Lake County, Montana
Lake County, Montana | |
|---|---|
Location within the U.S. state of Montana | |
| Coordinates: 47°39′N 114°05′W / 47.65°N 114.09°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Named after | Flathead Lake |
| Seat | Polson |
| Largest city | Polson |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,654 sq mi (4,280 km2) |
| • Land | 1,490 sq mi (3,900 km2) |
| • Water | 164 sq mi (420 km2) 9.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 31,134 |
• Estimate (2024) | 33,403 |
| • Density | 20.9/sq mi (8.07/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
| |
Lake County is a county located in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,134.[1] Its county seat is Polson.[2]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,654 square miles (4,280 km2), of which 1,490 square miles (3,900 km2) is land and 164 square miles (420 km2) (9.9%) is water.[3] Over two-thirds (67.7%) of the county's land lies within the Flathead Indian Reservation.
Adjacent counties
- Flathead County - north
- Missoula County - east
- Sanders County - west
National protected areas
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 9,541 | — | |
| 1940 | 13,490 | 41.4% | |
| 1950 | 13,835 | 2.6% | |
| 1960 | 13,104 | −5.3% | |
| 1970 | 14,445 | 10.2% | |
| 1980 | 19,056 | 31.9% | |
| 1990 | 21,041 | 10.4% | |
| 2000 | 26,507 | 26.0% | |
| 2010 | 28,746 | 8.4% | |
| 2020 | 31,134 | 8.3% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 33,403 | [4] | 7.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790–1960,[6] 1900–1990,[7] 1990–2000,[8] 2010–2020[1] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 31,134. Of the residents, 23.2% were under the age of 18 and 24.3% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 44.7 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.7 males. 17.9% of residents lived in urban areas and 82.1% lived in rural areas.[9]
The racial makeup of the county was 66.3% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 22.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.8% from some other race, and 9.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.8% of the population.[10]
There were 12,486 households in the county, of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]
There were 16,390 housing units, of which 23.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.4% were owner-occupied and 28.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.9%.[11]
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 28,746 people, 11,432 households, and 7,770 families living in the county. The population density was 19.3 inhabitants per square mile (7.5/km2). There were 16,588 housing units at an average density of 11.1 per square mile (4.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 69.4% white, 22.0% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.5% from other races, and 7.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.3% were German, 11.6% were English, 11.5% were Irish, 6.9% were Norwegian, and 3.8% were American.
Of the 11,432 households, 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.0% were non-families, and 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age was 41.3 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,274 and the median income for a family was $47,437. Males had a median income of $37,461 versus $26,637 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,164. About 15.4% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.9% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № | % | № | % | № | % | |
| 1924 | 884 | 28.00% | 340 | 10.77% | 1,933 | 61.23% |
| 1928 | 1,876 | 59.42% | 1,256 | 39.78% | 25 | 0.79% |
| 1932 | 1,361 | 33.34% | 2,514 | 61.59% | 207 | 5.07% |
| 1936 | 1,401 | 31.68% | 2,656 | 60.06% | 365 | 8.25% |
| 1940 | 2,718 | 52.46% | 2,379 | 45.92% | 84 | 1.62% |
| 1944 | 2,265 | 55.80% | 1,750 | 43.11% | 44 | 1.08% |
| 1948 | 2,295 | 49.35% | 2,177 | 46.82% | 178 | 3.83% |
| 1952 | 3,651 | 65.09% | 1,893 | 33.75% | 65 | 1.16% |
| 1956 | 3,363 | 59.88% | 2,253 | 40.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,240 | 56.75% | 2,462 | 43.12% | 7 | 0.12% |
| 1964 | 2,828 | 47.24% | 3,148 | 52.59% | 10 | 0.17% |
| 1968 | 3,358 | 55.98% | 1,956 | 32.61% | 685 | 11.42% |
| 1972 | 4,172 | 62.09% | 2,260 | 33.64% | 287 | 4.27% |
| 1976 | 3,809 | 52.83% | 3,253 | 45.12% | 148 | 2.05% |
| 1980 | 5,083 | 59.58% | 2,615 | 30.65% | 834 | 9.77% |
| 1984 | 5,754 | 61.55% | 3,473 | 37.15% | 121 | 1.29% |
| 1988 | 4,883 | 53.37% | 4,109 | 44.91% | 158 | 1.73% |
| 1992 | 3,596 | 34.08% | 3,938 | 37.32% | 3,018 | 28.60% |
| 1996 | 4,723 | 43.57% | 4,195 | 38.70% | 1,922 | 17.73% |
| 2000 | 6,441 | 56.26% | 3,884 | 33.93% | 1,123 | 9.81% |
| 2004 | 7,245 | 57.61% | 4,960 | 39.44% | 371 | 2.95% |
| 2008 | 6,498 | 46.56% | 6,766 | 48.48% | 692 | 4.96% |
| 2012 | 7,135 | 53.63% | 5,805 | 43.63% | 364 | 2.74% |
| 2016 | 7,530 | 57.13% | 4,776 | 36.23% | 875 | 6.64% |
| 2020 | 9,322 | 56.07% | 6,916 | 41.60% | 388 | 2.33% |
| 2024 | 9,880 | 58.22% | 6,510 | 38.36% | 581 | 3.42% |
Communities
Cities
Town
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
Education
School districts include:
K-12 (Unified):[19]
- Hot Springs K-12 Schools
- St. Ignatius K-12 Schools
High school:[19]
- Arlee High School District
- Bigfork High School District
- Charlo High School District
- Missoula High School District
- Polson High School District
- Ronan High School District
Elementary school:[19]
- Arlee Elementary School District
- Bigfork Elementary School District
- Charlo Elementary School District
- Polson Elementary School District
- Ronan Elementary School District
- Swan Lake-Salmon Elementary School District
- Upper West Shore Elementary School District
- Valley View Elementary School District
See also
- List of lakes in Lake County, Montana
- List of mountains in Lake County, Montana
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Lake County, Montana
References
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
- ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
- ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
- ^ Allentown MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
- ^ Post Creek MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
- ^ Proctor MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
- ^ Round Butte MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
- ^ Salmon Prairie Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
- ^ Sipes MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
- ^ a b c "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lake County, MT" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 4 (PDF p. 5/7). Retrieved March 13, 2024. - Text list