Editing Broadwater County, Montana

{{Short description|County in Montana, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Broadwater County
 | state                = Montana
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = 
 | founded year         = 1897
 | seat wl              = Townsend
 | largest city wl      = Townsend
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1239
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1193
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 46
 | area percentage      = 3.7
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 6774
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2022
 | population_est       = 7793 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | web                  = https://www.broadwatercountymt.com/
 | ex image             = Broadwater county courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = The Broadwater County Courthouse in Townsend
 | district             = 2nd
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | named for            = [[Charles Arthur Broadwater]]
 | footnotes            = 
* Montana county number 43
}}

'''Broadwater County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Montana]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 6,774.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/broadwatercountymontana/PST045222 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Townsend, Montana|Townsend]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was named for [[Charles Arthur Broadwater]], a noted Montana railroad, real estate, and banking magnate.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Merrill |first=Andrea |title=Montana almanac |last2=Judy Jacobson |publisher=Falcon Publishing |year=1997 |isbn=1-56044-493-2 |location=Helena MT |page=7}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Townsend silos.jpg|thumb|upright|"The Silos" are a major Broadwater County landmark]]
The [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] traveled through what is now Broadwater County as they traced the [[Missouri River]]. Gold was discovered in the [[Big Belt Mountains]] in 1864 which brought several mining towns. In 1881 the [[Northern Pacific Railway]] included a stop in what is now [[Townsend, Montana|Townsend]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Broadwater County Planning Board |date=July 2003 |title=Broadwater County Growth Policy Plan |url=http://comdev.mt.gov/content/CTAP/docs/GrowthPolicies/BroadwaterCountyGrowthPolicy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813210716/http://comdev.mt.gov/content/CTAP/docs/GrowthPolicies/BroadwaterCountyGrowthPolicy |archive-date=August 13, 2011 |access-date=June 1, 2011}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1239|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1193|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|46|sqmi}} (3.7%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_30.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205145322/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_30.txt |archive-date=December 5, 2014 |access-date=November 27, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

The boundaries of the county are roughly formed by the [[Big Belt Mountains]] to the east and north, the [[Elkhorn Mountains]] to the west, and the [[Horseshoe Hills]] to the south.

Broadwater County is perhaps best known as the home of [[Canyon Ferry Lake]], the third largest body of water in Montana. The lake provides essential irrigation to local farms, and serves as a recreation destination for the region, with fishing, boating, swimming, camping, and wildlife viewing opportunities.<ref name="SM">{{Cite web |last=State of Montana |year=2006 |title=Demographic & economic information for Broadwater County |url=https://archive.org/details/EAC30517-A799-4D6E-906C-257ABC4C19CE |access-date=June 1, 2011 |website=Internet Archive}}</ref>

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[Image:I-90.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 90 in Montana|Interstate 90]]
* [[Image:US 12.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 12 in Montana|U.S. Highway 12]]
* [[Image:US 287.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 287#Montana|U.S. Highway 287]]
* [[Image:MT-2.svg|20px]] [[Montana Highway 2]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Meagher County, Montana|Meagher County]] - east
* [[Gallatin County, Montana|Gallatin County]] - south
* [[Jefferson County, Montana|Jefferson County]] - west
* [[Lewis and Clark County, Montana|Lewis and Clark County]] - northwest
{{div col end}}

===National protected area===
* [[Helena National Forest]] (part)

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Broadwater County, Montana|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 2, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,770|885|155|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,173|835|89|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,348|573|212|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,152|764|95|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,875|857|75|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,778|533|45|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,488|462|124|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,029|603|334|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|830|491|521|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,054|592|37|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,345|458|27|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,052|401|111|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|820|557|12|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|916|411|49|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|671|439|126|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|609|595|0|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|680|631|0|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|869|449|0|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|962|435|0|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|704|536|26|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|760|558|5|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|755|854|4|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|502|1,071|24|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|512|988|19|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|743|663|9|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|531|486|391|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|723|622|59|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|584|1,100|62|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|205|451|277|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|326|495|40|Montana}}
{{PresFoot|1904|Democratic|392|403|78|Montana}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 2641
|1910= 3491
|1920= 3239
|1930= 2738
|1940= 3451
|1950= 2922
|1960= 2804
|1970= 2526
|1980= 3267
|1990= 3318
|2000= 4385
|2010= 5612
|2020= 6774
|estyear=2022
|estimate=7793
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=May 8, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=November 27, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1790–1960,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=November 27, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900–1990,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mt190090.txt |access-date=November 27, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1990–2000,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=November 27, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 6,774 people living in the county.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 5,612 people, 2,347 households, and 1,614 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|4.7|PD/sqmi}}. There were 2,695 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.2% white, 1.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 38.7% were [[Germans|German]], 16.2% were [[English people|English]], 15.5% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 7.9% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 6.4% were [[Scottish people|Scottish]], and 2.3% were [[Americans|American]].

Of the 2,347 households, 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.2% were non-families, and 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 45.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,667 and the median income for a family was $46,949. Males had a median income of $34,500 versus $32,014 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,606. About 5.8% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Agriculture is one of the primary industries in Broadwater County. RY Timber and Wheat Montana Bakery were the largest private employers according to the 2000 Census.<ref name=SM/>

==Communities==
[[File:Big Belts and Canyon Ferry.jpg|thumb|Canyon Ferry Reservoir and the Big Belt Mountains near Townsend]]

===City===
* [[Townsend, Montana|Townsend]] (county seat)

===Census-designated places===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Radersburg, Montana|Radersburg]]
* [[Spokane Creek, Montana|Spokane Creek]]
* [[The Silos, Montana|The Silos]]
* [[Toston, Montana|Toston]]
* [[Wheatland, Montana|Wheatland]]
* [[Winston, Montana|Winston]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* Canton<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Canton,+MT+59644/@46.4153282,-111.4863188,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x5344be72af419495:0xa1c82b3935b26600!8m2!3d46.415329!4d-111.477564 ''Canton, Broadwater County MT''  Google Maps (accessed December 31, 2018)]</ref>
* Copper City<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Copper+City,+MT+59752/@45.9785436,-111.5573013,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x53452ae888cfdbeb:0x9915dd8ca82e5b2d!8m2!3d45.981039!4d-111.5494148 ''Copper City, Broadhead County MT''  Google Maps (accessed December 31, 2018)]</ref>
* Diamond City<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Diamond+City,+MT+59644/@46.5971593,-111.4326075,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x53449c77f8fa7d6b:0xdb22719d382b3544!8m2!3d46.5971602!4d-111.4238527 ''Diamond City, Broadwater County MT''  Google Maps (accessed December 31, 2018)]</ref>
* Eustis<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Eustis,+MT+59752/@45.9896494,-111.4753881,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x5345298104ec9bcb:0xcd0bf205af855ee8!8m2!3d45.9896503!4d-111.4666333 ''Eustis, Broadwater County MT''  Google Maps (accessed December 31, 2018)]</ref>
* Holker<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Holker,+MT+59644/@46.2543734,-111.4867773,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x5344c424ab7467bb:0x28611939ce8cca4!8m2!3d46.2543743!4d-111.4780225 ''Holker, Broadwater County MT''  Google Maps (accessed December 31, 2018)]</ref>
* [[Lombard, Montana|Lombard]]
{{div col end}}

===Former communities===
* [[Lombard, Montana|Lombard]]

==Education==
There are three school districts:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st30_mt/schooldistrict_maps/c30007_broadwater/DC20SD_C30007.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Broadwater County, MT|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-10-04}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st30_mt/schooldistrict_maps/c30007_broadwater/DC20SD_C30007_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Townsend K-12 Schools]]
* Three Forks Elementary School District
* Three Forks High School District
The elementary and high school district are both a part of [[Three Forks Public Schools]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apps.opi.mt.gov/SchoolDirectory/frmdirectorydistrictpdf.aspx|title=Directory of Montana Schools|publisher=[[Montana Office of Public Instruction]]|date=2024-03-13|access-date=2024-03-13|page=109/317}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[USS Broadwater (APA-139)|USS ''Broadwater'' (APA-139)]]
* [[List of lakes in Broadwater County, Montana]]
* [[List of mountains in Broadwater County, Montana]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Montana#Broadwater County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Broadwater County MT]]
* [[Yorks Islands]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050104080504/http://www.townsendvalley.com/ TownsendValley.com]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Broadwater County, Montana
|East      = [[Meagher County, Montana|Meagher County]]
|South     = [[Gallatin County, Montana|Gallatin County]]
|West      = [[Jefferson County, Montana|Jefferson County]]
|Northwest = [[Lewis and Clark County, Montana|Lewis and Clark County]]
}}

{{Broadwater County, Montana}}
{{Montana}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|46.33|-111.50|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MT_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Broadwater County, Montana| ]]
[[Category:Montana counties on the Missouri River]]
[[Category:1897 establishments in Montana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1897]]