Stillwater County, Montana

Stillwater County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,963.^[1] Its county seat is Columbus.^[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,805 square miles (4,670 km²), of which 1,795 square miles (4,650 km²) is land and 9.2 square miles (24 km²) (0.5%) is water.^[3]

• Interstate 90
• U.S. Highway 10 (Former)
• Montana Highway 78

• Custer National Forest (part)
• Grass Lake National Wildlife Refuge
• Hailstone National Wildlife Refuge

As of the 2020 census, there were 8,963 people living in the county.^[9] Of the residents, 20.8% were under the age of 18 and 24.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 48.6 years. For every 100 females there were 103.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.5 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[10]

The racial makeup of the county was 91.7% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.9% from some other race, and 5.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.0% of the population.^[9]

There were 3,777 households in the county, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 17.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[11]

There were 4,659 housing units, of which 18.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.0% were owner-occupied and 19.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.7%.^[11]

As of the 2010 census, there were 9,117 people, 3,796 households, and 2,657 families in the county. The population density was 5.1 inhabitants per square mile (2.0/km²). There were 4,803 housing units at an average density of 2.7 units per square mile (1.0 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% white, 0.8% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.4% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 34.7% were German, 14.1% were Irish, 14.0% were English, 10.8% were Norwegian, and 6.9% were American.

Of the 3,796 households, 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.0% were non-families, and 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 45.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $57,227 and the median income for a family was $65,438. Males had a median income of $51,830 versus $26,909 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,168. About 6.0% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Stillwater County is a heavily Republican county in presidential elections. It has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936.

• Columbus (county seat)

• Absarokee
• Fishtail
• Nye
• Park City
• Rapelje
• Reed Point

• Limestone
• Springtime
• Wheat Basin

• List of lakes in Stillwater County, Montana
• List of mountains in Stillwater County, Montana
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Stillwater County, Montana

• Hooker, Patty; Museum of the Beartooths (2011). Columbus and Stillwater County. Images of America. Charleston SC: Arcadia Pub. ISBN 9780738574622.
• Hooker, Patty (2013). Moccasins, Mining & Montana's 34th county: A Centennial Celebration of Stillwater County. Virginia Beach VA: Donning Co. ISBN 9781578648122.

45°40′N 109°23′W / 45.67°N 109.39°W / 45.67; -109.39