Phillips County is a county in the U.S. stateofMontana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,217.[1] Its county seatisMalta.[2] Before February 5, 1915, Phillips County was part of Blaine County, and before 1912 both were part of Chouteau County.[3] It was named for rancher and state senator Benjamin D. Phillips.
Phillips County
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Phillips County Courthouse in Malta
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Location within the U.S. state of Montana
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Montana's location within the U.S.
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| Coordinates: 48°16′N 107°55′W / 48.26°N 107.92°W / 48.26; -107.92 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Montana |
| Founded | February 5, 1915 |
| Seat | Malta |
| Largest city | Malta |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5,212 sq mi (13,500 km2) |
| • Land | 5,140 sq mi (13,300 km2) |
| • Water | 72 sq mi (190 km2) 1.4% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,217 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
| 4,240  |
| • Density | 0.81/sq mi (0.31/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
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Its northern boundary is the Canada–United States border with Saskatchewan. The Missouri River defines its southern boundary.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,212 square miles (13,500 km2), of which 5,140 square miles (13,300 km2) is land and 72 square miles (190 km2) (1.4%) is water.[4] It is the second-largest county in Montana by land area and third-largest by total area.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 9,311 | — | |
| 1930 | 8,208 | −11.8% | |
| 1940 | 7,892 | −3.8% | |
| 1950 | 6,334 | −19.7% | |
| 1960 | 6,027 | −4.8% | |
| 1970 | 5,386 | −10.6% | |
| 1980 | 5,367 | −0.4% | |
| 1990 | 5,163 | −3.8% | |
| 2000 | 4,601 | −10.9% | |
| 2010 | 4,253 | −7.6% | |
| 2020 | 4,217 | −0.8% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 4,240 | [5] | 0.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790–1960,[7] 1900–1990,[8] 1990–2000,[9] 2010–2020[1] | |||
As of the 2020 census, there were 4,217 people living in the county.[citation needed]
As of the 2010 census, there were 4,253 people, 1,819 households, and 1,159 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.8 inhabitants per square mile (0.31/km2). There were 2,335 housing units at an average density of 0.5 per square mile (0.19/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.0% white, 8.3% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 4.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 26.2% were Norwegian, 24.3% were German, 13.4% were Irish, 10.1% were American, and 9.0% were English.
Of the 1,819 households, 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.3% were non-families, and 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 46.8 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,453 and the median income for a family was $55,362. Males had a median income of $41,826 versus $26,417 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,227. About 11.4% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
From its creation until 1964, voters of Phillips County were fairly balanced; they selected Democratic Party candidates in 58% of national elections. After 1964 the Republican presidential candidate has garnered the county's vote in every election.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 1,936 | 81.28% | 416 | 17.46% | 30 | 1.26% |
| 2016 | 1,723 | 79.36% | 318 | 14.65% | 130 | 5.99% |
| 2012 | 1,688 | 75.76% | 471 | 21.14% | 69 | 3.10% |
| 2008 | 1,423 | 67.03% | 638 | 30.05% | 62 | 2.92% |
| 2004 | 1,677 | 77.28% | 456 | 21.01% | 37 | 1.71% |
| 2000 | 1,727 | 77.51% | 423 | 18.99% | 78 | 3.50% |
| 1996 | 1,392 | 55.44% | 705 | 28.08% | 414 | 16.49% |
| 1992 | 1,026 | 39.09% | 634 | 24.15% | 965 | 36.76% |
| 1988 | 1,462 | 60.26% | 905 | 37.30% | 59 | 2.43% |
| 1984 | 1,934 | 70.35% | 787 | 28.63% | 28 | 1.02% |
| 1980 | 1,723 | 64.95% | 745 | 28.08% | 185 | 6.97% |
| 1976 | 1,347 | 54.18% | 1,117 | 44.93% | 22 | 0.88% |
| 1972 | 1,659 | 64.88% | 828 | 32.38% | 70 | 2.74% |
| 1968 | 1,353 | 51.41% | 1,100 | 41.79% | 179 | 6.80% |
| 1964 | 1,242 | 43.47% | 1,612 | 56.42% | 3 | 0.11% |
| 1960 | 1,457 | 49.81% | 1,455 | 49.74% | 13 | 0.44% |
| 1956 | 1,605 | 52.94% | 1,427 | 47.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 1,771 | 58.70% | 1,224 | 40.57% | 22 | 0.73% |
| 1948 | 964 | 37.52% | 1,506 | 58.62% | 99 | 3.85% |
| 1944 | 1,089 | 42.82% | 1,435 | 56.43% | 19 | 0.75% |
| 1940 | 1,110 | 32.98% | 2,225 | 66.10% | 31 | 0.92% |
| 1936 | 850 | 24.33% | 2,555 | 73.13% | 89 | 2.55% |
| 1932 | 1,127 | 33.90% | 2,054 | 61.79% | 143 | 4.30% |
| 1928 | 1,671 | 59.09% | 1,135 | 40.13% | 22 | 0.78% |
| 1924 | 1,236 | 46.69% | 473 | 17.87% | 938 | 35.44% |
| 1920 | 1,693 | 67.13% | 648 | 25.69% | 181 | 7.18% |
| 1916 | 999 | 42.42% | 1,252 | 53.16% | 104 | 4.42% |
