Big Horn County, Montana

Big Horn County, Montana
Map of Montana highlighting Big Horn County
Location in the state of Montana
Map of the United States highlighting Montana
Montana's location in the U.S.
Founded January 13, 1913
Named for Bighorn sheep
Seat Hardin
Largest city Hardin
Area
 • Total 5,015 sq mi (12,989 km2)
 • Land 4,995 sq mi (12,937 km2)
 • Water 19 sq mi (49 km2), 0.4%
Population
 • (2010) 12,865
 • Density 2.6/sq mi (1/km²)
Congressional district At-large
Time zone Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website bighorn.mt.gov

Big Horn County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 12,865.[1] The county seat is Hardin.[2] The county, like the river and mountain range, were named for the bighorn sheep in the Rocky Mountains.[3] The county was founded in 1913.[4] It is north from the Wyoming state line.

Law and government

The county has several jurisdictions, each with its own regulations and law enforcement agencies. The Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Nations are administered by the tribes. Little Bighorn Battlefield and the Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area are regulated by the National Park Service. The remainder of the county falls under the State of Montana.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,015 square miles (12,990 km2), of which 4,995 square miles (12,940 km2) is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (0.4%) is water.[5] It is the fifth-largest county in Montana by land area. Most of the county's land area comprises Indian reservations: The Crow Indian Reservation covers 64.2 percent of its area, while the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation covers another 6.37 percent.

The county is home to the Big Horn, Pryor and Wolf mountain ranges.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Big Horn County in Montana and Wyoming are two of twenty-two counties or parishes in the United States with the same name to border each other across state lines. The others are Sabine County, Texas and Sabine Parish, Louisiana, Union County, Arkansas and Union Parish, Louisiana, Bristol County, Massachusetts and Bristol County, Rhode Island, Kent County, Maryland and Kent County, Delaware, Escambia County, Alabama and Escambia County, Florida, Pike County, Illinois and Pike County, Missouri, Teton County, Idaho and Teton County, Wyoming, Park County, Montana and Park County, Wyoming, San Juan County, New Mexico and San Juan County, Utah, and Vermilion County, Illinois and Vermillion County, Indiana. respectively. (Note, despite the different spellings, the source of the name is the same for Vermilion County, Illinois and Vermillion County, Indiana--the Vermillion River which flows through both counties.)

National protected areas

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Big Horn County has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.[6]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19207,015—
19308,54321.8%
194010,41922.0%
19509,824−5.7%
196010,0071.9%
197010,0570.5%
198011,09610.3%
199011,3372.2%
200012,67111.8%
201012,8651.5%
Est. 201413,2823.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 12,671 people, 3,924 households, and 3,033 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 4,655 housing units at an average density of <1/km² (1/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 36.60% White, 0.04% Black or African American, 59.66% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 2.79% from two or more races. 3.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 13.9% were of German ancestry according to Census 2000. 67.1% spoke English, 27.9% Crow, 2.5% Cheyenne and 1.3% Spanish as their first language.

There were 3,924 households out of which 42.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.00% were married couples living together, 17.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.70% were non-families. 19.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.17 and the average family size was 3.66.

In the county the population was spread out with 35.80% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 8.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,684, and the median income for a family was $31,095. Males had a median income of $23,814 versus $18,884 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,792. About 23.70% of families and 29.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.00% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Coal Mining and Agriculture both play major roles in Big Horn County’s economy. Farms and ranches in the county produce mainly beef cattle, sugar beets, alfalfa, and small grains.[12]

Communities

City

Town

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Merrill, Andrea; Judy Jacobson (1997). Montana almanac. Helena, Montana: Falcon Publishing. p. 7. ISBN 1-56044-493-2.
  4. ↑ "About Hardin & Big Horn County". Big Horn County Historical Museum. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  6. ↑ Climate Summary for Big Horn County, Montana
  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. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. ↑ State of Montana. "Big Horn County" (PDF). Retrieved 31 May 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Big Horn County, Montana.
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Coordinates: 45°26′N 107°29′W / 45.43°N 107.49°W