Silver Bow County, Montana#Micropolitan Statistical Area

{{Short description|County in Montana, United States}}

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Silver Bow County

| state = Montana

| type = Consolidated city-county

| official_name = Butte-Silver Bow County

| ex image = Mansfield Fed Courthouse.JPG

| ex image size = 220px

| ex image cap = Mike Mansfield Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Butte.

| seal =

| founded date = February 16

| founded year = 1881

| seat wl = Butte

| largest city wl = Butte

| leader_title = Chief Executive

| leader_name = J.P. Gallagher

| area_total_sq_mi = 719

| area_land_sq_mi = 718

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.6

| area percentage = 0.08

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 35133

| pop_est_as_of = 2024

| population_est = 36134 {{increase}}

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Mountain

| web = co.silverbow.mt.us

| district = 1st

| footnotes =

  • Montana county number 01
  • Unigov with Butte, MT

| named for = Silver Bow Creek

}}

Silver Bow County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,133.{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/silverbowcountymontana/PST045222 |access-date=April 5, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} Its county seat is Butte.{{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}} In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the single entity of Butte-Silver Bow. Additionally, the town of Walkerville is a separate municipality from Butte and is within the county.

Silver Bow County comprises the Butte-Silver Bow, MT Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has an area of {{convert|719|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|718|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.6|sqmi}} (0.08%) 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 30, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} It is Montana's smallest county by area.

=Major highways=

=Transit=

=Adjacent counties=

=National protected areas=

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1890= 23744

|1900= 47635

|1910= 56848

|1920= 60313

|1930= 56969

|1940= 53209

|1950= 48422

|1960= 46454

|1970= 41981

|1980= 38092

|1990= 33941

|2000= 34606

|2010= 34200

|2020= 35133

|estyear=2024

|estimate=36134

|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 30, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1790–1960,{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=November 30, 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 30, 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 30, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} 2010–2020

}}

=2020 census=

As of the 2020 census, there were 35,133 people living in the county.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Silver Bow County, Montana – Racial composition
{{nobold|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.}}

!Race (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!{{partial|% 2020}}{{cite web |title=HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2020) |url=https://data.census.gov/table?t=Race+and+Ethnicity&g=050XX00US30093&d=DEC+Demographic+and+Housing+Characteristics |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}

!% 2010{{cite web |title=HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2010) |url=https://data.census.gov/table?t=Race+and+Ethnicity&g=050XX00US30093&y=2010 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}

!% 2000{{cite book |title=Montana: 2000 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |pages=40-41 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2002/dec/phc-1-28.pdf}}

!{{partial|Pop 2020}}

!Pop 2010

!Pop 2000

White alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |88.5%

|92.1%

|93.7%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |31,081

|31,515

|32,410

Black alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.4%

|0.3%

|0.1%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |126

|103

|45

American Indian alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.4%

|1.7%

|1.8%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |480

|587

|619

Asian alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.6%

|0.5%

|0.4%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |214

|161

|147

Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.1%

|0.1%

|0.1%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |20

|22

|20

Other race alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.4%

|0%

|0.1%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |134

|13

|18

Multiracial (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.1%

|1.6%

|1.1%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,440

|546

|397

Hispanic/Latino (any race)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.7%

|3.7%

|2.7%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,638

|1,253

|950

The most reported ancestries in 2020 were:{{cite web |title=Detailed Races and Ethnicities in the United States and Puerto Rico: 2020 Census |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/detailed-race-ethnicities-2020-census.html |website=census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}

=2010 census=

As of the 2010 census, there were 34,200 people, 14,932 households, and 8,651 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|47.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 16,717 housing units at an average density of {{convert|23.3|/sqmi}}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.4% white, 1.9% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.7% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 32.6% were Irish, 23.3% were German, 16.1% were English, 8.3% were Italian, 6.9% were Norwegian, and 3.2% were American.

Of the 14,932 households, 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 42.1% were non-families, and 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 41.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,986 and the median income for a family was $52,288. Males had a median income of $41,491 versus $28,132 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,357. About 11.6% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Since 1977, Butte and Silver Bow County have been consolidated into one governmental body under the leadership of the chief executive and the council of commissioners. Elected in November 2020, J.P. Gallagher is the incumbent Chief Executive of Butte-Silver Bow, a nonpartisan office.{{Cite web |title=Chief Executive |url=https://www.co.silverbow.mt.us/127/Chief-Executive |access-date=July 3, 2023 |publisher=The City-County of Butte-Silver Bow}}

A Democratic bastion, Silver Bow County is, along with neighboring Deer Lodge County, one of the two most consistently Democratic-voting counties in Montana in presidential elections, having last voted Republican in 1956 for Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 2024, Donald Trump, though still losing the county, became the first Republican to get within ten percent of carrying it since the aforementioned 1956 election.

Over the last century, Silver Bow County has voted only once for a Republican gubernatorial candidate (Marc Racicot during the 1996 election).{{Cite web |last=David Leip |title=Presidential Atlas |url=http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/comparemaps.php?year=2008&fips=30&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |access-date=April 2, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}} Silver Bow County has not supported any Republican at all for the U.S. Senate since at least 1928.

Silver Bow County is in Montana Senate districts 36 (represented by Republican Jeffrey Welborn), 37 (represented by Democrat Ryan Lynch), 38 (represented by Democrat Edith McClafferty), and 39 (represented by Republican Terry Vermeire). In the Montana House of Representatives, the county is in districts 71 (represented by Republican Kenneth Walsh), 72 (represented by Republican Tom Welch), 73 (represented by Democrat Jennifer Lynch), 74 (represented by Democrat Derek J. Harvey), 76 (represented by Democrat Donavon Hawk), and 78 (represented by Republican Gregory Frazer).{{Cite web |title=Montana Legislature Information- 68th Session 2023 Regular |url=https://leg.mt.gov/legislator-information/?session_select=120 |access-date=July 3, 2023 |publisher=Montana Legislature}}

From 2024 to 2032, Silver Bow County will be in State Senate districts 35, 36, and 37, as well as State House of Representatives districts 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74. Two of the three Senate districts are expected to be favorable to Democrats as well as four of the five House districts.{{Cite web |last=Kimbel-Sannit |first=Arren |date=February 13, 2023 |title=Explaining the why and the where of Montana's new legislative districts |url=https://montanafreepress.org/2023/02/13/montana-redistricting-commission-finalizes-new-house-senate-maps/ |publisher=Montana Free Press}}

{{PresHead|place=Silver Bow County, Montana|source=}}

{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|8,110|9,386|730|Montana}}

{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|7,745|10,392|659|Montana}}

{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|6,376|8,619|1,457|Montana}}

{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|5,430|10,857|469|Montana}}

{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|4,818|11,676|548|Montana}}

{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|6,381|9,307|396|Montana}}

{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|6,299|8,967|1,437|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,909|11,199|2,569|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,491|9,960|4,695|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|5,043|11,422|222|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|6,637|11,095|278|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|7,301|9,721|2,355|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|7,506|11,377|227|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|7,967|11,704|733|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|5,488|12,626|1,503|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|4,873|15,751|615|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|7,290|13,754|146|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|11,619|11,475|0|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|10,196|13,114|148|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|7,305|12,715|1,315|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|7,610|13,228|202|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|7,932|17,467|335|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,528|17,697|398|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|6,792|13,626|1,416|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|9,456|11,228|419|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|6,520|5,393|6,901|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|10,074|6,394|1,730|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|6,757|13,084|1,706|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|2,232|4,542|5,122|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|4,618|6,255|2,783|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|5,149|5,686|3,439|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|3,873|12,101|336|Montana}}

{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,275|9,992|29|Montana}}

{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|3,251|2,648|2,527|Montana}}

Communities

File:Rhodochrosite-227658.jpg from the old Emma Mine in the Butte Mining District]]

=City=

=Town=

{{anchor|County-serviced communities}}

=Unincorporated communities=

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

  • Divide
  • High View[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Highview,+Butte,+MT+59701/@45.9207589,-112.4346024,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x535a3f36d0ef3cd1:0xe4197b3879a8677e!2sSilver+Bow+County,+MT!3b1!8m2!3d45.8804293!4d-112.5843056!3m4!1s0x535b06d0e28420f1:0x729ddc211f6a401f!8m2!3d45.920759!4d-112.4258476 High View MT Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)]
  • Melrose
  • Ramsay
  • Rocker
  • Silver Bow
  • Williamsburg[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Williamsburg,+MT+59701/@45.9898359,-112.5533403,14z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x535a3f36d0ef3cd1:0xe4197b3879a8677e!2sSilver+Bow+County,+MT!3b1!8m2!3d45.8804293!4d-112.5843056!3m4!1s0x535ba789edab804b:0xaeb6ac735c61ab04!8m2!3d45.9918932!4d-112.5572491 Williamsburg MT Google Maps (accessed January 7, 2019)]

{{div col end}}

Education

Butte Public Schools has two components: Butte Elementary School District and Butte High School District.{{cite web|url=https://apps.opi.mt.gov/SchoolDirectory/frmdirectorydistrictpdf.aspx|title=Directory of Montana Schools|publisher=Montana Office of Public Instruction|date=2024-03-13|access-date=2024-03-13|pages=264–265/317}} Whitehall Public Schools has two components: Whitehall Elementary School District and Whitehall High School District.{{cite web|url=https://apps.opi.mt.gov/SchoolDirectory/frmdirectorydistrictpdf.aspx|title=Directory of Montana Schools|publisher=Montana Office of Public Instruction|date=2024-03-13|access-date=2024-03-13|pages=143/317}}

The consolidated city-county is covered by multiple school districts. High school districts include Butte High School District and Whitehall High School District. There are five elementary school districts: Butte Elementary School District, Divide Elementary School District, Melrose Elementary School District, Ramsay Elementary School District, and Whitehall Elementary School District.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st30_mt/schooldistrict_maps/c30093_silver_bow/DC20SD_C30093.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Silver Bow County, MT|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-10-04}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st30_mt/schooldistrict_maps/c30093_silver_bow/DC20SD_C30093_SD2MS.txt Text list]

See also

References

{{Reflist|30em}}