Prairie County, Montana

Prairie County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,088,^[1] making it the fifth-least populous county in Montana.^[2] Its county seat is Terry.^[3] Prairie County was created by the Montana Legislature in 1915 out of parts of Custer, Dawson, and Fallon Counties. The name was selected in a contest and reflects the predominant landscape of the region.^[4]

The county was the site of the 1938 Custer Creek train wreck that killed 47 people and injured 75.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,743 square miles (4,510 km²), of which 1,737 square miles (4,500 km²) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km²) (0.3%) is water.^[5]

• Interstate 94
• Montana Highway 253

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,088. Of the residents, 18.8% were under the age of 18 and 31.8% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 52.8 years. For every 100 females there were 112.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 108.7 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[11][12]

The racial makeup of the county was 92.3% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% from some other race, and 5.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.0% of the population.^[13]

There were 498 households in the county, of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 18.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[12]

There were 671 housing units, of which 25.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.3% were owner-occupied and 18.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 6.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.7%.^[12]

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,179 people, 551 households, and 342 families in the county. The population density was 0.7 inhabitants per square mile (0.27/km²). There were 673 housing units at an average density of 0.4 per square mile (0.15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.4% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 44.7% were German, 18.6% were Norwegian, 14.1% were American, 11.8% were Irish, and 9.5% were English.

Of the 551 households, 18.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.9% were non-families, and 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.67. The median age was 53.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,896 and the median income for a family was $43,500. Males had a median income of $28,438 versus $21,964 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,296. About 12.4% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.6% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.

Voters in Prairie County have voted for Republican Party candidates in all national elections since 1948 (as of 2024).

• Terry (county seat)

• Fallon

• List of lakes in Prairie County, Montana
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Prairie County MT

• Montana Association of Counties - Prairie County website
• Terry Chamber of Commerce

46°51′N 105°22′W / 46.85°N 105.37°W / 46.85; -105.37