86% 396 2.46%
2000 6,299 37.71% 8,967 53.68% 1,437 8.60%
1996 3,909 22.11% 11,199 63.35% 2,569 14.53%
1992 3,491 19.24% 9,960 54.89% 4,695 25.87%
1988 5,043 30.22% 11,422 68.45% 222 1.33%
1984 6,637 36.85% 11,095 61.60% 278 1.54%
1980 7,301 37.68% 9,721 50.17% 2,355 12.15%
1976 7,506 39.28% 11,377 59.53% 227 1.19%
1972 7,967 39.05% 11,704 57.36% 733 3.59%
1968 5,488 27.98% 12,626 64.36% 1,503 7.66%
1964 4,873 22.94% 15,751 74.16% 615 2.90%
1960 7,290 34.40% 13,754 64.91% 146 0.69%
1956 11,619 50.31% 11,475 49.69% 0 0.00%
1952 10,196 43.46% 13,114 55.90% 148 0.63%
1948 7,305 34.24% 12,715 59.60% 1,315 6.16%
1944 7,610 36.17% 13,228 62.87% 202 0.96%
1940 7,932 30.82% 17,467 67.88% 335 1.30%
1936 4,528 20.02% 17,697 78.23% 398 1.76%
1932 6,792 31.11% 13,626 62.41% 1,416 6.49%
1928 9,456 44.81% 11,228 53.21% 419 1.99%
1924 6,520 34.66% 5,393 28.66% 6,901 36.68%
1920 10,074 55.36% 6,394 35.14% 1,730 9.51%
1916 6,757 31.36% 13,084 60.72% 1,706 7.92%
1912 2,232 18.76% 4,542 38.18% 5,122 43.06%
1908 4,618 33.82% 6,255 45.80% 2,783 20.38%
1904 5,149 36.07% 5,686 39.83% 3,439 24.09%
1900 3,873 23.75% 12,101 74.19% 336 2.06%
1896 1,275 11.29% 9,992 88.46% 29 0.26%
1892 3,251 38.58% 2,648 31.43% 2,527 29.99%

Communities

Rhodochrosite from the old Emma Mine in the Butte Mining District

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. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  4. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  8. ^ "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 30, 2014.
  9. ^ "Chief Executive". The City-County of Butte-Silver Bow. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c David Leip. "Presidential Atlas". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  11. ^ "Montana Legislature Information- 68th Session 2023 Regular". Montana Legislature. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  12. ^ Kimbel-Sannit, Arren (February 13, 2023). "Explaining the why and the where of Montana's new legislative districts". Montana Free Press.
  13. ^ High View MT Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)
  14. ^ Williamsburg MT Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)

External links

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45°54′N 112°40′W / 45.90°N 112.66°W / 45.90; -112.66

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