Granite County, Montana

Granite County, Montana
Location in the U.S. state of Montana
Montana's location in the U.S.
Founded	3/2/1893
Seat	Philipsburg
Largest town	Philipsburg
Area
• Total	1,733 sq mi (4,488 km2)
• Land	1,727 sq mi (4,473 km2)
• Water	5.6 sq mi (15 km2), 0.3%
Population
• (2010)	3,079
• Density	1.8/sq mi (1/km²)
Congressional district	At-large
Time zone	Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website	www.co.granite.mt.us

Granite County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 3,079. Its county seat is Philipsburg. The county was founded in 1893 and named for a mountain which contains the Granite Mountain silver mine.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,733 square miles (4,490 km²), of which 1,727 square miles (4,470 km²) is land and 5.6 square miles (15 km²) (0.3%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 90
• U.S. Highway 10 (Former)
• U.S. Highway 12
• Montana Highway 1
• Montana Highway 38

Adjacent counties

• Missoula County, Montana - north
• Powell County, Montana - east
• Deer Lodge County, Montana - south
• Ravalli County, Montana - west

National protected areas

• Deerlodge National Forest (part)
• Lolo National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	4,328		—
1910	2,942		−32.0%
1920	4,167		41.6%
1930	3,013		−27.7%
1940	3,401		12.9%
1950	2,773		−18.5%
1960	3,014		8.7%
1970	2,737		−9.2%
1980	2,700		−1.4%
1990	2,548		−5.6%
2000	2,830		11.1%
2010	3,079		8.8%
Est. 2014	3,209		4.2%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,830 people, 1,200 households, and 784 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 2,074 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.25% White, 1.27% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.84% from two or more races. 1.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.8% were of German, 13.5% English, 13.1% Irish, 8.3% American and 7.2% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 1,200 households out of which 27.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.60% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.20% under the age of 18, 5.70% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 30.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 105.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,813, and the median income for a family was $33,485. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $17,961 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,636. About 13.90% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.20% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 3,079 people, 1,417 households, and 911 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.8 inhabitants per square mile (0.69/km²). There were 2,822 housing units at an average density of 1.6 per square mile (0.62/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.5% white, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 26.2% were German, 20.2% were Irish, 18.8% were English, 13.5% were Norwegian, and 7.9% were American.

Of the 1,417 households, 19.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.7% were non-families, and 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.63. The median age was 52.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,052 and the median income for a family was $47,685. Males had a median income of $41,307 versus $23,958 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,222. About 7.5% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

• Drummond
• Hall
• Philipsburg (county seat)

See also

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

Further reading

• Loen, J.S., M.J. Blaskowski, and J.E. Elliott. (1989). Geology and mineral deposits of the Miners Gulch Area, Granite County, Montana [U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1791]. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.