Sweet Grass County
County
Carnegie library designed by Link & Haire in Big Timber, Montana
Carnegie library designed by Link & Haire in Big Timber, Montana
Map of Montana highlighting Sweet Grass 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°49′N 109°56′W / 45.81°N 109.94°W / 45.81; -109.94
Country United States
State Montana
Founded1895
Named forSweet grass
SeatBig Timber
Largest cityBig Timber
Area
 • Total1,862 sq mi (4,820 km2)
 • Land1,855 sq mi (4,800 km2)
 • Water6.8 sq mi (18 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,678
 • Estimate 
(2022)
3,715 Increase
 • Density2.0/sq mi (0.76/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitesweetgrasscountygov.com
  • Montana county number 40

Sweet Grass County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,678.[1] Its county seat is Big Timber.[2] The county was founded in 1895.[3]

History

The Montana Legislature authorized Sweet Grass County in 1895, taking parts of Park, Meagher, and Yellowstone counties. That boundary was altered in 1913 when Stillwater County was formed from a portion of Sweet Grass; again in 1917 with the formation of Wheatland County, and in 1920 with the formation of Golden Valley County.[4]

Climate

Sweet Grass County's climate is generally dry and cool, specified as Dfc in the Köppen-Geiger climate classification (subarctic or boreal).[5] Average annual precipitation of 15 inches (380 mm) comes in rain and snow. The summer precipitation accumulation (April through September) averages 10.5 inches (270 mm). The average summer high temperature is 75.3 °F (24.1 °C) and the average minimum temperature during that period is 44.2 °F (6.8 °C). July and August are the hottest months. The annual average high temperature is 60.6 °F (15.9 °C) and the annual average minimum temperature is 33.6 °F (0.9 °C). The coldest temperature recorded in the county in recent times was −47 °F (−44 °C) in February 1936, and the warmest was 107 °F (42 °C) in July 2002. Big Timber receives 286 sunny days on average.[4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,862 square miles (4,820 km2), of which 1,855 square miles (4,800 km2) is land and 6.8 square miles (18 km2) (0.4%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19003,086—
19104,02930.6%
19204,92622.3%
19303,944−19.9%
19403,719−5.7%
19503,621−2.6%
19603,290−9.1%
19702,980−9.4%
19803,2167.9%
19903,154−1.9%
20003,60914.4%
20103,6511.2%
20203,6780.7%
2022 (est.)3,715[7]1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 3,678 people.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,651 people, 1,590 households, and 1,045 families in the county. The population density was 2.0 people per square mile (0.77 people/km2). There were 2,148 housing units at an average density of 1.2 units per square mile (0.46/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.6% white, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 25.3% were German, 22.6% were Norwegian, 13.0% were American, 12.8% were Irish, 10.8% were English, and 7.3% were Scottish.

Of the 1,590 households, 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.3% were non-families, and 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 46.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,723 and the median income for a family was $56,552. Males had a median income of $35,385 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,785. About 10.0% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

In presidential elections, Sweet Grass County is among the most consistently Republican counties in the state or nation. The last, and one of the only, times the Democratic candidate carried the county was in 1936 when Franklin D. Roosevelt won every county in Montana. In both the 1916 and 1932 Presidential elections Sweet Grass County was the only county in Montana to be won by the Republican.[12]

Sweet Grass County is also Republican at a local level. Democratic governor Brian Schweitzer has never won a majority of the county's vote and no Democratic gubernatorial candidate has carried the county in decades.[13] In the Montana Senate it is represented by Republican Nels Swandal and in the Montana House of Representatives it is represented by Republican Alan Redfield.[14]

United States presidential election results for Sweet Grass County, Montana[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 1,840 75.22% 549 22.44% 57 2.33%
2016 1,595 75.70% 402 19.08% 110 5.22%
2012 1,594 75.30% 475 22.44% 48 2.27%
2008 1,494 71.72% 541 25.97% 48 2.30%
2004 1,509 76.10% 445 22.44% 29 1.46%
2000 1,450 78.55% 305 16.52% 91 4.93%
1996 1,109 62.23% 469 26.32% 204 11.45%
1992 880 48.86% 395 21.93% 526 29.21%
1988 1,242 71.67% 462 26.66% 29 1.67%
1984 1,417 78.59% 378 20.97% 8 0.44%
1980 1,169 67.22% 440 25.30% 130 7.48%
1976 1,135 68.41% 502 30.26% 22 1.33%
1972 1,260 76.00% 350 21.11% 48 2.90%
1968 1,043 70.00% 336 22.55% 111 7.45%
1964 856 56.54% 653 43.13% 5 0.33%
1960 1,096 67.78% 521 32.22% 0 0.00%
1956 1,129 71.28% 455 28.72% 0 0.00%
1952 1,315 77.17% 372 21.83% 17 1.00%
1948 843 61.71% 499 36.53% 24 1.76%
1944 897 62.29% 533 37.01% 10 0.69%
1940 861 53.45% 741 46.00% 9 0.56%
1936 664 43.01% 783 50.71% 97 6.28%
1932 784 49.18% 761 47.74% 49 3.07%
1928 1,163 72.46% 435 27.10% 7 0.44%
1924 853 59.57% 248 17.32% 331 23.11%
1920 1,035 73.51% 349 24.79% 24 1.70%
1916 890 50.20% 839 47.32% 44 2.48%
1912 181 19.21% 277 29.41% 484 51.38%
1908 526 63.76% 264 32.00% 35 4.24%
1904 538 70.51% 174 22.80% 51 6.68%

Culture

The county was the setting of the 2009 sheep-herding documentary Sweetgrass. The film takes place in many counties in Montana but the title comes from this county.

Communities

City

Census-designated place

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. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Montana Place Names from Alzada to Zortman. Helena, MT: Montana Historical Society Press. 2009. p. 259.
  4. ^ a b About Sweet Grass County (accessed January 7, 2019)
  5. ^ Koeppen-Geiger Classification for US counties (accessed January 7, 2019)
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ Geographie Electorale
  13. ^ David Leip, US Election Atlas
  14. ^ Montana legislative site
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  16. ^ McLeod Post Office MT Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)
  17. ^ Meyers Creek MT Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)

45°49′N 109°56′W / 45.81°N 109.94°W / 45.81; -109.94

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