Carbon County, Montana

Carbon County, Montana
Map of Montana highlighting Carbon County
Location in the state of Montana
Map of the United States highlighting Montana
Montana's location in the U.S.
Founded 1895
Seat Red Lodge
Largest city Red Lodge
Area
 • Total 2,062 sq mi (5,341 km2)
 • Land 2,049 sq mi (5,307 km2)
 • Water 13 sq mi (34 km2), 0.6%
Population
 • (2010) 10,078
 • Density 4.9/sq mi (2/km²)
Congressional district At-large
Time zone Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website www.co.carbon.mt.us

Carbon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,078.[1] Its county seat is Red Lodge.[2]

Carbon County is part of the Billings, MT Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Carbon County was named for the rich coal deposits found in the area. Land from Park and Yellowstone counties was used to form Carbon County on March 4, 1895.[3] More than sixty federally designated historic sites are located in the county, including Petroglyph Canyon,[4] one of the state's most important rock art sites.[5]

The first commercial oil well in the state was established in Elk Basin fields in 1915.[6]

Geography

Bear's Tooth

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,062 square miles (5,340 km2), of which 2,049 square miles (5,310 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (0.6%) is water.[7]

Granite Peak, the highest mountain in Montana, is found in the Beartooth Mountains. The Beartooth Highway, one of the "most spectacular alpine highways",[8] links Red Lodge to Cooke City. The Pryor Mountains are in the east of the county, along with the Big Horn River.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19007,533—
191013,96285.3%
192015,2799.4%
193012,571−17.7%
194011,865−5.6%
195010,241−13.7%
19608,317−18.8%
19707,080−14.9%
19808,09914.4%
19908,080−0.2%
20009,55218.2%
201010,0785.5%
Est. 201410,3993.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 9,552 people, 4,065 households, and 2,707 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 5,494 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.07% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.65% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 1.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.8% were of German, 11.5% English, 9.2% Irish, 8.9% Norwegian, 5.9% American and 5.2% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 4,065 households out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 28.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 5.70% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 27.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,139, and the median income for a family was $38,405. Males had a median income of $30,226 versus $19,945 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,204. About 8.20% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.30% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

During the early history of Carbon County, coal mining was the predominant industry. The current economy relies on agriculture, recreation, and tourism.[14]

In 2009 the top employers were Beartooth Hospital & Health Center, Red Lodge Mountain, and the Red Lodge Pizza Company.[14]

In December 2014, construction began on a large windfarm, Mud Springs Wind Ranch, with 120 wind turbines. The site is 12 miles southeast of Bridger.[15]

Communities

Farm along a creek in Roscoe, Sep 1978

City

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

The following communities existed in Carbon County at one time:

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. ↑ Carbon County. "Welcome to Carbon County". Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  4. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
  5. ↑ Vincent, William B. National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Petroglyph Canyon. National Park Service, 1974-09-04, 3.
  6. ↑ Merrill, Andrea; Judy Jacobson (1997). Montana almanac. Helena, Montana: Falcon Publishing. ISBN 1-56044-493-2.
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  8. ↑ America's Byways. "Beartooth Highway - Montana". Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  13. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Montana Dept. of Labor and Industry (September 2010). "Demographic & Economic Information for Carbon County" (PDF). Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  15. ↑ Lutney, Tom (2014-12-19). "Major wind farm breaks ground near Bridger". Missoulian. Retrieved 2014-12-23.

External links

 Stillwater County Yellowstone County
Park County Big Horn County
   Carbon County, Montana  
Park County, Wyoming Big Horn County, Wyoming

Coordinates: 45°14′N 109°01′W / 45.23°N 109.02°W