Richland County, Montana

Infobox U.S. County
county = Richland County
state = Montana


map size = 225
founded =
seat = Sidney
largest city = Sidney
area_total_sq_mi =2103
area_land_sq_mi =2084
area_water_sq_mi =19
area percentage = 0.90%
census yr = 2000
pop = 9667
density_km2 =2
web = www.richland.org|

Richland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of 2000, the population is 9,667. Its county seat is SidneyGR|6.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,103 square miles (5,447 km²), of which, 2,084 square miles (5,398 km²) of it is land and 19 square miles (49 km²) of it (0.90%) is water.

Adjacent counties

* Roosevelt County, Montana - north
* McCone County, Montana - west
* Dawson County, Montana - south
* Wibaux County, Montana - south
* McKenzie County, North Dakota - east

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 9,667 people, 3,878 households, and 2,652 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 4,557 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.57% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 1.46% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 2.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.3% were of German, 22.4% Norwegian, 7.2% Irish, 6.2% English and 5.4% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 3,878 households out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.60% were non-families. 28.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.50% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,110, and the median income for a family was $39,348. Males had a median income of $29,069 versus $19,203 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,006. About 8.10% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.90% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Although most of the surface land of the county is devoted to ranching, oil exploration and production became important elements of the county's economy beginning with the discovery in 2000 of Elm Coulee Oil Fieldfact|date=February 2008.

Communities

City

*Sidney

Town

*Fairview

Census-designated places

*Fairview
*Knife River

References