Silver Bow County, Montana

Silver Bow County, Montana
Location in the state of Montana
Montana's location in the U.S.
Founded	1881
Seat	Butte
Largest city	Butte
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	719 sq mi (1,862 km²) 718 sq mi (1,860 km²) 1 sq mi (3 km²), 0.09%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	34,200 49/sq mi (19/km²)
Time zone	Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website	www.bsb.mt.gov

Silver Bow County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of 2010, the population was 34,200. Its county seat is Butte. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the single entity of Butte-Silver Bow. At the 1920 census the county population was over 60,000, and until the 1950 census, Silver Bow was the most populous county in the state. It was surpassed by Cascade County (Great Falls), which was surpassed by Yellowstone County (Billings) in 1970.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 719 square miles (1,862 km²), the smallest county in Montana, of which 718 square miles (1,860 km²) is land and 1 square mile (2 km²) (0.09%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 15
• Interstate 90
• Interstate 115
• U.S. Highway 10 (Former)
• U.S. Highway 91
• ‎ Montana Highway 2
• ‎ Montana Highway 41
• ‎ Montana Highway 43
• ‎ Montana Highway 55

Adjacent counties

• Deer Lodge County - northwest
• Jefferson County - east
• Madison County - south
• Beaverhead County - southwest

National protected areas

• Beaverhead National Forest (part)
• Deerlodge National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	23,744		—
1900	47,635		100.6%
1910	56,848		19.3%
1920	60,313		6.1%
1930	56,969		−5.5%
1940	53,209		−6.6%
1950	48,422		−9.0%
1960	46,454		−4.1%
1970	41,981		−9.6%
1980	38,092		−9.3%
1990	33,941		−10.9%
2000	34,606		2.0%
2010	34,200		−1.2%
sources:

As of the census of 2000, there were 34,606 people, 14,432 households, and 8,933 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile (19/km²). There were 16,176 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.35% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 2.03% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 2.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.4% were of Irish, 14.2% German, 11.4% English and 5.9% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 14,432 households out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.80% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.10% were non-families. 32.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.70% 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 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,402, and the median income for a family was $40,018. Males had a median income of $31,295 versus $21,610 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,009. About 10.70% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.20% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Rhodochrosite from the old Emma Mine in the Butte Mining District

Municipalities

• Butte
• Walkerville

County-serviced communities

• Melrose
• Ramsay
• Rocker
• Silver Bow

Government and politics

It and neighboring Deer Lodge County are the two most consistently Democratic counties in Montana when it comes to Presidential elections, with Silver Bow County last voting Republican in 1956 for Dwight D. Eisenhower. The two have supported the Democratic candidate in each of the last thirteen Presidential elections. In the last five elections the margin of victory for the Democrat has varied from 16% to 41% of the vote.

In the Montana Senate it is in District 37 and has been represented by Democrat Steve Gallus since 2004. In the Montana Montana House of Representatives it is in District 73 and is represented by Democrat Pat Noonan.

See also

• List of cemeteries in Silver Bow County, Montana
• List of lakes in Silver Bow County, Montana
• List of mountains in Silver Bow County, Montana
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Silver Bow County, Montana

External links

• Butte-Silver Bow City and County Website