Montana
Click the links below to view state facts.
Montana Population News Articles
Population Density
Historic & Projected Growth
Population by County
POPULATION DENSITY
People per square mile, 2010: 6.8
People per square mile, 2020: 7.4
HISTORIC & PROJECTED GROWTH 1790 TO 2040
Year |
Population |
1790 |
0 |
1800 |
0 |
1810 |
0 |
1820 |
0 |
1830 |
0 |
1840 |
0 |
1850 |
0 |
1860 |
0 |
1870 |
20,595 |
1880 |
39,159 |
1890 |
142,924 |
1900 |
243,329 |
1910 |
376,053 |
1920 |
548,889 |
1930 |
537,606 |
1940 |
559,456 |
1950 |
591,024 |
1960 |
674,767 |
1970 |
694,409 |
1980 |
786,690 |
1990 |
799,065 |
2000 |
902,195 |
2010 |
989,415 |
2020 |
1,084,225 |
2030 |
1,163,353 |
2040 |
1,236,304 |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census & Weldon Cooper Center, Demographics Research Group
(The Census Bureau and Weldon Cooper Center have not yet provided updated State projections to reflect 2020 census numbers.)
Population by County
Census 2020 Population |
Census 2010 Population |
Change from 2020 |
Percent Change |
|
MONTANA |
1,084,225 |
989,415 |
94,810 |
9.58% |
Beaverhead County |
9371 |
9,246 |
125 |
1.35% |
Big Horn County |
13124 |
12,865 |
259 |
2.01% |
Blaine County |
7044 |
6,491 |
553 |
8.52% |
Broadwater County |
6774 |
5,612 |
1,162 |
20.71% |
Carbon County |
10473 |
10,078 |
395 |
3.92% |
Carter County |
1415 |
1,160 |
255 |
21.98% |
Cascade County |
84414 |
81,327 |
3,087 |
3.80% |
Chouteau County |
5895 |
5,813 |
82 |
1.41% |
Custer County |
11867 |
11,699 |
168 |
1.44% |
Daniels County |
1661 |
1,751 |
-90 |
-5.14% |
Dawson County |
8940 |
8,966 |
-26 |
-0.29% |
Deer Lodge County |
9421 |
9,298 |
123 |
1.32% |
Fallon County |
3049 |
2,890 |
159 |
5.50% |
Fergus County |
11446 |
11,586 |
-140 |
-1.21% |
Flathead County |
104357 |
90,928 |
13,429 |
14.77% |
Gallatin County |
118960 |
89,513 |
29,447 |
32.90% |
Garfield County |
1173 |
1,206 |
-33 |
-2.74% |
Glacier County |
13778 |
13,399 |
379 |
2.83% |
Golden Valley County |
823 |
884 |
-61 |
-6.90% |
Granite County |
3309 |
3,079 |
230 |
7.47% |
Hill County |
16309 |
16,096 |
213 |
1.32% |
Jefferson County |
12085 |
11,406 |
679 |
5.95% |
Judith Basin County |
2023 |
2,072 |
-49 |
-2.36% |
Lake County |
31134 |
28,746 |
2,388 |
8.31% |
Lewis and Clark County |
70973 |
63,395 |
7,578 |
11.95% |
Liberty County |
1959 |
2,339 |
-380 |
-16.25% |
Lincoln County |
19677 |
19,687 |
-10 |
-0.05% |
McCone County |
1729 |
1,734 |
-5 |
-0.29% |
Madison County |
8623 |
7,691 |
932 |
12.12% |
Meagher County |
1927 |
1,891 |
36 |
1.90% |
Mineral County |
4535 |
4,223 |
312 |
7.39% |
Missoula County |
117922 |
109,299 |
8,623 |
7.89% |
Musselshell County |
4730 |
4,538 |
192 |
4.23% |
Park County |
17191 |
15,636 |
1,555 |
9.94% |
Petroleum County |
496 |
494 |
2 |
0.40% |
Phillips County |
4217 |
4,253 |
-36 |
-0.85% |
Pondera County |
5898 |
6,153 |
-255 |
-4.14% |
Powder River County |
1694 |
1,743 |
-49 |
-2.81% |
Powell County |
6946 |
7,027 |
-81 |
-1.15% |
Prairie County |
1088 |
1,179 |
-91 |
-7.72% |
Ravalli County |
44174 |
40,212 |
3,962 |
9.85% |
Richland County |
11491 |
9,746 |
1,745 |
17.90% |
Roosevelt County |
10794 |
10,425 |
369 |
3.54% |
Rosebud County |
8329 |
9,233 |
-904 |
-9.79% |
Sanders County |
12400 |
11,413 |
987 |
8.65% |
Sheridan County |
3539 |
3,384 |
155 |
4.58% |
Silver Bow County |
35133 |
34,200 |
933 |
2.73% |
Stillwater County |
8963 |
9,117 |
-154 |
-1.69% |
Sweet Grass County |
3678 |
3,651 |
27 |
0.74% |
Teton County |
6226 |
6,073 |
153 |
2.52% |
Toole County |
4971 |
5,324 |
-353 |
-6.63% |
Treasure County |
762 |
718 |
44 |
6.13% |
Valley County |
7578 |
7,369 |
209 |
2.84% |
Wheatland County |
2069 |
2,168 |
-99 |
-4.57% |
Wibaux County |
937 |
1,017 |
-80 |
-7.87% |
Yellowstone County |
164731 |
147,972 |
16,759 |
11.33% |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census
Montana Population News Articles
Wildfires could devastate Butte’s water supply – Oct 1, 2024
Groups challenge Montana DEQ’s decision to allow more coal mining for Bull Mountain Mine – Sept 30, 2024
Pesticides linked to local wildlife population decline – Sept 24, 2024
In Montana, 911 calls reveal impact of heat waves on rural seniors – Sept 21, 2024
Big Sky aims to limit the impacts of growth with upgraded wastewater system – June 27, 2024
Montana petitions Supreme Court to block EPA’s new pollution standards – July 24, 2024
Montana secures $50 million grant for forestry- and agriculture-related climate initiatives – July 23, 2024
34.8% of Montana Rivers Are Too Polluted for Swimming – July 19, 2024
Montana urges state top court to overturn landmark climate ruling – July 10, 2024
Picturesque mountain town becomes hotspot for America’s migrant boom – July 5, 2024
Climate change impacts pocketbooks too, study claims – January 3, 2024
Montana’s Population Growth Slows Again in 2023 – December 20, 2023
Groups Sue Montana Over Unlawful Factory Farm Water Pollution Permit – December 18, 2023
No End in Sight for Montana’s Developing ‘Snow Drought’ – December 13, 2023
Montana’s Growth Could Outpace Electrical Supply – Aug 7, 2023
5 Things To Help Prevent Breathing Dirty Wildfire Air In Montana – Aug 4, 2023
Flathead Population Growth Continues to Outpace Housing Supply – July 29, 2023
FWP: Northwest Montana rivers, streams running historically low – July 24, 2023
Tar balls are being found 100 miles downstream from Yellowstone River train derailment – July 21, 2023
Montana ranks in top 15 for domestic migration – Feb 5, 2023
Legislators at odds with Missoula over housing as wealthy move in – Feb 1, 2023
A tough road to hoe: New report highlights challenges for Montana roadways – Jan 19, 2023
BLM eyes solar development in Montana – Jan 19, 2023
City of Billings considering tree diversity amidst climate change – Jan 7, 2023
Montana’s skies clearer this fire season, but experts worry about smoky air – Aug 16, 2022
Montana on track for record hot August as fire season kicks into gear – Aug 15, 2022
Montana DEQ warns of algal blooms in lakes – July 29, 2022
Conservation groups sue over coal mines in Colorado, Montana – Jul 28, 2022
Population booms are overwhelming schools in Montana – May 13, 2022
Poll finds three-quarters of Montanans worried about housing affordability – May 3, 2022
Crews clearing trash under Reserve St. bridge – May 13, 2022
Montana has most car registrations per capita in US – April 25, 2022
Severe wildfires continue to impact Montana’s air quality – April 25, 2022
Climate change is helping invasive species take over trout habitats in Montana – January 9, 2022
2021 Year in Review: weather across north-central Montana – December 31, 2021
Census: Montana sees major population growth while majority of US does not – December 23, 2021
Change in snowpack statistics ignores climate change effects – December 20, 2021
Nutrients/Water Quality Standards: Federal Appellate Court Addresses Challenge to Montana Variance – October 14, 2021
Montana requests regional air quality exceptions due to wildfire – October 12, 2021
Sustainable Missoula: Climate change and our children’s health – October 1, 2021
The Beaverhead River is at a trickle, and biologist says what it means for trout – September 30, 2021
Montana clinic to open ASC amid population growth – September 29, 2021
Drought likely to shape Montana’s hunting seasons – August 2, 2021
Fire season and air quality impacting Montana wildlife – July 29, 2021
Wildfires cause evacuations near Wise River, widespread smoke over Butte – July 16, 2021
Experts warn of historically low trout numbers – July 8, 2021
Gianforte Withdraws Montana From Multi-State Climate Coalition – July 8, 2021
Growth in Montana County Puts Pressure on Volunteer Fire Departments – April 18, 2021
Montana County Sees 10% Population Increase in the Last 6 Months Alone – April 14, 2021
A new day at DEQ and DNRC – January 11, 2021