Phillips County, Montana

County in Montana, United States

County in Montana

Phillips County

County

Phillips County Courthouse in Malta

Location within the U.S. state of Montana

Montana's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 48°16′N 107°55′W﻿ / ﻿48.26°N 107.92°W﻿ / 48.26; -107.92
Country|  United States
State|  Montana
Founded| February 5, 1915
Seat| Malta
Largest city| Malta
Area

• Total| 5,212 sq mi (13,500 km2)
• Land| 5,140 sq mi (13,300 km2)
• Water| 72 sq mi (190 km2)  1.4%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 4,217
• Estimate

(2022)

| 4,240
• Density| 0.81/sq mi (0.31/km2)
Time zone| UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district| 2nd

* Montana county number 11

Phillips County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,217.[1] Its county seat is Malta.[2] Before February 5, 1915, Phillips County was part of Blaine County, and before 1912 both were part of Chouteau County.[3] It was named for rancher and state senator Benjamin D. Phillips.

Its northern boundary is the Canada–United States border with Saskatchewan. The Missouri River defines its southern boundary.

## Geography[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,212 square miles (13,500 km2), of which 5,140 square miles (13,300 km2) is land and 72 square miles (190 km2) (1.4%) is water.[4] It is the second-largest county in Montana by land area and third-largest by total area.

### Adjacent counties and rural municipalities[edit]

* Blaine County \- west
* Fergus County \- southwest
* Petroleum County \- south
* Garfield County \- southeast
* Valley County \- east
* Rural Municipality (RM) of Lone Tree No. 18, Saskatchewan (SK) - north
* RM of Val Marie No. 17, SK - north
* RM of Mankota No. 45, SK - northeast

### National protected areas[edit]

* Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge
* Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (part)
* Hewitt Lake National Wildlife Refuge
* UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge
* Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument (part)

## Demographics[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1920| 9,311| | —
1930| 8,208| | −11.8%
1940| 7,892| | −3.8%
1950| 6,334| | −19.7%
1960| 6,027| | −4.8%
1970| 5,386| | −10.6%
1980| 5,367| | −0.4%
1990| 5,163| | −3.8%
2000| 4,601| | −10.9%
2010| 4,253| | −7.6%
2020| 4,217| | −0.8%
2022 (est.)| 4,240| [5]| 0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]

### 2020 census[edit]

As of the census of 2020, there were 4,217 people.

### 2010 census[edit]

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,253 people, 1,819 households, and 1,159 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.8 inhabitants per square mile (0.31/km2). There were 2,335 housing units at an average density of 0.5 per square mile (0.19/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.0% white, 8.3% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 4.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 26.2% were Norwegian, 24.3% were German, 13.4% were Irish, 10.1% were American, and 9.0% were English.

Of the 1,819 households, 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.3% were non-families, and 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 46.8 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,453 and the median income for a family was $55,362. Males had a median income of $41,826 versus $26,417 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,227. About 11.4% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics[edit]

From its creation until 1964, voters of Phillips County were fairly balanced; they selected Democratic Party candidates in 58% of national elections. After 1964 the Republican presidential candidate has garnered the county's vote in every election.

United States presidential election results for Phillips County, Montana[10] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 1,936  | 81.28% | 416  | 17.46%  | 30  | 1.26%
2016 | 1,723  | 79.36% | 318  | 14.65%  | 130  | 5.99%
2012 | 1,688  | 75.76% | 471  | 21.14%  | 69  | 3.10%
2008 | 1,423  | 67.03% | 638  | 30.05%  | 62  | 2.92%
2004 | 1,677  | 77.28% | 456  | 21.01%  | 37  | 1.71%
2000 | 1,727  | 77.51% | 423  | 18.99%  | 78  | 3.50%
1996 | 1,392  | 55.44% | 705  | 28.08%  | 414  | 16.49%
1992 | 1,026  | 39.09% | 634  | 24.15%  | 965  | 36.76%
1988 | 1,462  | 60.26% | 905  | 37.30%  | 59  | 2.43%
1984 | 1,934  | 70.35% | 787  | 28.63%  | 28  | 1.02%
1980 | 1,723  | 64.95% | 745  | 28.08%  | 185  | 6.97%
1976 | 1,347  | 54.18% | 1,117  | 44.93%  | 22  | 0.88%
1972 | 1,659  | 64.88% | 828  | 32.38%  | 70  | 2.74%
1968 | 1,353  | 51.41% | 1,100  | 41.79%  | 179  | 6.80%
1964 | 1,242  | 43.47%  | 1,612  | 56.42% | 3  | 0.11%
1960 | 1,457  | 49.81% | 1,455  | 49.74%  | 13  | 0.44%
1956 | 1,605  | 52.94% | 1,427  | 47.06%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 1,771  | 58.70% | 1,224  | 40.57%  | 22  | 0.73%
1948 | 964  | 37.52%  | 1,506  | 58.62% | 99  | 3.85%
1944 | 1,089  | 42.82%  | 1,435  | 56.43% | 19  | 0.75%
1940 | 1,110  | 32.98%  | 2,225  | 66.10% | 31  | 0.92%
1936 | 850  | 24.33%  | 2,555  | 73.13% | 89  | 2.55%
1932 | 1,127  | 33.90%  | 2,054  | 61.79% | 143  | 4.30%
1928 | 1,671  | 59.09% | 1,135  | 40.13%  | 22  | 0.78%
1924 | 1,236  | 46.69% | 473  | 17.87%  | 938  | 35.44%
1920 | 1,693  | 67.13% | 648  | 25.69%  | 181  | 7.18%
1916 | 999  | 42.42%  | 1,252  | 53.16% | 104  | 4.42%

## Communities[edit]

### City[edit]

* Malta (county seat)

### Towns[edit]

* Dodson
* Saco

### Census-designated places[edit]

* East Malta Colony
* Landusky
* Loring Colony
* Sleeping Buffalo
* Whitewater
* Zortman

### Other unincorporated communities[edit]

* Bowdoin[11]
* Caldwell[12]
* Cole[13]
* Content[14]
* Cree Crossing[15]
* Jordan Crossing[16]
* Loring
* Morgan
* Tattnall[17]
* Wagner[18]

## See also[edit]

The fairgrounds for Phillips County

* List of lakes in Phillips County, Montana
* List of mountains in Phillips County, Montana
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Phillips County MT

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Koschmann, A.H.; M.H. Bergendahl (1968). "Principal Gold-Producing Districts of the United States, Phillips County Montana Gold Production". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved May 8, 2023.
6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 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 29, 2014.
10. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
11. ^ Bowdoin MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)
12. ^ Caldwell MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)
13. ^ Cole MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)
14. ^ Content MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)
15. ^ Cree Crossing MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)
16. ^ Jordan Crossing MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)
17. ^ Tattnall MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)
18. ^ Wagner MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)

## External links[edit]

* Phillips County Sheriff's Office

## Further reading[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phillips County, Montana.

* Kane, Joseph Nathan; Charles Curry Aiken (2004). The American Counties: Origins of County Names, Dates of Creation, and Population Data, 1950-2000. Scarecrow Press. p. 236. ISBN 0-8108-5036-2.

Places adjacent to Phillips County, Montana

|  | Rural Municipalities of Lone Tree No. 18 / Val Marie No. 17 / Mankota No. 45, Saskatchewan |

|
|

|  |
Blaine County |

Phillips County, Montana

| Valley County
|  |
Fergus County | Petroleum County | Garfield County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Phillips County, Montana, United States

County seat: Malta

City|

* Malta

Phillips County map

Towns|

* Dodson
* Saco

CDPs|

* East Malta Colony
* Landusky
* Loring Colony
* Sleeping Buffalo
* Whitewater
* Zortman

Other
communities|

* Chapman
* Loring
* Morgan
* Wagner

Indian reservations|

* Fort Belknap 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

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* Anaconda
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Counties|

* Beaverhead
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48°16′N 107°55′W﻿ / ﻿48.26°N 107.92°W﻿ / 48.26; -107.92
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