Hill County, Montana

Coordinates: 48°38′N 110°07′W / 48.63°N 110.11°W / 48.63; -110.11
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hill County
Hill County Courthouse in Havre
Hill County Courthouse in Havre
Map of Montana highlighting Hill County
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Map of the United States highlighting Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 48°38′N 110°07′W / 48.63°N 110.11°W / 48.63; -110.11
Country United States
State Montana
Founded1912
Named forJames J. Hill
SeatHavre
Largest cityHavre
Area
 • Total2,916 sq mi (7,550 km2)
 • Land2,899 sq mi (7,510 km2)
 • Water17 sq mi (40 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total16,309
 • Estimate 
(2022)
16,068 Decrease
 • Density5.6/sq mi (2.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitehillcounty.us
  • Montana county number 12

Hill County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,309.[1] Its county seat is Havre.[2] It lies along the United States border with Canada, abutting Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Part of its territory is within the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation, which is held by the federally recognized Chippewa-Cree Tribe.

History[edit]

The first European-American settlement in the future county area was Fort Assinniboine, garrisoned by the United States Army in 1879. Fifteen of the original 104 structures from the fort are still standing. A portion of the fort was ceded for use as the Indian reservation, which was established in 1916.

The county is named after James J. Hill, president of the Great Northern Railway Company, which built the rail line across Montana as part of the Transcontinental Railroad to the Pacific coast.

Geography[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,916 square miles (7,550 km2), of which 2,899 square miles (7,510 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (0.6%) is water.[3]

Hill County is on the "Hi-Line" in north-central Montana. It borders Blaine County to the east, Liberty County to the west, and Canada to the north. Hill County contains Beaver Creek Park, the nation's largest county park.

It is one of the few locations in the United States to have an antipodal point on land, and its community of Rudyard is the only populated such place. The Kerguelen Islands are on the opposite side of the earth from parts of Hill County, while the antipodal points of almost all other places in the United States lie in the Indian Ocean.

Adjacent counties and rural municipalities[edit]

Major highways[edit]

National protected areas[edit]

Politics[edit]

In presidential elections, Hill County is a swing county. Since 1952, it has voted for the Democratic nominee nine times and the Republican nominee nine times.

United States presidential election results for Hill County, Montana[4][5]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,957 55.10% 2,981 41.51% 244 3.40%
2016 3,478 53.96% 2,371 36.79% 596 9.25%
2012 3,164 46.36% 3,403 49.86% 258 3.78%
2008 2,787 42.07% 3,596 54.28% 242 3.65%
2004 3,505 52.65% 2,997 45.02% 155 2.33%
2000 3,392 51.72% 2,760 42.09% 406 6.19%
1996 2,601 36.58% 3,517 49.46% 993 13.96%
1992 2,408 29.79% 3,618 44.77% 2,056 25.44%
1988 3,467 44.50% 4,219 54.15% 105 1.35%
1984 4,635 55.24% 3,657 43.59% 98 1.17%
1980 4,448 54.99% 2,875 35.54% 766 9.47%
1976 3,274 45.10% 3,878 53.42% 108 1.49%
1972 3,759 53.06% 3,061 43.20% 265 3.74%
1968 2,970 44.53% 3,386 50.77% 313 4.69%
1964 2,101 31.81% 4,491 68.00% 12 0.18%
1960 3,163 45.73% 3,741 54.09% 12 0.17%
1956 3,415 53.24% 2,999 46.76% 0 0.00%
1952 3,474 55.44% 2,748 43.86% 44 0.70%
1948 1,645 31.75% 3,321 64.10% 215 4.15%
1944 1,646 35.25% 2,986 63.95% 37 0.79%
1940 1,842 32.79% 3,700 65.87% 75 1.34%
1936 1,014 18.37% 4,328 78.41% 178 3.22%
1932 1,589 31.44% 3,257 64.44% 208 4.12%
1928 2,336 53.37% 2,022 46.20% 19 0.43%
1924 1,110 30.60% 602 16.59% 1,916 52.81%
1920 2,220 55.44% 1,388 34.67% 396 9.89%
1916 1,709 31.73% 3,241 60.17% 436 8.10%
1912 536 26.43% 624 30.77% 868 42.80%

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
192013,958
193013,775−1.3%
194013,304−3.4%
195014,2857.4%
196018,65330.6%
197017,358−6.9%
198017,9853.6%
199017,654−1.8%
200016,673−5.6%
201016,096−3.5%
202016,3091.3%
2022 (est.)16,068[6]−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960,[8] 1900–1990,[9]
1990–2000,[10] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 16,309 people living in the county.[citation needed]

2010 census[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 16,096 people, 6,275 households, and 4,020 families living in the county. The population density was 5.6 inhabitants per square mile (2.2/km2). There were 7,250 housing units at an average density of 2.5 per square mile (0.97/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.9% white, 21.7% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 28.9% were German, 18.5% were Norwegian, 12.7% were Irish, 9.2% were English, and 3.0% were American.

Of the 6,275 households, 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.9% were non-families, and 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.10. The median age was 35.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,606 and the median income for a family was $55,963. Males had a median income of $44,286 versus $28,908 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,420. About 12.4% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.0% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[edit]

City[edit]

Town[edit]

Census-designated places[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  4. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  5. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 545 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 323 votes.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  11. ^ Agency, Hill County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  12. ^ Goldstone, Hill County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  13. ^ Simpson, Hill County MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)

External links[edit]

48°38′N 110°07′W / 48.63°N 110.11°W / 48.63; -110.11