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Stillwater County, Montana

Coordinates: 45°40′N 109°23′W / 45.67°N 109.39°W / 45.67; -109.39
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stillwater County, Montana
County
Beartooth Mountains from Park City
Beartooth Mountains from Park City
Map of Montana highlighting Stillwater County
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Coordinates: 45°40′N 109°23′W / 45.67°N 109.39°W / 45.67; -109.39
Country United States
State Montana
Founded1913
Named afterStillwater River
SeatColumbus
Largest townColumbus
Area
 • Total
1,805 sq mi (4,670 km2)
 • Land1,795 sq mi (4,650 km2)
 • Water9.2 sq mi (24 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
8,963
 • Estimate 
(2025)
9,445 Increase
 • Density4.993/sq mi (1.928/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.stillwater.mt.gov
  • Montana county number 32
Mouat chromite mine and mill, 1942

Stillwater County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,963.[1] Its county seat is Columbus.[2]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,805 square miles (4,670 km2), of which 1,795 square miles (4,650 km2) is land and 9.2 square miles (24 km2) (0.5%) is water.[3]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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National protected areas

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19207,630—
19306,253−18.0%
19405,694−8.9%
19505,416−4.9%
19605,5262.0%
19704,632−16.2%
19805,59820.9%
19906,53616.8%
20008,19525.4%
20109,11711.3%
20208,963−1.7%
2025 (est.)9,445[4] Increase5.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960,[6] 1900–1990,[7]
1990–2000,[8] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, there were 8,963 people living in the county.[9] Of the residents, 20.8% were under the age of 18 and 24.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 48.6 years. For every 100 females there were 103.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.5 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.[10]

The racial makeup of the county was 91.7% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.9% from some other race, and 5.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.0% of the population.[9]

There were 3,777 households in the county, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 17.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]

There were 4,659 housing units, of which 18.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.0% were owner-occupied and 19.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.7%.[11]

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 9,117 people, 3,796 households, and 2,657 families in the county. The population density was 5.1 inhabitants per square mile (2.0/km2). There were 4,803 housing units at an average density of 2.7 units per square mile (1.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% white, 0.8% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.4% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 34.7% were German, 14.1% were Irish, 14.0% were English, 10.8% were Norwegian, and 6.9% were American.

Of the 3,796 households, 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.0% were non-families, and 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 45.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $57,227 and the median income for a family was $65,438. Males had a median income of $51,830 versus $26,909 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,168. About 6.0% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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Stillwater County is a heavily Republican county in presidential elections. It has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936.

United States presidential election results for Stillwater County, Montana[12][13][14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1916 918 42.01% 1,197 54.78% 70 3.20%
1920 1,721 70.50% 664 27.20% 56 2.29%
1924 1,412 59.88% 375 15.90% 571 24.22%
1928 1,687 70.06% 711 29.53% 10 0.42%
1932 1,085 44.23% 1,281 52.22% 87 3.55%
1936 1,034 42.69% 1,292 53.34% 96 3.96%
1940 1,255 50.71% 1,201 48.53% 19 0.77%
1944 1,201 56.07% 934 43.60% 7 0.33%
1948 1,137 54.48% 890 42.64% 60 2.87%
1952 1,689 67.02% 816 32.38% 15 0.60%
1956 1,540 60.32% 1,013 39.68% 0 0.00%
1960 1,455 58.41% 1,036 41.59% 0 0.00%
1964 1,140 50.20% 1,130 49.76% 1 0.04%
1968 1,347 61.20% 676 30.71% 178 8.09%
1972 1,698 67.95% 716 28.65% 85 3.40%
1976 1,446 54.88% 1,143 43.38% 46 1.75%
1980 1,828 61.26% 919 30.80% 237 7.94%
1984 2,118 65.01% 1,100 33.76% 40 1.23%
1988 1,920 56.82% 1,407 41.64% 52 1.54%
1992 1,390 38.19% 1,178 32.36% 1,072 29.45%
1996 1,871 49.24% 1,282 33.74% 647 17.03%
2000 2,765 70.57% 925 23.61% 228 5.82%
2004 3,090 73.34% 1,025 24.33% 98 2.33%
2008 2,991 64.09% 1,512 32.40% 164 3.51%
2012 3,337 70.97% 1,248 26.54% 117 2.49%
2016 3,661 75.13% 908 18.63% 304 6.24%
2020 4,462 77.95% 1,156 20.20% 106 1.85%
2024 4,699 79.56% 1,056 17.88% 151 2.56%

Communities

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Town

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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See also

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References

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  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. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  4. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  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. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  10. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  11. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  12. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  13. ^ Stapleton, Corey (November 3, 2020). "2020 STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION CANVASS" (PDF). Secretary of State of Montana. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 24, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  14. ^ Stapleton, Corey (November 3, 2020). "2020 STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION CANVASS ABSTRACT OF WRITE-IN VOTES" (PDF). Secretary of State of Montana. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 24, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  15. ^ Meyers Creek MT Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)
  16. ^ Reed Point MT Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)

Further reading

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  • Hooker, Patty; Museum of the Beartooths (2011). Columbus and Stillwater County. Images of America. Charleston SC: Arcadia Pub. ISBN 9780738574622.
  • Hooker, Patty (2013). Moccasins, Mining & Montana's 34th county: A Centennial Celebration of Stillwater County. Virginia Beach VA: Donning Co. ISBN 9781578648122.

45°40′N 109°23′W / 45.67°N 109.39°W / 45.67; -109.39

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