Editing Custer County, Montana

{{Other uses|Custer County (disambiguation){{!}}Custer County}}
{{Short description|County in Montana, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Custer County
 | state                = Montana
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = June 2
 | founded year         = 1865
 | seat wl              = Miles City
 | largest city wl      = Miles City
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 3793
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 3783
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 9.9
 | area percentage      = 0.3
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 11867
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2022
 | population_est       = 12032 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | ex image             = Miles City MT Custer County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Custer County Courthouse of [[Art Deco architecture|Art Deco]] style architecture of the [[1930s]] era, in the [[county seat]] and largest town of Miles City
 | website              = https://custercountymt.com/
 | district             = 2nd
 | named for            = [[George Armstrong Custer]] (1839-1876)
 | footnotes            = 
* Montana county number 14
}}

'''Custer County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the southeast part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Montana]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. census]], the population was 11,867.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/custercountymontana/PST045222 |access-date=April 5, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] and largest town is [[Miles City, Montana|Miles City]].<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 established after the end of the [[American Civil War]] (1861-1865), on June 2, [[1865]], as one of the nine original counties of the new western federal [[Montana Territory|Territory of Montana]], which had been formed the previous May of [[1864]] by the [[United States Congress]], with the approval of 16th [[President of the United States|President]] [[Abraham Lincoln]] (1809-1865, served 1861-1865). It was originally named [[Big Horn County, Montana Territory|Big Horn County]] of the old Montana Territory,<ref>[[Big Horn County, Montana Territory]] was not the same county as present-day [[Big Horn County, Montana]] of statehood status.</ref> and was renamed on February 16, [[1877]], in honor of [[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[George Armstrong Custer]] (1839-1876), commander of the famous [[7th United States Cavalry|7th Cavalry Regiment]] of the [[United States Army]], recently massacred and killed in the nearby [[Battle of the Little Bighorn]], in the later portion of the [[American Indian Wars]], the year before in June [[1876]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Brief Custer County History |url=http://ccsomt.com/goverment/a-brief-custer-county-history/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028103251/http://ccsomt.com/goverment/a-brief-custer-county-history/ |archive-date=October 28, 2014 |access-date=December 1, 2014 |publisher=Custer County Montana}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|3793|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|3783|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|9.9|sqmi}} (0.3%) 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>

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Custer County has a mostly [[cold semi-arid climate]], abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

{{Weather box
|location = Mizpah, Montana, 1991—2020 normals, extremes 1960—present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 69
|Feb record high F = 73
|Mar record high F = 85
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 101
|Jun record high F = 111
|Jul record high F = 112
|Aug record high F = 110
|Sep record high F = 106
|Oct record high F = 96
|Nov record high F = 80
|Dec record high F = 70

|Jan avg record high F = 51.6
|Feb avg record high F = 56.3
|Mar avg record high F = 71.9
|Apr avg record high F = 81.3
|May avg record high F = 87.2
|Jun avg record high F = 95.8
|Jul avg record high F = 102.5
|Aug avg record high F = 101.5
|Sep avg record high F = 97.1
|Oct avg record high F = 84.2
|Nov avg record high F = 67.9
|Dec avg record high F = 54.2
|year avg record high F = 104.4

|Jan high F = 32.6
|Feb high F = 36.9
|Mar high F = 49.7
|Apr high F = 61.2
|May high F = 70.9
|Jun high F = 81.1
|Jul high F = 91.3
|Aug high F = 90.9
|Sep high F = 79.4
|Oct high F = 62.1
|Nov high F = 46.4
|Dec high F = 35.2
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 19.4
|Feb mean F = 23.7
|Mar mean F = 35.4
|Apr mean F = 46.1
|May mean F = 55.8
|Jun mean F = 65.6
|Jul mean F = 73.5
|Aug mean F = 72.0
|Sep mean F = 61.0
|Oct mean F = 46.2
|Nov mean F = 32.3
|Dec mean F = 21.9
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 6.3
|Feb low F = 10.6
|Mar low F = 21.0
|Apr low F = 31.0
|May low F = 40.8
|Jun low F = 50.1
|Jul low F = 55.6
|Aug low F = 53.0
|Sep low F = 42.6
|Oct low F = 30.4
|Nov low F = 18.3
|Dec low F = 8.6
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -23.5
|Feb avg record low F = -15.4
|Mar avg record low F = -4.1
|Apr avg record low F = 13.1
|May avg record low F = 24.3
|Jun avg record low F = 36.1
|Jul avg record low F = 43.2
|Aug avg record low F = 37.6
|Sep avg record low F = 25.5
|Oct avg record low F = 12.3
|Nov avg record low F = -6.3
|Dec avg record low F = -17.2
|year avg record low F = -32.0

|Jan record low F = -45
|Feb record low F = -45
|Mar record low F = -40
|Apr record low F = -5
|May record low F = 13
|Jun record low F = 21
|Jul record low F = 33
|Aug record low F = 31
|Sep record low F = 16
|Oct record low F = -11
|Nov record low F = -29
|Dec record low F = -49

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.44
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.48
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.70
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.65
|May precipitation inch = 2.92
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.31
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.78
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.02
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.26
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.04
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.50
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.41
|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 5.6
|Feb snow inch = 5.0
|Mar snow inch = 5.4
|Apr snow inch = 2.2
|May snow inch = 0.8
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.1
|Oct snow inch = 1.6
|Nov snow inch = 3.7
|Dec snow inch = 5.5
|year snow inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 6.2
|Feb precipitation days = 6.3
|Mar precipitation days = 6.3
|Apr precipitation days = 8.4
|May precipitation days = 10.5
|Jun precipitation days = 10.4
|Jul precipitation days = 8.0
|Aug precipitation days = 5.8
|Sep precipitation days = 6.3
|Oct precipitation days = 7.2
|Nov precipitation days = 5.7
|Dec precipitation days = 5.9
|year precipitation days = 87.0

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 4.7
|Feb snow days = 4.4
|Mar snow days = 3.2
|Apr snow days = 1.3
|May snow days = 0.3
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 1.0
|Nov snow days = 3.2
|Dec snow days = 4.8

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name="NOAA">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00245754&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |access-date=August 6, 2022 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration}}</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name="NOWData">{{Cite web |title=NOAA Online Weather Data |url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=byz |access-date=August 6, 2022 |publisher=National Weather Service}}</ref>
}}

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[Image:I-94.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 94 in Montana|Interstate 94]]
* [[Image:US 12.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 12 in Montana|U.S. Highway 12]]
* [[Image:US 212.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 212#Montana and Wyoming|U.S. Highway 212]]
* [[Image:MT-59.svg|20px]] [[Montana Highway 59]]
{{div col end}}

===Transit===
*[[Jefferson Lines]]

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Prairie County, Montana|Prairie County]] - north
* [[Fallon County, Montana|Fallon County]] - east
* [[Carter County, Montana|Carter County]] - southeast
* [[Powder River County, Montana|Powder River County]] - south
* [[Rosebud County, Montana|Rosebud County]] - west
* [[Garfield County, Montana|Garfield County]] - northwest
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 38
|1880= 2510
|1890= 5308
|1900= 7891
|1910= 14123
|1920= 12194
|1930= 11242
|1940= 10422
|1950= 12661
|1960= 13227
|1970= 12174
|1980= 13109
|1990= 11697
|2000= 11696
|2010= 11699
|2020= 11867
|estyear=2022
|estimate=12032
|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=April 5, 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/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=August 11, 2012 |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 11,867 people living in the county.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 11,699 people, 5,031 households, and 3,014 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|3.1|PD/sqmi}}. There were 5,560 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.5|/sqmi}}. The racial makeup of the county was 95.5% white, 1.7% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.5% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 33.6% were [[Germans|German]], 18.3% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 14.3% were [[Americans|American]], 14.1% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], and 10.6% were [[English people|English]].

Of the 5,031 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.1% were non-families, and 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 42.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,913 and the median income for a family was $49,011. Males had a median income of $37,535 versus $26,576 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,676. About 12.4% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
Custer County is a staunchly Republican county, like many others in eastern Montana, increasingly so in recent elections. The last Democrat to carry the county was [[Lyndon B. Johnson|Lyndon Johnson]] in 1964.
{{PresHead|place=Custer County, Montana|source=<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 vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|4,208|1,385|208|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,205|1,514|141|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,657|1,176|352|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,373|1,833|159|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,047|2,267|138|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,297|1,630|121|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,156|1,501|248|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,467|2,115|747|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,105|1,968|1,538|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,007|2,343|112|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,879|1,982|58|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,533|1,822|461|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|3,120|2,425|102|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,486|1,875|145|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,831|1,760|285|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,302|2,790|9|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,943|2,393|15|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,240|2,317|0|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,461|2,050|24|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,845|2,359|59|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,830|2,038|29|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,017|2,782|35|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,381|3,196|136|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,675|2,729|124|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,503|1,386|17|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|1,654|412|1,712|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,347|1,127|163|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,615|2,602|142|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|695|1,068|1,440|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|967|531|96|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|824|285|32|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|980|477|7|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|723|676|5|Montana}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|680|537|74|Montana}}

==Economy==
Agriculture ([[dryland farming]]) and [[Ranch|cattle raising]] provide the bulk of Custer County economy.<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> Miles City serves as the center of commerce in an area extending for 100 miles in every direction.<ref name="dli">{{Cite web |last=Montana Dept. of Labor and Industry |date=September 2010 |title=Demographic & Economic Information for Custer County |url=http://www.ourfactsyourfuture.org/admin/uploadedPublications/3519_CF09_Custer.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906171127/http://www.ourfactsyourfuture.org/admin/uploadedPublications/3519_CF09_Custer.pdf |archive-date=September 6, 2011 |access-date=July 23, 2011}}</ref>  As of 2009 the county's largest employers were Holy Rosary Healthcare, Sanjel USA, Stockman Bank, and Walmart.<ref name=dli/>

==Communities==
[[File:Custer County Courthouse - Miles City MT.jpg|thumb|County Courthouse in Miles City]]

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

===Town===
* [[Ismay, Montana|Ismay]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* Bonfield, Montana<ref>{{GNIS|769098|Garland}}</ref>
* [[Kinsey, Montana|Kinsey]]
* Knowlton, Montana<ref>{{GNIS|773109|Garland}}</ref>
* Mizpah, Montana<ref>{{GNIS|774307|Garland}}</ref>
* Tusler, Montana<ref>{{GNIS|777817|Tusler}}</ref>
* [[Volborg, Montana|Volborg]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of lakes in Custer County, Montana]]
* [[List of mountains in Custer County, Montana]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Custer County, Montana]]

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

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Custer County, Montana
|North     = [[Prairie County, Montana|Prairie County]]
|East      = [[Fallon County, Montana|Fallon County]]
|Southeast = [[Carter County, Montana|Carter County]]
|South     = [[Powder River County, Montana|Powder River County]]
|West      = [[Rosebud County, Montana|Rosebud County]]
|Northwest = [[Garfield County, Montana|Garfield County]]
}}

{{Custer County, Montana}}
{{Montana}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|46.27|-105.58|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MT_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Custer County, Montana| ]]
[[Category:1877 establishments in Montana Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1877]]