Carter County, Montana

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Aragonite specimen from Carter County

Carter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,415,<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> making it the seventh-least populous county in Montana. The county seat is Ekalaka.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Carter County was named for 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 tribe.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.2%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

National protected area

Custer National Forest (part)

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 1,415 people and 628 households in Carter County.<ref name="two">Template:Cite web</ref> Of the population, 96.7% were White, 0.2% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.1% Asian, and 1.9% 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 census, there were 1,160 people, 532 households, and 354 families living in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 810 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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 German, 19.6% were English, 18.8% were Norwegian, 12.3% were Irish, and 4.3% were 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, with Harry S. Truman being the last Democrat to carry the county.

Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot