Wibaux County (/ˈwiːboʊ/ WEE-boh) is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 937,[2] making it the fourth-least populous county in Montana. Its county seat is Wibaux.[3]
Wibaux County | |
|---|---|
 Wibaux County Courthouse in Wibaux | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Montana | |
 Montana's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 46°58′N 104°15′W / 46.96°N 104.25°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Montana |
| Founded | August 17, 1914[1] |
| Named for | Pierre Wibaux |
| Seat | Wibaux |
| Largest town | Wibaux |
| Area | |
| • Total | 890 sq mi (2,300 km2) |
| • Land | 889 sq mi (2,300 km2) |
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (2 km2) 0.07% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 937 |
| • Estimate (2022) | 919  |
| • Density | 1.1/sq mi (0.41/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| |
History
editWibaux County was created by the Montana Legislature in 1914 from parts of Dawson, Fallon, and Richland Counties. The name comes from Pierre Wibaux (1858–1913),[4] a late 19th-century cattle baron and friend of Theodore Roosevelt whose ranch was just over the border (in Dakota Territory, later North Dakota). According to legend, Pierre Wibaux's cowboys surrounded the town of Mingusville, and wouldn't let anyone enter or leave town unless they signed a petition changing the name of the town to Wibaux. Upon his death, his ashes were spread over a hill west of Wibaux. Today, a statue of Pierre Wibaux stands on that hill.
Geography
editAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 890 square miles (2,300 km2), of which 889 square miles (2,300 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.07%) is water.[5] It is the third-smallest county in Montana by land area.
Adjacent counties
edit- Richland County – north
- Dawson County – northwest
- Prairie County – west
- Fallon County – south
- Golden Valley County, North Dakota – east
- McKenzie County, North Dakota – northeast
Major highways
edit
National protected area
editDemographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 3,113 | — | |
| 1930 | 2,767 | −11.1% | |
| 1940 | 2,161 | −21.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,907 | −11.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,698 | −11.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,465 | −13.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,476 | 0.8% | |
| 1990 | 1,191 | −19.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,068 | −10.3% | |
| 2010 | 1,017 | −4.8% | |
| 2020 | 937 | −7.9% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 919 | [6] | −1.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960,[8] 1900–1990,[9] 1990–2000,[10] 2010–2020[2] | |||
2020 census
editAs of the 2020 census, there were 937 people living in the county.[citation needed]
2010 census
editAs of the 2010 census, there were 1,017 people, 457 households, and 281 families in the county. The population density was 1.1 inhabitants per square mile (0.42/km2). There were 538 housing units at an average density of 0.6 units per square mile (0.23/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.6% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 46.3% were German, 13.7% were Polish, 13.4% were Irish, 12.1% were American, 9.5% were English, 8.0% were Norwegian, and 5.3% were Dutch.
Of the 457 households, 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.5% were non-families, and 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.80. The median age was 49.0 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,417 and the median income for a family was $51,354. Males had a median income of $43,438 versus $24,821 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,579. About 7.2% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
editWibaux County voters are reliably Republican. Since 1964 they have selected the Democratic Party candidate in only one national election (as of 2020).
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 516 | 86.29% | 77 | 12.88% | 5 | 0.84% |
| 2016 | 463 | 85.58% | 55 | 10.17% | 23 | 4.25% |
| 2012 | 421 | 77.39% | 98 | 18.01% | 25 | 4.60% |
| 2008 | 379 | 67.32% | 146 | 25.93% | 38 | 6.75% |
| 2004 | 407 | 72.68% | 144 | 25.71% | 9 | 1.61% |
| 2000 | 369 | 71.24% | 121 | 23.36% | 28 | 5.41% |
| 1996 | 284 | 46.33% | 197 | 32.14% | 132 | 21.53% |
| 1992 | 234 | 38.55% | 195 | 32.13% | 178 | 29.32% |
| 1988 | 358 | 56.92% | 258 | 41.02% | 13 | 2.07% |
| 1984 | 423 | 64.98% | 216 | 33.18% | 12 | 1.84% |
| 1980 | 450 | 61.56% | 219 | 29.96% | 62 | 8.48% |
| 1976 | 308 | 44.57% | 352 | 50.94% | 31 | 4.49% |
| 1972 | 390 | 55.48% | 283 | 40.26% | 30 | 4.27% |
| 1968 | 347 | 52.98% | 252 | 38.47% | 56 | 8.55% |
| 1964 | 308 | 41.79% | 427 | 57.94% | 2 | 0.27% |
| 1960 | 387 | 48.01% | 419 | 51.99% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 431 | 52.50% | 390 | 47.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 556 | 62.82% | 324 | 36.61% | 5 | 0.56% |
| 1948 | 421 | 46.52% | 471 | 52.04% | 13 | 1.44% |
| 1944 | 432 | 50.29% | 425 | 49.48% | 2 | 0.23% |
| 1940 | 461 | 44.20% | 576 | 55.23% | 6 | 0.58% |
| 1936 | 362 | 31.18% | 790 | 68.04% | 9 | 0.78% |
| 1932 | 445 | 35.54% | 798 | 63.74% | 9 | 0.72% |
| 1928 | 583 | 56.27% | 448 | 43.24% | 5 | 0.48% |
| 1924 | 505 | 56.93% | 189 | 21.31% | 193 | 21.76% |
| 1920 | 692 | 71.64% | 223 | 23.08% | 51 | 5.28% |
| 1916 | 466 | 42.13% | 585 | 52.89% | 55 | 4.97% |
Communities
editTown
edit- Wibaux (county seat)
Unincorporated communities
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Montana County Formation Table". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Montana Place Names Companion". Montana Place Names From Alzada to Zortman. Montana Historical Society Research Center. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 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 30, 2014.
- ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
- ^ St Phillip MT Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)