Wheatland County, Montana

Wheatland County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,069.^[1] Its county seat is Harlowton.^[2] Wheatland County was established on February 22, 1917, with areas partitioned from Meagher and Sweet Grass counties. It was named for the abundant wheat-growing areas across the center portion of the new county's area.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,428 square miles (3,700 km²), of which 1,423 square miles (3,690 km²) is land and 5.0 square miles (13 km²) (0.4%) is water.^[3]

• U.S. Highway 12
• U.S. Highway 191
• Montana Highway 3

• Lewis and Clark National Forest (part)

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 2,069. Of the residents, 22.2% were under the age of 18 and 26.1% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 47.2 years. For every 100 females there were 102.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.2 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[9]

The racial makeup of the county was 90.7% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.5% from some other race, and 7.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.3% of the population.^[10]

There were 799 households in the county, of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[11]

There were 1,114 housing units, of which 28.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.3% were owner-occupied and 30.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%.^[11]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 2,168 people, 887 households, and 538 families in the county. The population density was 1.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.58/km²). There were 1,197 housing units at an average density of 0.8 per square mile (0.31/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.8% white, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.4% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 35.2% were American, 22.7% were German, 14.1% were English, 11.5% were Irish, and 6.6% were Norwegian.

Of the 887 households, 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.3% were non-families, and 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 44.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,321 and the median income for a family was $41,161. Males had a median income of $30,769 versus $17,083 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,474. About 5.1% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 27.6% of those age 65 or over.

Wheatland County voters have selected the Republican Party candidate in every national election since 1964 (as of 2020).

• Harlowton (county seat)
• Judith Gap

• Duncan Ranch Colony
• Martinsdale Colony
• Shawmut
• Springwater Colony
• Twodot

• Hedgesville^[13]
• Living Springs^[14]

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

46°28′N 109°50′W / 46.47°N 109.84°W / 46.47; -109.84