Phillips County, Montana

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


map size= 225
founded=1913
seat= Malta
largest city= Malta
leader=
area_total_sq_mi=5212
area_land_sq_mi=5140
area_water_sq_mi=73
area percentage= 1.39%
census yr= 2000
pop= 4601
density_sq_mi=
web= www.phillipscounty.mt.gov|

Phillips County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. The Missouri River defines its southern boundary. As of 2000, the population is 4,601. Its county seat is MaltaGR|6. Before February 5, 1915 Phillips County was part of Blaine County, Montana and before 1912 both were part of Chouteau County, Montana [cite web |url= http://www.westernmininghistory.com/articles/149/page1/ |title= Principle Gold Producing Districts of the United States, Phillips County Montana Gold Production |publisher= United States Geological Survey |last= Koschmann |first= A.H. |coauthors= M.H. Bergendahl |year= 1968 |accessdate= 2008-02-17] . It was named in honor of rancher and state senator Benjamin D. Phillips.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,212 square miles (13,499 km²), of which, 5,140 square miles (13,311 km²) of it is land and 73 square miles (188 km²) of it (1.39%) is water.

=Adjacent counties and rural municipalities=

* Blaine County, Montana - west
* Fergus County, Montana - southwest
* Petroleum County, Montana - south
* Garfield County, Montana - southeast
* Valley County, Montana - east
* Lone Tree No. 18, Saskatchewan - north
* Val Marie No. 17, Saskatchewan - north

National protected areas

* Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge
* Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (part)
* Hewitt Lake National Wildlife Refuge
* UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge
* Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 4,601 people, 1,848 households, and 1,241 families residing in the county. The population density was <1/km² (<1/sq mi). There were 2,502 housing units at an average density of <1/km² (<1/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 89.44% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 7.61% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 2.09% from two or more races. 1.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.3% were of German, 19.0% Norwegian, 7.6% Irish and 6.5% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.0% spoke English and 2.5% German as their first language.

There were 1,848 households out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.80% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.30% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 17.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,702, and the median income for a family was $37,529. Males had a median income of $25,132 versus $20,274 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,058. About 13.80% of families and 18.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.10% of those under age 18 and 12.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

*Malta (59538)

Towns

*Dodson (59524)
*Saco (59261)

Unincorporated communities

*Whitewater (59544)
*Zortman (59546)
*Loring (59537)

References

Further reading

*cite book |last=Kane |first=Joseph Nathan |coauthors=Charles Curry Aiken |title=The American Counties: Origins of County Names, Dates of Creation, and Population Data, 1950-2000 page 236|origyear=2004|publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0810850362 |pages=552