Phillips County, Montana

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Phillips County

| state = Montana

| seal =

| founded date = February 5

| founded year = 1915

| seat wl = Malta

| largest city wl = Malta

| area_total_sq_mi = 5212

| area_land_sq_mi = 5140

| area_water_sq_mi = 72

| area percentage = 1.4

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 4217

| pop_est_as_of = 2024

| population_est = 4214 {{decrease}}

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

| web =

| ex image = Phillips County Courthouse Malta.JPG

| ex image cap = Phillips County Courthouse in Malta

| district = 2nd

| time zone = Mountain

| footnotes =

Montana county number 11

}}

Phillips County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,217.{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/phillipscountymontana/PST045222 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} Its county seat is Malta.{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}} Before February 5, 1915, Phillips County was part of Blaine County, and before 1912 both were part of Chouteau County.{{Cite web |last=Koschmann |first=A.H. |last2=M.H. Bergendahl |year=1968 |title=Principal Gold-Producing Districts of the United States, Phillips County Montana Gold Production |url=http://www.westernmininghistory.com/articles/149/page1/ |access-date=February 17, 2008 |publisher=United States Geological Survey}} It was named for rancher and state senator Benjamin D. Phillips.

Its northern boundary is the Canada–United States border with Saskatchewan. The Missouri River defines its southern boundary.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|5212|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|5140|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|72|sqmi}} (1.4%) is water.{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_30.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205145322/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_30.txt |archive-date=December 5, 2014 |access-date=November 29, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} It is the second-largest county in Montana by land area and third-largest by total area.

=Adjacent counties and rural municipalities=

Blaine County - west
Fergus County - southwest
Petroleum County - south
Garfield County - southeast
Valley County - east
Rural Municipality (RM) of Lone Tree No. 18, Saskatchewan (SK) - north
RM of Val Marie No. 17, SK - north
RM of Mankota No. 45, SK - northeast

=National protected areas=

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1920= 9311

|1930= 8208

|1940= 7892

|1950= 6334

|1960= 6027

|1970= 5386

|1980= 5367

|1990= 5163

|2000= 4601

|2010= 4253

|2020= 4217

|estyear=2024

|estimate=4214

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 3, 2025}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=November 29, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1790–1960,{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=November 29, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}} 1900–1990,{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mt190090.txt |access-date=November 29, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1990–2000,{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=November 29, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} 2010–2020

}}

=2020 census=

As of the 2020 census, there were 4,217 people living in the county.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

=2010 census=

As of the 2010 census, there were 4,253 people, 1,819 households, and 1,159 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|0.8|PD/sqmi}}. There were 2,335 housing units at an average density of {{convert|0.5|/sqmi}}. The racial makeup of the county was 87.0% white, 8.3% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 4.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 26.2% were Norwegian, 24.3% were German, 13.4% were Irish, 10.1% were American, and 9.0% were English.

Of the 1,819 households, 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.3% were non-families, and 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 46.8 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,453 and the median income for a family was $55,362. Males had a median income of $41,826 versus $26,417 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,227. About 11.4% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

From its creation until 1964, voters of Phillips County were fairly balanced; they selected Democratic Party candidates in 58% of national elections. After 1964 the Republican presidential candidate has garnered the county's vote in every election.

{{PresHead|place=Phillips County, Montana|whig=no|source1={{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 3, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}}}

Communities

=City=

Malta (county seat)

=Towns=

Dodson
Saco

=Census-designated places=

=Other unincorporated communities=

Bowdoin[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bowdoin,+MT+59538/@48.3841182,-107.5871258,13z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x533e0a0b25e0a793:0x1860b5bd9a2c331e!8m2!3d48.392774!4d-107.6062147 Bowdoin MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)]
Caldwell[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Caldwell,+MT+59537/@48.9716788,-108.1813703,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x5315dc8e3249695b:0x2934c3a34a579c06!8m2!3d48.9716797!4d-108.1726155 Caldwell MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)]
Cole[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cole,+MT+59261/@48.541109,-107.4774562,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x533dfa996aacd19b:0x70de6200c181789a!8m2!3d48.5411098!4d-107.4687014 Cole MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)]
Content[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Content,+MT+59538/@48.0205523,-107.5691411,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x533e7d6f708e61e5:0x2779e98458002541!8m2!3d48.0205532!4d-107.5603863 Content MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)]
Cree Crossing[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cree+Crossing,+MT+59261/@48.5405527,-107.5280147,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x533dfb02a4b6d5f9:0x2c0053f1b45d151c!8m2!3d48.5405535!4d-107.5192599 Cree Crossing MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)]
Jordan Crossing[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jordan+Crossing,+MT+59261/@48.5072242,-107.2960575,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x533dedb5b9d85513:0xe9610fe71f415910!8m2!3d48.5072251!4d-107.2873027 Jordan Crossing MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)]
Loring
Morgan
Tattnall[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tattnall,+MT+59544/@48.6272225,-107.5516234,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x533df9ca90aef227:0x76884b2978a96699!8m2!3d48.6272234!4d-107.5428686 Tattnall MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)]
Wagner[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wagner,+MT+59538/@48.3661301,-108.0794568,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x533e3d8efa85da5b:0x23bd82d4b26cb434!8m2!3d48.366131!4d-108.070702 Wagner MT Google Maps (accessed January 4, 2019)]

References

External links

[http://phillipscountysheriff.org/ Phillips County Sheriff's Office]