| Missoula County, Montana | |
Location in the state of Montana |
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Montana's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | 1864 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Missoula |
| Largest city | Missoula |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
2,618 sq mi (6,781 km²) 2,598 sq mi (6,729 km²) 20 sq mi (52 km²), 0.78% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
109,299 36/sq mi (14/km²) |
| Website | www.co.missoula.mt.us |
Missoula County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana, with Missoula as its county seat and largest city[1]. It is the only county in the Missoula Metropolitan Area. The 2010 census put the Missoula County population at 109,299 making it the second most populous county in Montana.
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According to the United States Census Bureau, Missoula County has a total area of 2,618 square miles (6,780 km2), of which, 2,598 square miles (6,730 km2) of it is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) of it (0.78%) is water. Five large valleys and two major rivers wind through this mountainous region.
| Sanders County | Lake County | Flathead County | ||
| Mineral County | Powell County | |||
| Missoula County, Montana | ||||
| Idaho County, Idaho, and Clearwater County, Idaho | Ravalli County | Granite County |
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 2,554 |
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| 1880 | 2,537 | −0.7% | |
| 1890 | 14,427 | 468.7% | |
| 1900 | 13,964 | −3.2% | |
| 1910 | 23,596 | 69.0% | |
| 1920 | 24,041 | 1.9% | |
| 1930 | 21,782 | −9.4% | |
| 1940 | 29,038 | 33.3% | |
| 1950 | 35,493 | 22.2% | |
| 1960 | 44,663 | 25.8% | |
| 1970 | 58,263 | 30.5% | |
| 1980 | 76,016 | 30.5% | |
| 1990 | 78,687 | 3.5% | |
| 2000 | 95,802 | 21.8% | |
| 2010 | 109,299 | 14.1% | |
| sources:[2][3][4] | |||
As of the 2000 census[5], there were 95,802 people, 38,439 households, and 23,140 families residing in Missoula County. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 41,319 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was:
1.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.7% were of German, 13.0% Irish, 10.4% English, 8.5% Norwegian and 5.6% American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 38,439 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.80% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county the age distribution of the population shows 22.90% under the age of 18, 15.40% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 99.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,454, and the median income for a family was $44,865. Males had a median income of $31,605 versus $21,720 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,808. About 8.80% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.
Missoula County, Washington Territory was incorporated in 1860. Missoula County encompassed present-day Missoula and Deer Lodge Counties, as well as a good portion of land north and south of present-day Missoula County. Hell Gate Town, the county seat, was located at the confluence of the Clark Fork and Bitterroot Rivers.
Idaho Territory was created in 1863 and included all of present-day Montana. Missoula County was created as that territory's 3rd county on January 16, 1864 with boundaries set at the Canadian border, the 116th degree of longitude, the Rocky Mountains, the Bitter Root Mountains, and the longitude of 113 degrees, 30 minutes. Wordensville was established as the county seat. [6] Missoula County became a part of Montana Territory when the territory was organized out of the existing Idaho Territory by Act of Congress and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 26, 1864. This early Missoula County was one of the eleven original counties of Montana Territory and consisted of part or all of the lands now occupied by the current Ravalli, Missoula, Granite, Mineral, Lake, Sanders, Lincoln, Flathead, and Glacier Counties.
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