Blaine County
County
Blaine County Courthouse in Chinook
Blaine County Courthouse in Chinook
Map of Montana highlighting Blaine County
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Map of the United States highlighting Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 48°26′N 108°58′W / 48.44°N 108.96°W / 48.44; -108.96
Country United States
State Montana
Founded1912
Named forJames G. Blaine
SeatChinook
Largest cityChinook
Area
 • Total4,239 sq mi (10,980 km2)
 • Land4,228 sq mi (10,950 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total7,044
 • Estimate 
(2022)
6,936 Decrease
 • Density1.7/sq mi (0.64/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websiteblainecounty-mt.gov
  • Montana county number 24

Blaine County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,044.[1] Its county seat is Chinook.[2] The county was named for James G. Blaine, former United States Secretary of State. It is on the north line of the state, and thus shares the southern border of Canada opposite Saskatchewan.

History

In 1912 Blaine, Phillips and Hill counties were formed from the area of Chouteau County. The original boundary of Blaine County included a portion of land in the west that is now included in Phillips County.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,239 square miles (10,980 km2), of which 4,228 square miles (10,950 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (0.3%) is water.[3]

The majority of Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is located in the southeastern part of the county.[4]

Features of the area include the Milk River, Bears Paw Mountains, and the Little Rocky Mountains.

Adjacent counties and rural municipalities

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19209,057—
19309,006−0.6%
19409,5666.2%
19508,516−11.0%
19608,091−5.0%
19706,727−16.9%
19806,9994.0%
19906,728−3.9%
20007,0094.2%
20106,491−7.4%
20207,0448.5%
2022 (est.)6,936[5]−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960,[7] 1900–1990,[8]
1990–2000,[9] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 7,044 people living in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 6,491 people, 2,357 households, and 1,604 families living in the county. The population density was 1.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.58 inhabitants/km2). There were 2,843 housing units at an average density of 0.7 units per square mile (0.27 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 49.4% American Indian, 48.2% white, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 23.0% were German, 9.2% were Norwegian, 6.6% were Irish, 5.7% were English, and 2.0% were American.

Of the 2,357 households, 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.9% were non-families, and 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.28. The median age was 35.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,034 and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $32,320 versus $28,986 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,813. About 23.6% of families and 29.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.6% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Blaine County is one of the nation's most consistent long-term bellwether counties. Since 1916, the county has been won by the winner of the presidential election in every election except that of 1988, held during the aftermath of a major drought and farm crisis, when Michael Dukakis won the county by fifty-eight votes. During two other drought years on the Great Plains, Adlai Stevenson II in 1956 and Gerald Ford in 1976 also came close to breaking the county's streak, losing by even smaller vote margins than George H. W. Bush.

United States presidential election results for Blaine County, Montana[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 1,469 47.11% 1,589 50.96% 60 1.92%
2016 1,268 47.24% 1,202 44.78% 214 7.97%
2012 1,178 41.20% 1,616 56.52% 65 2.27%
2008 1,139 38.93% 1,702 58.17% 85 2.90%
2004 1,424 51.45% 1,300 46.97% 44 1.59%
2000 1,410 51.11% 1,246 45.16% 103 3.73%
1996 1,127 38.96% 1,316 45.49% 450 15.55%
1992 971 31.88% 1,355 44.48% 720 23.64%
1988 1,402 48.15% 1,460 50.14% 50 1.72%
1984 1,736 57.92% 1,229 41.01% 32 1.07%
1980 1,686 56.29% 1,107 36.96% 202 6.74%
1976 1,349 49.25% 1,356 49.51% 34 1.24%
1972 1,513 54.44% 1,151 41.42% 115 4.14%
1968 1,291 48.63% 1,198 45.12% 166 6.25%
1964 961 35.55% 1,742 64.45% 0 0.00%
1960 1,290 44.85% 1,569 54.55% 17 0.59%
1956 1,460 50.38% 1,438 49.62% 0 0.00%
1952 1,890 60.85% 1,207 38.86% 9 0.29%
1948 997 36.28% 1,669 60.74% 82 2.98%
1944 990 39.94% 1,469 59.26% 20 0.81%
1940 1,165 35.02% 2,129 63.99% 33 0.99%
1936 851 27.68% 2,166 70.46% 57 1.85%
1932 1,063 33.64% 1,977 62.56% 120 3.80%
1928 1,537 56.63% 1,160 42.74% 17 0.63%
1924 827 45.74% 337 18.64% 644 35.62%
1920 1,720 62.48% 848 30.80% 185 6.72%
1916 857 39.13% 1,261 57.58% 72 3.29%
1912 204 17.94% 318 27.97% 615 54.09%

Economy

The main industry in Blaine County is agriculture.[11] The main employers on the Reservation are the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine tribes.[12]

Education

Fort Belknap College is located on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Public high schools in the county include Harlem High School in Harlem, Chinook High School in Chinook, and Turner High School in Turner.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  4. ↑ Merrill, Andrea; Judy Jacobson (1997). Montana almanac. Helena MT: Falcon Publishing. p. 7. ISBN 1-56044-493-2.
  5. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  10. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  11. ↑ Maxim Technologies. "Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 14, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  12. ↑ State of Montana, DLI. "Demographic & Economic Information for Fort Belknap Reservation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  13. ↑ Cleveland, Blaine County MT Google Maps (accessed December 31, 2018)
  14. ↑ Lohman, Blaine County MT Google Maps (accessed December 31, 2018)
  15. ↑ North Fork, Blaine County MT Google Maps (accessed December 31, 2018)
  16. ↑ Rattlesnake, Blaine County MT Google Maps (accessed December 31, 2018)
  17. ↑ Savoy, Blaine County MT Google Maps (accessed December 31, 2018)

Further reading

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