Gallatin County, Montana

Gallatin County
Gallatin County Courthouse in Bozeman
Gallatin County Courthouse in Bozeman
Official seal of Gallatin County
Map of Montana highlighting Gallatin 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°34′N 111°10′W / 45.56°N 111.17°W / 45.56; -111.17
Country United States
State Montana
Founded1865
Named forGallatin River (Albert Gallatin)
SeatBozeman
Largest cityBozeman
Area
 • Total2,632 sq mi (6,820 km2)
 • Land2,603 sq mi (6,740 km2)
 • Water29 sq mi (80 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total118,960
 • Estimate 
(2022)
124,857 Increase
 • Density45/sq mi (17/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.gallatin.mt.gov
  • Montana county number 06

Gallatin County is located in the U.S. state of Montana. With its county seat in Bozeman, it is the second-most populous county in Montana, with a population of 118,960 in the 2020 Census.[1]

The county's prominent geographical features are the Bridger mountains in the north, and the Gallatin mountains and Gallatin River in the south, named by Meriwether Lewis in 1805 for Albert Gallatin,[2] the United States Treasury Secretary who formulated the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

At the southern end of the county, West Yellowstone's entrance into Yellowstone National Park accounts for around half of all park visitors. Big Sky Resort, one of the largest ski resorts in the United States, lies in Gallatin and neighboring Madison counties, midway between Bozeman and West Yellowstone.

History

During the territorial era, a small patch of land known as "Lost Dakota" existed as a remote exclave of Dakota Territory until it was transferred to Gallatin County, Montana Territory, in 1873.[3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,632 square miles (6,820 km2), of which 2,603 square miles (6,740 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (1.1%) is water.[4] The county attained its present boundaries in 1978, when the former Yellowstone National Park (part) county-equivalent was dissolved and apportioned between Gallatin County and Park County. Gallatin County received 99.155 square miles (256.8 km2) of land area and 0.119 square miles (0.3 km2) of water area, whereas Park County received 146.229 square miles (378.7 km2) of land area and 0.608 square miles (1.6 km2) of water area. The geographies transferred are known now as Census Tract 14 in Gallatin County, and as Census Tract 6 in Park County.

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18701,578
18803,643130.9%
18906,24671.5%
19009,55352.9%
191014,07947.4%
192015,86412.7%
193016,1241.6%
194018,26913.3%
195021,90219.9%
196026,04518.9%
197032,50524.8%
198042,86531.9%
199050,46317.7%
200067,83134.4%
201089,51332.0%
2020118,96032.9%
2022 (est.)124,857[5]5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960,[7] 1900–1990,[8]
1990–2000,[9] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 118,960 people and 46,990 households living in the county.[10] The population density was 45.2 inhabitants per square mile (17.5/km2). There were 52,835 housing units in the county at an average density of 20.1 per square mile (7.8/km2).[10] The racial make of the county was 89.0% White, 1.2% Asian, 0.9% American Indian, 0.4% Black of African American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 6.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic of Latino origin made up 5.0% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 25.4% were German, 14.8% were Irish, 12.4% were English, 8.8% were Norwegian, 4.6% were Italian, 4.0% were French, 3.5% were Scottish, 2.2% were Polish and 0.3% were Subsaharan African.[10]

Of the 46,990 households, 48.2% were a Married-couple family household, 23.9% were a "Male householder, no spouse present, family household", and 20.4% were a "Female householder, no spouse present, family household". The averager family size was 2.96 in the county. The median age was 33.1 years old, compared with 40.1 in Montana.[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $75,418 in the county, significantly higher than the $57,153 median household income in all of Montana. 11.9% of the population was below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under 18 and 6.5% of those over 65.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 89,513 people, 36,550 households, and 21,263 families living in the county. The population density was 34.4 inhabitants per square mile (13.3/km2). There were 42,289 housing units at an average density of 16.2 per square mile (6.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.1% White, 1.1% Asian, 0.9% American Indian, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 32.2% were German, 18.1% were Irish, 14.7% were English, 9.4% were Norwegian, and 3.5% were American.

Of the 36,550 households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 41.8% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 32.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,136 and the median income for a family was $65,029. Males had a median income of $42,245 versus $31,349 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,423. About 7.4% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Gallatin County has traditionally favored Republican presidential candidates, often by large margins. Recent changes to Gallatin County's demographics (including migration from Democratic-leaning areas,[12] and younger voters adopting more liberal political positions)[13] have made the county more competitive.

Gallatin County is home to the flagship campus of Montana State University, which contributes to its democratic lean.

Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton narrowly won Gallatin County in 2008 and 2016 respectively, with Republican Mitt Romney winning in 2012. 2020 Democratic candidate Joe Biden won Gallatin County by the largest margin for a Democrat since Franklin Delano Roosevelt's victory in 1940.

United States presidential election results for Gallatin County, Montana[14][15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 31,696 44.65% 37,044 52.18% 2,248 3.17%
2016 23,802 44.23% 24,246 45.05% 5,771 10.72%
2012 24,358 50.84% 21,961 45.84% 1,589 3.32%
2008 22,578 46.77% 24,205 50.14% 1,489 3.08%
2004 22,392 56.20% 16,405 41.18% 1,045 2.62%
2000 18,833 58.78% 10,009 31.24% 3,198 9.98%
1996 14,559 50.07% 10,972 37.73% 3,547 12.20%
1992 11,109 38.60% 9,535 33.13% 8,135 28.27%
1988 13,214 56.94% 9,527 41.06% 464 2.00%
1984 15,643 64.80% 8,163 33.82% 334 1.38%
1980 12,738 58.63% 5,747 26.45% 3,241 14.92%
1976 11,062 63.36% 6,215 35.60% 183 1.05%
1972 10,663 66.28% 5,096 31.68% 329 2.05%
1968 7,433 62.06% 3,818 31.88% 727 6.07%
1964 5,621 49.97% 5,600 49.79% 27 0.24%
1960 6,870 64.49% 3,761 35.31% 21 0.20%
1956 6,680 67.20% 3,260 32.80% 0 0.00%
1952 6,998 71.93% 2,697 27.72% 34 0.35%
1948 4,220 53.08% 3,548 44.63% 182 2.29%
1944 3,120 47.04% 3,479 52.46% 33 0.50%
1940 3,430 41.84% 4,718 57.55% 50 0.61%
1936 2,151 30.01% 4,697 65.53% 320 4.46%
1932 2,553 35.98% 4,359 61.44% 183 2.58%
1928 3,861 61.11% 2,423 38.35% 34 0.54%
1924 2,494 44.35% 1,564 27.81% 1,565 27.83%
1920 3,238 54.70% 2,370 40.03% 312 5.27%
1916 2,527 40.07% 3,661 58.06% 118 1.87%
1912 683 21.07% 1,407 43.41% 1,151 35.51%
1908 1,519 47.19% 1,485 46.13% 215 6.68%
1904 1,700 55.77% 1,130 37.07% 218 7.15%
1900 1,146 45.53% 1,297 51.53% 74 2.94%
1896 423 20.07% 1,649 78.23% 36 1.71%
1892 998 43.32% 1,144 49.65% 162 7.03%

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Education

Unified (K-12) districts include:[16]

  • Big Sky School K-12
  • West Yellowstone K-12

High school districts include:[16]

  • Belgrade High School District
  • Bozeman High School District
  • Manhattan High School District
  • Three Forks High School District
  • Willow Creek High School District

Elementary school districts include:[16]

  • Amsterdam Elementary School District
  • Anderson Elementary School District
  • Belgrade Elementary School District
  • Bozeman Elementary School District
  • Cottonwood Elementary School District
  • Gallatin Gateway Elementary School District
  • LaMotte Elementary School District
  • Malmborg Elementary School District
  • Manhattan School
  • Monforton Elementary School District
  • Pass Creek Elementary School District
  • Shields Valley Elementary School District
  • Springhill Elementary School District
  • Three Forks Elementary School District
  • Willow Creek Elementary School District

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  2. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 133.
  3. ^ Beyond 50: American States That Might Have Been : NPR
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ a b c d "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  11. ^ Star, Indianapolis. "Gallatin County, Montana Demographics and Housing 2020 Decennial Census". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  12. ^ Cohen, Micah (June 21, 2012). "Presidential Geography: Montana". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  13. ^ "A wider partisan and ideological gap between younger, older generations". Pew Research Center. March 20, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  15. ^ Burnham, Walter Dean. "Presidential ballots, 1836-1892". archive.org. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  16. ^ a b c "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Gallatin County, MT" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2024. - Text list

External links

  • Gallatin County, MT Official Website
  • Gallatin County Emergency Management

45°34′N 111°10′W / 45.56°N 111.17°W / 45.56; -111.17

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