Lincoln County, Montana

Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 19,687.[2] Its county seat is Libby.[3] The county was founded in 1909 and named for President Abraham Lincoln. The county lies on Montana's north border and thus shares the US-Canadian border with the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Lincoln County
U.S. county
Lincoln County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 48°32′N 115°25′W
Country United States
State Montana
FoundedMarch 9, 1909[1]
Named forAbraham Lincoln
SeatLibby
Largest cityLibby
Area
 • Total3,675 sq mi (9,520 km2)
 • Land3,613 sq mi (9,360 km2)
 • Water62 sq mi (160 km2)  1.7%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total19,687
 • Estimate 
(2019)
19,980
 • Density5.4/sq mi (2.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.lincolncountymt.us
 
  • Montana county number 56,
    the highest county number

This heavily wooded and mountainous county once was part of Flathead County until residents of Libby and Eureka petitioned the state legislature for separation. Libby won an election over Eureka to host the county seat.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,675 square miles (9,520 km2), of which 3,615 square miles (9,360 km2) is land and 62 square miles (160 km2) (1.7%) is water.[4] The county borders the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north. The lowest point in the state of Montana is located on the Kootenai River in Lincoln County, where it flows out of Montana and into Idaho. Upstream, Libby Dam backs up huge Lake Koocanusa (combination name of Kootenai, Canada, USA) into Canada's British Columbia.

Adjacent counties and county-equivalents

National protected areas

Economics

Top employers

In 2003, the top employers are listed in the table below.[5]

# Employer # of Employees
1 Kootenai National Forest 276
2 Libby Public School District 203
3 St John's Lutheran Hospital 182
4 Lincoln County Government 135
5 Owens & Hurst Lumber 120

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19103,638—
19207,797114.3%
19307,089−9.1%
19407,88211.2%
19508,69310.3%
196012,53744.2%
197018,06344.1%
198017,752−1.7%
199017,481−1.5%
200018,8377.8%
201019,6874.5%
2019 (est.)19,980[6]1.5%
US Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2019[2]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census,[11] there were 18,837 people, 7,764 households, and 5,333 families living in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (2/km2). There were 9,319 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.09% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 1.20% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. 1.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.6% were of German, 12.0% English, 10.2% American, 9.8% Norwegian and 9.4% Irish ancestry. 96.5% spoke English, 1.7% German and 1.3% Spanish as their first language.

There were 7,764 households, out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.10% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.90.

The county population contained 25.30% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 29.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,754, and the median income for a family was $31,784. Males had a median income of $30,299 versus $20,600 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,923. About 14.20% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.40% of those under age 18 and 10.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 19,687 people, 8,843 households, and 5,608 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 5.4 inhabitants per square mile (2.1/km2). There were 11,413 housing units at an average density of 3.2 per square mile (1.2/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 95.9% white, 0.9% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.4% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 31.5% were German, 15.7% were Irish, 15.3% were English, 10.2% were Norwegian, and 3.3% were American.[14]

Of the 8,843 households, 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.6% were non-families, and 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age was 48.9 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $30,823 and the median income for a family was $39,600. Males had a median income of $40,944 versus $24,965 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,626. About 13.7% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.2% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Communities
Welcome sign for Lincoln County on U.S. Route 93

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Politics

For its first eighty years, Lincoln County was a Democratic-leaning area that would vote Republican only during large GOP landslides. Only four Republicans were to win the county in the seventeen Presidential elections between its inaugural election in 1912 and 1976. However, like many timber-dependent counties, it has become overwhelmingly Republican since that time. The last Democrat to carry Lincoln County was Michael Dukakis during the drought-influenced 1988 election. Since then, no Democrat has reached 35 percent of the county's vote.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 73.8% 8,672 24.1% 2,835 2.0% 240
2016 72.1% 6,729 21.9% 2,041 6.0% 560
2012 68.1% 6,057 28.7% 2,552 3.2% 281
2008 61.8% 5,704 32.8% 3,025 5.4% 498
2004 69.7% 5,889 27.5% 2,320 2.8% 240
2000 71.1% 5,578 20.8% 1,629 8.1% 639
1996 45.2% 3,552 34.4% 2,705 20.5% 1,609
1992 33.4% 2,799 33.0% 2,765 33.6% 2,814[lower-alpha 1]
1988 48.0% 3,500 49.4% 3,601 2.7% 193
1984 56.8% 4,080 41.2% 2,959 2.0% 145
1980 57.2% 4,202 33.0% 2,422 9.9% 724
1976 48.0% 3,017 50.1% 3,146 1.9% 120
1972 52.8% 3,276 38.7% 2,402 8.5% 530
1968 40.6% 2,355 46.1% 2,677 13.3% 775
1964 33.0% 1,554 66.7% 3,140 0.3% 15
1960 41.8% 1,902 57.7% 2,623 0.5% 21
1956 50.4% 2,321 49.6% 2,286
1952 49.2% 1,881 49.9% 1,907 0.9% 33
1948 37.3% 1,079 58.4% 1,689 4.3% 125
1944 42.8% 1,109 55.8% 1,445 1.4% 35
1940 36.3% 1,250 62.4% 2,150 1.4% 48
1936 24.4% 745 69.4% 2,117 6.2% 188
1932 28.7% 833 64.3% 1,867 7.1% 206
1928 52.3% 1,217 45.9% 1,067 1.9% 43
1924 40.9% 976 15.7% 374 43.4% 1,037
1920 57.5% 1,187 33.1% 683 9.4% 193
1916 35.4% 807 52.0% 1,186 12.7% 290
1912 21.7% 218 34.4% 346 43.9% 441[lower-alpha 2]

See also

Notes
  1. The leading “other” candidate, Independent Ross Perot, received 2,637 votes, while Independent James Bo Gritz received 149 votes and Libertarian Andre Marrou received 28 votes.
  2. The leading “other” candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 22,456 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 10,885 votes and Write-in candidate Eugene Chafin received 32 votes.

References
  1. "Montana County Formation Table". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  5. "Community Information - Employment by Industry Chart - Lincoln County, Montana". libbymt.com. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  7. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  13. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  14. "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  15. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  16. Dodge Summit MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
  17. Jennings MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
  18. Kootenai Falls MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
  19. Tobacco MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
  20. Yarnell MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
  21. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.

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