Editing Valley County, Montana

{{Short description|County in Montana, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Valley County
 | state                = Montana
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = 
 | founded year         = 1893
 | seat wl              = Glasgow
 | largest city wl      = Glasgow
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 5062
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 4926
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 136
 | area percentage      = 2.7
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 7578
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2022
 | population_est       = 7513 {{decrease}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | web                  = https://www.valleycountymt.gov/
 | ex image             = Valley County Courthouse.JPG
 | ex image cap         = Valley County Courthouse in Glasgow
 | district             = 2nd
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | footnotes            = 
* Montana county number 20
}}

'''Valley County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Montana]]. Valley County was created in 1893 with area partitioned from [[Dawson County, Montana|Dawson County]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stout |first=Tom |url=https://archive.org/details/montanaitsstorya01stourich |title=Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, under the editorial supervision of Tom Stout |date=1921 |publisher=American Historical Society |location=Chicago IL |access-date=December 7, 2013}}</ref> As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 7,578.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/valleycountymontana/PST045222 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Glasgow, Montana|Glasgow]].<ref>{{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> It is located on the [[Canada–United States border]] with [[Saskatchewan]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|5062|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|4926|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|136|sqmi}} (2.7%) 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 30, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is Montana's fourth-largest county by total area.

===Transportation===

====Major highways====
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Image:US 2.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 2 in Montana|U.S. Highway 2]]
* [[Image:MT-24.svg|20px]] [[Montana Highway 24]]
* [[Image:MT-42.svg|20px]] [[Montana Highway 42]]
* [[Image:MT-117.svg|20px]] [[Montana Highway 117]]
* [[Image:MT-sec-248.svg|20px]] Montana Secondary Highway 248
{{div col end}}

====Bus====
Glasgow and the greater Valley County region are served by a non-profit taxi/bus service called Valley Country Transit.<ref name="Valley County Transit">{{Cite web |title=Valley County Transit |url=https://www.valleycountytransit.com/ |access-date=March 4, 2023 |publisher=Valley County Transit |location=Glasgow, Montana}}</ref>

====Rail====
*[[Amtrak]] ''[[Empire Builder]]'' (''[[Glasgow station (Montana)|Glasgow station]]'')

===Adjacent counties and rural municipalities===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Phillips County, Montana|Phillips County]] - west
* [[Garfield County, Montana|Garfield County]] - south
* [[McCone County, Montana|McCone County]] - south
* [[Roosevelt County, Montana|Roosevelt County]] - east
* [[Daniels County, Montana|Daniels County]] - east
* [[Rural Municipality of Mankota No. 45|Rural Municipality (RM) of Mankota No. 45]], Saskatchewan (SK) - north
* [[Rural Municipality of Waverley No. 44|RM of Waverley No. 44]], SK - north
* [[Rural Municipality of Old Post No. 43|RM of Old Post No. 43]], SK - north
{{div col end}}

===National protected area===
* [[Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)

==Economy==
Agriculture is the major economic activity of Valley County. The US Air Force operated [[Glasgow Air Force Base]] at St. Marie until 1976, which was a strong influence on the local economy until its closure.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 4355
|1910= 13630
|1920= 11542
|1930= 11181
|1940= 15181
|1950= 11353
|1960= 17080
|1970= 11471
|1980= 10250
|1990= 8239
|2000= 7675
|2010= 7369
|2020= 7578
|estyear=2022
|estimate=7513
|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 7,578 people living in the county.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 7,369 people, 3,198 households, and 1,997 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|1.5|PD/sqmi}}. There were 4,879 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.0|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 87.0% white, 9.8% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 33.4% were [[Germans|German]], 27.9% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 12.4% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 10.3% were [[English people|English]], and 6.8% were [[Americans|American]].

Of the 3,198 households, 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.6% were non-families, and 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 46.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,050 and the median income for a family was $54,096. Males had a median income of $40,802 versus $30,272 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,305. About 5.7% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
Valley County voters vote reliably Republican in national elections. Since 1964, they have selected the Democratic Party candidate only once (1992, due to strong showing by third-party candidate [[Ross Perot]], which split the Republican voters).
{{PresHead|place=Valley 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|3,019|935|125|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,135|1,030|96|Montana}} 
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,698|886|310|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,337|1,385|137|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,121|1,645|145|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,476|1,431|111|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,500|1,273|190|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,838|1,674|695|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,497|1,715|1,356|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,467|2,163|76|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,123|1,849|74|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,242|1,567|381|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,520|2,352|87|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,210|1,973|165|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,290|1,926|416|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,077|3,032|16|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,387|2,953|6|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|2,357|2,511|0|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,462|2,130|29|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,375|2,535|200|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,341|2,196|45|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,597|3,493|72|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|996|5,862|199|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,242|2,499|351|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,330|1,294|25|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,555|497|991|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,096|895|342|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,111|2,102|229|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|668|696|1,221|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|843|503|80|Montana}}
{{PresFoot|1904|Republican|742|335|19|Montana}}

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

===Towns===
* [[Fort Peck, Montana|Fort Peck]]
* [[Nashua, Montana|Nashua]]
* [[Opheim, Montana|Opheim]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Frazer, Montana|Frazer]]
* [[Hinsdale, Montana|Hinsdale]]
* [[St. Marie, Montana|St. Marie]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Baylor<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Baylor,+MT+59230/@48.6226164,-106.3985065,12z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x533d6f544efd1367:0x7b22d372f12374de!8m2!3d48.6633585!4d-106.4794775 ''Baylor MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Glentana, Montana|Glentana]]
* [[Larslan, Montana|Larslan]]
* [[Lustre, Montana|Lustre]]
* Miles Crossing<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Miles+Crossing,+MT+59241/@48.4816729,-107.1604941,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x533d949e48d755e7:0x47543c8f8b2bbc0e!8m2!3d48.4816738!4d-107.1517393 ''Miles Crossing MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Oswego, Montana|Oswego]]
* Park Grove<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Park+Grove,+MT+59248/@48.030295,-106.45407,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x533cf809e14211a7:0xdd60bf3fddc1dba4!8m2!3d48.0302959!4d-106.4453151 ''Park Grove MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Richland, Montana|Richland]]<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Richland+Post+Office/@48.8426966,-106.1746587,18627m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x533d1f24d35f1d93:0x24e095fe32da2677!2sValley+County,+MT!3b1!8m2!3d48.2855732!4d-106.8304776!3m4!1s0x533d547b35e7082d:0xb5f13aeadfa79b13!8m2!3d48.8204284!4d-106.0524845 ''Richland Post Office MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)]</ref>
* Roanwood<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Roanwood,+MT+59250/@48.9414128,-106.5065682,2771m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x5317e76d9f07c8f1:0xf61db9971c25f589!8m2!3d48.9414136!4d-106.4978134 ''Roanwood MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Tampico, Montana|Tampico]]<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tampico,+MT+59230/@48.2839964,-106.7739372,12z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x533da547da6a5d23:0xf95252512c48f89a!8m2!3d48.3047384!4d-106.8270002 ''Tampico MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Vandalia, Montana|Vandalia]]
* Whately<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Whately,+MT+59230/@48.1627976,-106.5201832,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x533cfffb3949e829:0xe35c15f14fd0f4cf!8m2!3d48.1627985!4d-106.5114284 ''Whately MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)]</ref>
* Wheeler<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wheeler,+MT+59230/@48.0094614,-106.514907,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x533c5762d9ac48cb:0x6d47f34220e65242!8m2!3d48.0094623!4d-106.5061522 ''Wheeler MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)]</ref>
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
* [[Beaverton, Montana|Beaverton]]<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Beaverton,+MT+59241/@48.4280332,-107.1820016,11.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x533dea2d9ef0494f:0x6905ed963b061534!8m2!3d48.4236142!4d-107.25397 ''Beaverton MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Genevieve, Montana|Genevieve]]
* [[Thoeny, Montana|Thoeny]]<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Thoeny,+MT+59241/@48.8769641,-106.9263084,2774m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x5317d3110553d067:0x5067e94b5a29dd08!8m2!3d48.876965!4d-106.9175536 ''Thoeny MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)]</ref>

===Census Maps===
{|style="margin: 0 none;"
| [[File:Valley County Census Districts 1940.png|thumb|none|Valley County Census Districts 1940]]
| [[File:Valley County Census Districts, colored, 2010 U.S. Census.jpg|thumb|Valley County Census Districts, colored, 2010 U.S. Census]]
|}

==See also==
* [[Fort Peck Dam]]
* [[List of lakes in Valley County, Montana (A-L)]]
* [[List of lakes in Valley County, Montana (M-Z)]]
* [[List of mountains in Valley County, Montana]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Valley County, Montana]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.valleycountymt.gov/]
* [https://www.glasgowchamber.net/ Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Valley County, Montana
|North  = Rural Municipalities of [[Rural Municipality of Mankota No. 45|Mankota No. 45]] / [[Rural Municipality of Waverley No. 44|Waverley No. 44]] / [[Rural Municipality of Old Post No. 43|Old Post No. 43]], [[Saskatchewan]] {{flagicon|Canada}}
|East   = [[Roosevelt County, Montana|Roosevelt County]] and [[Daniels County, Montana|Daniels County]]
|South  = [[Garfield County, Montana|Garfield County]] and [[McCone County, Montana|McCone County]]
|West   = [[Phillips County, Montana|Phillips County]]
}}

{{Valley County, Montana}}
{{Montana}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|48.36|-106.66|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MT_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Valley County, Montana| ]]
[[Category:Montana counties on the Missouri River]]
[[Category:1893 establishments in Montana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1893]]