Editing Sweet Grass County, Montana

{{Short description|County in Montana, United States}}
{{For|the town in the same state|Sweet Grass, Montana}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Sweet Grass County
 | state                = Montana
 | ex image             = Carneige Library Big Timber Montana 02.JPG
 | ex image size        = 220px
 | ex image cap         = [[Carnegie Public Library (Big Timber, Montana)|Carnegie library]] designed by [[Link & Haire]] in [[Big Timber, Montana]]
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = 
 | founded year         = 1895
 | seat wl              = Big Timber
 | largest city wl      = Big Timber
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1862
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1855
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 6.8
 | area percentage      = 0.4
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 3678
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2022
 | population_est       = 3715 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | web                  = sweetgrasscountygov.com
 | district             = 2nd
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | footnotes            = 
* Montana county number 40
 | named for            = [[Hierochloe|Sweet grass]]
}}

'''Sweet Grass 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 3,678.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sweetgrasscountymontana/PST045222 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Big Timber, Montana|Big Timber]].<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was founded in 1895.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=08rAI9NEbcYC&pg=PA259 |title=Montana Place Names from Alzada to Zortman |publisher=Montana Historical Society Press |year=2009 |location=Helena, MT |page=259}}</ref>

==History==
The [[Montana Legislature]] authorized Sweet Grass County in 1895, taking parts of [[Park County, Montana|Park]], [[Meagher County, Montana|Meagher]], and [[Yellowstone County, Montana|Yellowstone]] counties. That boundary was altered in 1913 when [[Stillwater County]] was formed from a portion of Sweet Grass; again in 1917 with the formation of [[Wheatland County, Montana|Wheatland County]], and in 1920 with the formation of [[Golden Valley County, Montana|Golden Valley County]].<ref name="AB">[http://sweetgrasscountygov.com/about/about-sweet-grass-county/ ''About Sweet Grass County'' (accessed January 7, 2019)]</ref>

==Climate==
Sweet Grass County's climate is generally dry and cool, specified as Dfc in the Köppen-Geiger climate classification (subarctic or boreal).<ref>[http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/data/KoeppenGeiger.UScounty.txt Koeppen-Geiger Classification for US counties (accessed January 7, 2019)]</ref> Average annual precipitation of {{convert|15|in|mm}} comes in rain and snow. The summer precipitation accumulation (April through September) averages {{convert|10.5|in|mm}}. The average summer high temperature is {{convert|75.3|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and the average minimum temperature during that period is {{convert|44.2|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. July and August are the hottest months. The annual average high temperature is {{convert|60.6|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and the annual average minimum temperature is {{convert|33.6|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. The coldest temperature recorded in the county in recent times was {{convert|-47|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in February 1936, and the warmest was {{convert|107|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in July 2002. Big Timber receives 286 sunny days on average.<ref name=AB/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1862|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1855|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|6.8|sqmi}} (0.4%) 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 30, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:I-90.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 90 in Montana|Interstate 90]]
* [[Image:US 191.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 191#Montana|U.S. Highway 191]]
* [[Image:US 10.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 10]] (Former)

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

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Wheatland County, Montana|Wheatland County]] - north
* [[Golden Valley County, Montana|Golden Valley County]] - northeast
* [[Stillwater County, Montana|Stillwater County]] - east
* [[Park County, Montana|Park County]] - west
* [[Meagher County, Montana|Meagher County]] - northwest
{{div col end}}

===National protected areas===
* [[Custer National Forest]] (part)
* [[Gallatin National Forest]] (part)
* [[Lewis and Clark National Forest]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 3086
|1910= 4029
|1920= 4926
|1930= 3944
|1940= 3719
|1950= 3621
|1960= 3290
|1970= 2980
|1980= 3216
|1990= 3154
|2000= 3609
|2010= 3651
|2020= 3678
|estyear=2022
|estimate=3715
|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 30, 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 30, 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 30, 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 30, 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 3,678 people living in the county.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 3,651 people, 1,590 households, and 1,045 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|2.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 2,148 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.2|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.6% white, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 25.3% were [[German Americans|German]], 22.6% were [[Norwegian Americans|Norwegian]], 13.0% were [[American ancestry|American]], 12.8% were [[Irish Americans|Irish]], 10.8% were [[English Americans|English]], and 7.3% were [[Scottish Americans|Scottish]].

Of the 1,590 households, 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.3% were non-families, and 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 46.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,723 and the median income for a family was $56,552. Males had a median income of $35,385 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,785. About 10% of the families and 12.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
In presidential elections, Sweet Grass County is among the most consistently Republican counties in the state and the nation. The last, and one of the only, times the Democratic candidate carried the county was in 1936 when [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] won every county in Montana. In both the 1916 and 1932 Presidential elections, Sweet Grass County was the only county in Montana to be won by the Republican.<ref>[http://geoelections.free.fr/USA/elec_comtes/1916.htm Geographie Electorale]</ref>

The county is also Republican at a local level. In 2025 Governor [[Greg Gianforte]] won with 75% of the vote.<ref name="2025 results">{{cite web |title=2024 General Election |url=https://electionresults.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=STATE&map=CTY |publisher=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> Previous Democratic governor [[Brian Schweitzer]] never won a majority of the county's vote and no Democratic gubernatorial candidate has carried the county in decades.<ref> [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/comparemaps.php?year=2008&fips=30&f=1&off=5&elect=0 David Leip, US Election Atlas]</ref> In 2025, the [[Montana Senate]] is represented by Republican [[Wylie Galt]] and the [[Montana House of Representatives]] is represented by Republican [[Randyn Gregg]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sen. Wylie Galt |url=https://projects.montanafreepress.org/capitol-tracker-2025/lawmakers/Wylie-Galt/ |publisher=Montana Free Press |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rep. Randyn Gregg |url=https://projects.montanafreepress.org/capitol-tracker-2025/lawmakers/Randyn-Gregg/ |publisher=Montana Free Press |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Sweet Grass 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 3, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,789|525|67|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,840|549|57|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,595|402|110|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,594|475|48|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,494|541|48|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,509|445|29|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,450|305|91|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,109|469|204|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|880|395|526|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,242|462|29|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,417|378|8|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,169|440|130|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,135|502|22|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,260|350|48|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,043|336|111|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|856|653|5|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,096|521|0|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,129|455|0|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,315|372|17|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|843|499|24|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|897|533|10|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|861|741|9|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|664|783|97|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|784|761|49|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,163|435|7|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|853|248|331|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,035|349|24|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|890|839|44|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|181|277|484|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|526|264|35|Montana}}
{{PresFoot|1904|Republican|538|174|51|Montana}}

==Culture==
The county was the setting of the 2009 sheep-herding documentary ''[[Sweetgrass (film)|Sweetgrass]]''. The film takes place in many counties in Montana but the title comes from this county.

==Communities==
===City===
* [[Big Timber, Montana|Big Timber]] (county seat)

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

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Carney, Montana|Carney]]
* [[McLeod, Montana|McLeod]]<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/McLeod,+Mc+Leod,+MT+59052/@45.6627131,-110.1247776,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x53458833e5f6b665:0xb1b8df658c808b3!8m2!3d45.6627139!4d-110.1160228 ''McLeod Post Office MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)]</ref>
* Meyers Creek<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Meyers+Creek,+MT+59061/@45.4943823,-109.9406022,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x5345f5e91bd01d2b:0x12b3d5feec5fbf3e!2sSweet+Grass+County,+MT!3b1!8m2!3d45.7672796!4d-109.8979907!3m4!1s0x534f6f2d14764043:0x556a29187a6ae9a7!8m2!3d45.4944354!4d-109.9317741 ''Meyers Creek MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Melville, Montana|Melville]]
* [[Quebec, Montana|Quebec]]
* [[Sourdough, Montana|Sourdough]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of lakes in Sweet Grass County, Montana]]
* [[List of mountains in Sweet Grass County, Montana]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Montana#Sweet Grass County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Sweet Grass County, Montana]]

{{Clear}}<!--layout fix for long table-->

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

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Sweet Grass County, Montana
|North     = [[Wheatland County, Montana|Wheatland County]]
|Northeast = [[Golden Valley County, Montana|Golden Valley County]]
|East      = [[Stillwater County, Montana|Stillwater County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Park County, Montana|Park County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Park County, Montana|Park County]]
|Northwest = [[Meagher County, Montana|Meagher County]]
}}

{{Sweet Grass County, Montana}}
{{Montana}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|45.81|-109.94|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MT_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Sweet Grass County, Montana| ]]
[[Category:1895 establishments in Montana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1895]]