Custer County, Montana

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3793 sqmi, of which 3783 sqmi is land and 9.9 sqmi (0.3%) is water.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Custer County has a mostly cold semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

|Jan record high F = 69 |Feb record high F = 73 |Mar record high F = 85 |Apr record high F = 92 |May record high F = 101 |Jun record high F = 111 |Jul record high F = 112 |Aug record high F = 110 |Sep record high F = 106 |Oct record high F = 96 |Nov record high F = 80 |Dec record high F = 70

|Jan avg record high F = 51.6 |Feb avg record high F = 56.3 |Mar avg record high F = 71.9 |Apr avg record high F = 81.3 |May avg record high F = 87.2 |Jun avg record high F = 95.8 |Jul avg record high F = 102.5 |Aug avg record high F = 101.5 |Sep avg record high F = 97.1 |Oct avg record high F = 84.2 |Nov avg record high F = 67.9 |Dec avg record high F = 54.2 |year avg record high F = 104.4

|Jan avg record low F = -23.5 |Feb avg record low F = -15.4 |Mar avg record low F = -4.1 |Apr avg record low F = 13.1 |May avg record low F = 24.3 |Jun avg record low F = 36.1 |Jul avg record low F = 43.2 |Aug avg record low F = 37.6 |Sep avg record low F = 25.5 |Oct avg record low F = 12.3 |Nov avg record low F = -6.3 |Dec avg record low F = -17.2 |year avg record low F = -32.0

|Jan record low F = -45 |Feb record low F = -45 |Mar record low F = -40 |Apr record low F = -5 |May record low F = 13 |Jun record low F = 21 |Jul record low F = 33 |Aug record low F = 31 |Sep record low F = 16 |Oct record low F = -11 |Nov record low F = -29 |Dec record low F = -49

Major highways

• [[Image:I-94.svg|20px]] Interstate 94
• [[Image:US 12.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 12
• [[Image:US 212.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 212
• [[Image:MT-59.svg|20px]] Montana Highway 59

Transit

• Jefferson Lines

Adjacent counties

• Prairie County - north
• Fallon County - east
• Carter County - southeast
• Powder River County - south
• Rosebud County - west
• Garfield County - northwest

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960, 1900–1990, 1990–2000, 2010–2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 11,867. Of the residents, 22.1% were under the age of 18 and 20.5% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.0 males. 77.8% of residents lived in urban areas and 22.2% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 91.3% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 1.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.9% from some other race, and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.1% of the population.

There were 5,024 households in the county, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 5,776 housing units, of which 13.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.8% were owner-occupied and 33.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.7%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 11,699 people, 5,031 households, and 3,014 families living in the county. The population density was 3.1 PD/sqmi. There were 5,560 housing units at an average density of 1.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 95.5% white, 1.7% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.5% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 33.6% were German, 18.3% were Irish, 14.3% were American, 14.1% were Norwegian, and 10.6% were English.

Of the 5,031 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.1% were non-families, and 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 42.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,913 and the median income for a family was $49,011. Males had a median income of $37,535 versus $26,576 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,676. About 12.4% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Custer County is a staunchly Republican county, like many others in eastern Montana, increasingly so in recent elections. The last Democrat to carry the county was Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

Economy

Agriculture (dryland farming) and cattle raising provide the bulk of Custer County economy. Miles City serves as the center of commerce in an area extending for 100 miles in every direction. As of 2009 the county's largest employers were Holy Rosary Healthcare, Sanjel USA, Stockman Bank, and Walmart.

Communities

City

• Miles City (county seat)

Town

• Ismay

Unincorporated communities

• Bonfield, Montana
• Kinsey
• Knowlton, Montana
• Mizpah, Montana
• Tusler, Montana
• Volborg

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. [[Big Horn County, Montana Territory]] was not the same county as present-day [[Big Horn County, Montana]] of statehood status.
4. "A Brief Custer County History". Custer County Montana.
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
7. "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service.
8. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
13. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau.
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau.
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau.
16. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections".
17. Merrill, Andrea. (1997). "Montana almanac". Falcon Publishing.
18. Montana Dept. of Labor and Industry. (September 2010). "Demographic & Economic Information for Custer County".
19. {{GNIS. 769098. Garland
20. {{GNIS. 773109. Garland
21. {{GNIS. 774307. Garland
22. {{GNIS. 777817. Tusler