Carter County, Montana

County in Montana, United States

County in Montana

Carter County

County

Carter County Courthouse in Ekalaka

Location within the U.S. state of Montana

Montana's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 45°30′N 104°32′W﻿ / ﻿45.5°N 104.54°W﻿ / 45.5; -104.54
Country|  United States
State|  Montana
Founded| 1917
Named after| Thomas H. Carter
Seat| Ekalaka
Largest town| Ekalaka
Area

• Total

| 3,348 sq mi (8,670 km2)
• Land| 3,341 sq mi (8,650 km2)
• Water| 7.5 sq mi (19 km2)  0.2%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 1,415

• Estimate

(2024)

| 1,399
• Density| 0.42/sq mi (0.16/km2)
Time zone| UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district| 2nd
Website| www.cartercountymt.info

* Montana county number 42

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,[1] making it the seventh-least populous county in Montana. The county seat is Ekalaka.[2]

## History

[edit]

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.[3]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,348 square miles (8,670 km2), of which 3,341 square miles (8,650 km2) is land and 7.5 square miles (19 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4]

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.[5]

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Powder River County \- west
* Custer County \- northwest
* Fallon County \- north
* Harding County, South Dakota \- east
* Butte County, South Dakota \- southeast
* Crook County, Wyoming \- south

### National protected area

[edit]

* Custer National Forest (part)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1920| 3,972| | —
1930| 4,136| | 4.1%
1940| 3,280| | −20.7%
1950| 2,798| | −14.7%
1960| 2,493| | −10.9%
1970| 1,956| | −21.5%
1980| 1,799| | −8.0%
1990| 1,503| | −16.5%
2000| 1,360| | −9.5%
2010| 1,160| | −14.7%
2020| 1,415| | 22.0%
2024 (est.)| 1,399| [6]| −1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960,[8] 1900–1990,[9]
1990–2000,[10] 2010–2020[1]

### 2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 1,415 people and 628 households in Carter County.[11] 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.[11]

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.[11]

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,160 people, 532 households, and 354 families living in the county. The population density was 0.3 inhabitants per square mile (0.12/km2). There were 810 housing units at an average density of 0.2 per square mile (0.077/km2). 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

[edit]

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.

United States presidential election results for Carter County, Montana[12] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 760  | 88.99% | 75  | 8.78%  | 19  | 2.22%
2020 | 775  | 89.70% | 74  | 8.56%  | 15  | 1.74%
2016 | 678  | 86.26% | 70  | 8.91%  | 38  | 4.83%
2012 | 678  | 85.18% | 96  | 12.06%  | 22  | 2.76%
2008 | 573  | 79.36% | 111  | 15.37%  | 38  | 5.26%
2004 | 623  | 87.87% | 76  | 10.72%  | 10  | 1.41%
2000 | 573  | 88.84% | 53  | 8.22%  | 19  | 2.95%
1996 | 522  | 68.24% | 150  | 19.61%  | 93  | 12.16%
1992 | 497  | 56.86% | 154  | 17.62%  | 223  | 25.51%
1988 | 686  | 72.82% | 242  | 25.69%  | 14  | 1.49%
1984 | 823  | 80.06% | 194  | 18.87%  | 11  | 1.07%
1980 | 766  | 72.40% | 237  | 22.40%  | 55  | 5.20%
1976 | 558  | 57.41% | 344  | 35.39%  | 70  | 7.20%
1972 | 726  | 73.86% | 218  | 22.18%  | 39  | 3.97%
1968 | 624  | 62.21% | 269  | 26.82%  | 110  | 10.97%
1964 | 576  | 55.98% | 453  | 44.02%  | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 688  | 64.00% | 383  | 35.63%  | 4  | 0.37%
1956 | 698  | 61.55% | 436  | 38.45%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 921  | 72.12% | 351  | 27.49%  | 5  | 0.39%
1948 | 501  | 46.22%  | 568  | 52.40% | 15  | 1.38%
1944 | 507  | 45.35%  | 610  | 54.56% | 1  | 0.09%
1940 | 556  | 43.03%  | 734  | 56.81% | 2  | 0.15%
1936 | 464  | 32.81%  | 929  | 65.70% | 21  | 1.49%
1932 | 565  | 37.39%  | 915  | 60.56% | 31  | 2.05%
1928 | 763  | 64.01% | 420  | 35.23%  | 9  | 0.76%
1924 | 669  | 54.17% | 283  | 22.91%  | 283  | 22.91%
1920 | 782  | 66.84% | 342  | 29.23%  | 46  | 3.93%

## Communities

[edit]

### Town

[edit]

* Ekalaka (county seat)

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* Alzada

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Albion[13]
* Belltower[14]
* Boyes[15]
* Hammond
* Mill Iron
* Ridge[16]

### Former communities

[edit]

* Capitol

## See also

[edit]

* List of lakes in Carter County, Montana
* List of mountains in Carter County, Montana

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Merrill, Andrea; Judy Jacobson (1997). Montana almanac. Helena MT: Falcon Publishing. ISBN 1-56044-493-2.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
5. ^ Visit MT. "Medicine Rocks State Park". Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
6. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
10. ^ "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.
11. ^ a b c "Carter County, Montana; Montana". census.gov. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
12. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
13. ^ Albion, Carter County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
14. ^ Belltower, Carter County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
15. ^ Boyes, Carter County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)
16. ^ Ridge, Carter County MT Google Maps (accessed January 1, 2019)

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carter County, Montana.

* CarterCountyMT.info

Places adjacent to Carter County, Montana

| Custer County | Fallon County |

|
|

|  |
Powder River County |

Carter County, Montana

| Harding County, South Dakota
|  |
| Crook County, Wyoming | Butte County, South Dakota

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Carter County, Montana, United States

County seat: Ekalaka

Town|

* Ekalaka

Carter County map

CDP|

* Alzada

Other
communities|

* Boyes
* Capitol
* Hammond
* Mill Iron
* Ridge

Indian reservation|

* Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation‡

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* Montana portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Montana

Helena (capital)

Topics|

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Society|

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Regions|

* Eastern Montana
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Largest cities|

* Anaconda
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Counties|

* Beaverhead
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Montana portal

Authority control databases

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National|

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Other|

* Yale LUX

45°30′N 104°32′W﻿ / ﻿45.50°N 104.54°W﻿ / 45.50; -104.54
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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