Golden Valley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 823,[2] making it the third-least populous county in Montana. Its county seat is Ryegate.[3]
Golden Valley County | |
|---|---|
 Golden Valley County Courthouse in Ryegate, Montana | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Montana | |
 Montana's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 46°23′N 109°10′W / 46.38°N 109.17°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Montana |
| Founded | March 8, 1920[1] |
| Seat | Ryegate |
| Largest town | Ryegate |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,176 sq mi (3,050 km2) |
| • Land | 1,175 sq mi (3,040 km2) |
| • Water | 1.0 sq mi (3 km2) 0.08% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 823 |
• Estimate (2022) | 831  |
| • Density | 0.70/sq mi (0.27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
| |
Geography
editAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,176 square miles (3,050 km2), of which 1,175 square miles (3,040 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.08%) is water.[4] It is Montana's fifth-smallest county by area.
Major highways
editAdjacent counties
edit- Fergus County – north
- Musselshell County – east
- Yellowstone County – southeast
- Stillwater County – south
- Sweet Grass County – southwest
- Wheatland County – west
National protected area
editPolitics
editThe county has usually favored Republican candidates. The 2016 Democratic candidate only received 71 county votes, the lowest ever for a major party in the county in a presidential election. The last Democrat to win there was Lyndon Johnson in his 1964 landslide victory.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 414 | 82.31% | 78 | 15.51% | 11 | 2.19% |
| 2016 | 365 | 77.00% | 71 | 14.98% | 38 | 8.02% |
| 2012 | 351 | 73.28% | 110 | 22.96% | 18 | 3.76% |
| 2008 | 343 | 69.72% | 124 | 25.20% | 25 | 5.08% |
| 2004 | 396 | 75.86% | 119 | 22.80% | 7 | 1.34% |
| 2000 | 405 | 76.27% | 88 | 16.57% | 38 | 7.16% |
| 1996 | 284 | 58.20% | 128 | 26.23% | 76 | 15.57% |
| 1992 | 192 | 38.71% | 142 | 28.63% | 162 | 32.66% |
| 1988 | 335 | 61.69% | 203 | 37.38% | 5 | 0.92% |
| 1984 | 384 | 64.00% | 211 | 35.17% | 5 | 0.83% |
| 1980 | 362 | 65.11% | 155 | 27.88% | 39 | 7.01% |
| 1976 | 302 | 53.08% | 255 | 44.82% | 12 | 2.11% |
| 1972 | 359 | 64.92% | 170 | 30.74% | 24 | 4.34% |
| 1968 | 332 | 60.04% | 194 | 35.08% | 27 | 4.88% |
| 1964 | 252 | 41.72% | 352 | 58.28% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 362 | 56.65% | 277 | 43.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 383 | 59.94% | 256 | 40.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 471 | 70.40% | 198 | 29.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 352 | 53.09% | 295 | 44.49% | 16 | 2.41% |
| 1944 | 395 | 59.67% | 266 | 40.18% | 1 | 0.15% |
| 1940 | 402 | 52.96% | 351 | 46.25% | 6 | 0.79% |
| 1936 | 331 | 40.32% | 474 | 57.73% | 16 | 1.95% |
| 1932 | 423 | 46.38% | 469 | 51.43% | 20 | 2.19% |
| 1928 | 625 | 63.91% | 346 | 35.38% | 7 | 0.72% |
| 1924 | 422 | 37.88% | 118 | 10.59% | 574 | 51.53% |
| 1920 | 1,185 | 72.57% | 381 | 23.33% | 67 | 4.10% |
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 2,126 | — | |
| 1940 | 1,607 | −24.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,337 | −16.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,203 | −10.0% | |
| 1970 | 931 | −22.6% | |
| 1980 | 1,026 | 10.2% | |
| 1990 | 912 | −11.1% | |
| 2000 | 1,042 | 14.3% | |
| 2010 | 884 | −15.2% | |
| 2020 | 823 | −6.9% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 835 | [6] | 1.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[2] | |||
2020 census
editAs of the 2020 census, there were 823 people living in the county.[citation needed]
2010 census
editAs of the 2010 census, there were 884 people, 363 households, and 239 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.8 inhabitants per square mile (0.31/km2). There were 476 housing units at an average density of 0.4 per square mile (0.15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.0% white, 1.0% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 2.1% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 38.9% were German, 19.5% were English, 18.4% were Irish, 10.1% were Polish, 9.0% were American, 7.3% were Danish, 6.4% were Dutch, and 6.2% were Norwegian.
Of the 363 households, 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.2% were non-families, and 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.68. The median age was 48.8 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,726 and the median income for a family was $48,750. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $27,938 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,319. About 3.4% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.7% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
editTowns
editCensus-designated place
editUnincorporated communities
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "About Golden Valley County". Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ "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 28, 2014.
- ^ Barber, Golden Valley County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
- ^ Belmont, Golden Valley County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
- ^ Franklin, Golden Valley County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
- ^ Lavina, Golden Valley County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)