Editing Carter County, Montana

{{Short description|County in Montana, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county        = Carter County
 | state               = Montana
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = 
 | founded year         = 1917
 | seat wl             = Ekalaka
 | largest city wl     = Ekalaka
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 3348
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 3341
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 7.5
 | area percentage      = 0.2
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 1415
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2022
 | population_est       = 1382 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi = auto
 | ex image             = Ekalaka MT Carter County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Carter County Courthouse in Ekalaka
 | district             = 2nd
 | time zone          = Mountain
 | named for            = [[Thomas H. Carter]]
 | web                  = www.cartercountymt.info
 | footnotes            = 
* Montana county number 42 }}
[[File:Aragonite-4jb19-lc113b.jpg|thumb|[[Aragonite]] specimen from Carter County]]
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'''Carter County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Montana]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 1,415,<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/cartercountymontana/PST045222 |access-date=May 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> making it the seventh-least populous county in Montana. The [[county seat]] is [[Ekalaka, Montana|Ekalaka]].<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>

==History==
Carter County was named for [[Thomas H. Carter|Thomas Henry Carter]], the state's first congressman (representative in Congress from the [[Montana Territory]], followed by first representative from the state of Montana to the US House of Representatives). Prior to settlement the land of Carter County was occupied by the [[Sioux Indians|Sioux]] tribe.<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}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|3348|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|3341|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.5|sqmi}} (0.2%) 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>

[[Medicine Rocks State Park]] is located 14 miles north of Ekalaka. Weathering has given the rocks an unusual texture. The site was used by Indian hunting parties.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Visit MT |title=Medicine Rocks State Park |url=http://custer.visitmt.com/categories/moreinfo.asp?IDRRecordID=3106&siteid=129 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717221953/http://custer.visitmt.com/categories/moreinfo.asp?IDRRecordID=3106&siteid=129 |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |access-date=July 20, 2011}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Powder River County, Montana|Powder River County]] - west
* [[Custer County, Montana|Custer County]] - northwest
* [[Fallon County, Montana|Fallon County]] - north
* [[Harding County, South Dakota]] - east
* [[Butte County, South Dakota]] - southeast
* [[Crook County, Wyoming]] - south
{{div col end}}

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

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 3972
|1930= 4136
|1940= 3280
|1950= 2798
|1960= 2493
|1970= 1956
|1980= 1799
|1990= 1503
|2000= 1360
|2010= 1160
|2020= 1415
|estyear=2022
|estimate=1382
|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 9, 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 1,415 people and 628 households in Carter County.<ref name="two">{{Cite web |title=Carter County, Montana; Montana |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/cartercountymontana,MT/PST045221 |access-date=February 27, 2022 |website=census.gov}}</ref> Of the population, 96.7% were [[White Americans|White]], 0.2% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 1.0% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.1% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], and 1.9% [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]]. 1.1% were Hispanic. 1.0% had a different primary language to English. The county was 50.1% female, 49.9% male.<ref name="two" />

The median household income was $48,000, $6,970 below the median of Montana. 61.7% of the population aged over 16 were in the civilian labor force. 14.7% of the population were classed as living in poverty. 2.4% of the population had a disability. 92.5% of the population graduated high school, with 20.2% obtaining a bachelor's degree or higher. 86.5% of households had a computer, with 77.9% having broadband access.<ref name="two" />

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 1,160 people, 532 households, and 354 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|0.3|PD/sqmi}}. There were 810 housing units at an average density of {{convert|0.2|/sqmi}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.8% white, 0.9% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 41.5% were [[Germans|German]], 19.6% were [[English people|English]], 18.8% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 12.3% were [[Irish people|Irish]], and 4.3% were [[Americans|American]].

Of the 532 households, 20.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.5% were non-families, and 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.65. The median age was 50.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,703 and the median income for a family was $47,955. Males had a median income of $26,736 versus $18,274 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,681. About 8.5% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
Carter County has voted for the Republican candidate in every presidential election since [[1952 United States presidential election|1952]], with [[Harry S. Truman]] being the last Democrat to carry the [[1948 United States presidential election|county]].

{{PresHead|place=Carter 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|760|75|19|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|775|74|15|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|678|70|38|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|678|96|22|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|573|111|38|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|623|76|10|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|573|53|19|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|522|150|93|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|497|154|223|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|686|242|14|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|823|194|11|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|766|237|55|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|558|344|70|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|726|218|39|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|624|269|110|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|576|453|0|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|688|383|4|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|698|436|0|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|921|351|5|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|501|568|15|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|507|610|1|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|556|734|2|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|464|929|21|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|565|915|31|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|763|420|9|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|669|283|283|Montana}}
{{PresFoot|1920|Republican|782|342|46|Montana}}

==Communities==
===Town===
* [[Ekalaka, Montana|Ekalaka]] (county seat)

===Census-designated place===
* [[Alzada, Montana|Alzada]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* Albion<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Albion,+MT+59311/@45.1872246,-104.2856464,2983m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x53321afa88552959:0xa09389fe0c45deb6!8m2!3d45.1872104!4d-104.2768916 ''Albion, Carter County MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)]</ref>
* Belltower<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Belltower,+MT+59324/@45.6383434,-104.3859246,2959m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x5331ddce13bba6fd:0x4e7031c918416e88!8m2!3d45.6383292!4d-104.3771698 ''Belltower, Carter County MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Boyes, Montana|Boyes]]<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Boyes,+Hammond,+MT+59332/@45.2680563,-105.0398449,2979m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x53317c42f1869a33:0x722b03a709759e0c!8m2!3d45.268042!4d-105.0310901 ''Boyes, Carter County MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Hammond, Montana|Hammond]]
* [[Mill Iron, Montana|Mill Iron]]
* [[Ridge, Montana|Ridge]]<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ridge,+MT+59311/@45.0469437,-105.0290121,2991m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x5331ea2e1333a08f:0x64cc85e0fac1381c!2sCarter+County,+MT!3b1!8m2!3d45.4522431!4d-104.3707837!3m4!1s0x5333c53b5ad6e3f9:0x96720acce909bb28!8m2!3d45.0469297!4d-105.0202578 ''Ridge, Carter County MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)]</ref>
{{div col end}}

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

==See also==
* [[List of lakes in Carter County, Montana]]
* [[List of mountains in Carter County, Montana]]

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

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130221085345/http://www.cartercountymt.info/ CarterCountyMT.info]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Carter County, Montana
|North     = [[Fallon County, Montana|Fallon County]]
|East      = [[Harding County, South Dakota]]
|Southeast = [[Butte County, South Dakota]]
|South     = [[Crook County, Wyoming]]
|West      = [[Powder River County, Montana|Powder River County]]
|Northwest = [[Custer County, Montana|Custer County]]
}}

{{Carter County, Montana}}
{{Montana}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|45.50|-104.54|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MT_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Carter County, Montana| ]]
[[Category:1917 establishments in Montana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1917]]