kids encyclopedia robot

Custer County, Montana facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Custer County
Custer County Courthouse in Miles City
Custer County Courthouse in Miles City
Map of Montana highlighting Custer County
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Map of the United States highlighting Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Montana
Founded June 2, 1865
Named for George Armstrong Custer
Seat Miles City
Largest city Miles City
Area
 • Total 3,793 sq mi (9,820 km2)
 • Land 3,783 sq mi (9,800 km2)
 • Water 9.9 sq mi (26 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 11,867
 • Estimate 
(2022)
12,032 Increase
 • Density 3.1287/sq mi (1.20798/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website https://custercountymt.com/
  • Montana county number 14

Custer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,867. Its county seat is Miles City. The county was established on June 2, 1865, as one of the nine original counties of the Territory of Montana named Big Horn County, and was renamed on February 16, 1877, in honor of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,793 square miles (9,820 km2), of which 3,783 square miles (9,800 km2) is land and 9.9 square miles (26 km2) (0.3%) is water.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Custer County has a mostly cold semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

Climate data for Mizpah, Montana, 1991—2020 normals, extremes 1960—present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 69
(21)
73
(23)
85
(29)
92
(33)
101
(38)
111
(44)
112
(44)
110
(43)
106
(41)
96
(36)
80
(27)
70
(21)
112
(44)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 51.6
(10.9)
56.3
(13.5)
71.9
(22.2)
81.3
(27.4)
87.2
(30.7)
95.8
(35.4)
102.5
(39.2)
101.5
(38.6)
97.1
(36.2)
84.2
(29.0)
67.9
(19.9)
54.2
(12.3)
104.4
(40.2)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 32.6
(0.3)
36.9
(2.7)
49.7
(9.8)
61.2
(16.2)
70.9
(21.6)
81.1
(27.3)
91.3
(32.9)
90.9
(32.7)
79.4
(26.3)
62.1
(16.7)
46.4
(8.0)
35.2
(1.8)
61.5
(16.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 19.4
(−7.0)
23.7
(−4.6)
35.4
(1.9)
46.1
(7.8)
55.8
(13.2)
65.6
(18.7)
73.5
(23.1)
72.0
(22.2)
61.0
(16.1)
46.2
(7.9)
32.3
(0.2)
21.9
(−5.6)
46.1
(7.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 6.3
(−14.3)
10.6
(−11.9)
21.0
(−6.1)
31.0
(−0.6)
40.8
(4.9)
50.1
(10.1)
55.6
(13.1)
53.0
(11.7)
42.6
(5.9)
30.4
(−0.9)
18.3
(−7.6)
8.6
(−13.0)
30.7
(−0.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −23.5
(−30.8)
−15.4
(−26.3)
−4.1
(−20.1)
13.1
(−10.5)
24.3
(−4.3)
36.1
(2.3)
43.2
(6.2)
37.6
(3.1)
25.5
(−3.6)
12.3
(−10.9)
−6.3
(−21.3)
−17.2
(−27.3)
−32.0
(−35.6)
Record low °F (°C) −45
(−43)
−45
(−43)
−40
(−40)
−5
(−21)
13
(−11)
21
(−6)
33
(1)
31
(−1)
16
(−9)
−11
(−24)
−29
(−34)
−49
(−45)
−49
(−45)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.44
(11)
0.48
(12)
0.70
(18)
1.65
(42)
2.92
(74)
2.31
(59)
1.78
(45)
1.02
(26)
1.26
(32)
1.04
(26)
0.50
(13)
0.41
(10)
14.51
(368)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 5.6
(14)
5.0
(13)
5.4
(14)
2.2
(5.6)
0.8
(2.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.1
(0.25)
1.6
(4.1)
3.7
(9.4)
5.5
(14)
29.9
(76.35)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 6.2 6.3 6.3 8.4 10.5 10.4 8.0 5.8 6.3 7.2 5.7 5.9 87.0
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 4.7 4.4 3.2 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 3.2 4.8 22.9
Source 1: NOAA
Source 2: National Weather Service

Major highways

  • I-94.svg Interstate 94
  • US 12.svg U.S. Highway 12
  • US 212.svg U.S. Highway 212
  • MT-59.svg Montana Highway 59

Transit

  • Jefferson Lines

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 38
1880 2,510 6,505.3%
1890 5,308 111.5%
1900 7,891 48.7%
1910 14,123 79.0%
1920 12,194 −13.7%
1930 11,242 −7.8%
1940 10,422 −7.3%
1950 12,661 21.5%
1960 13,227 4.5%
1970 12,174 −8.0%
1980 13,109 7.7%
1990 11,697 −10.8%
2000 11,696 0.0%
2010 11,699 0.0%
2020 11,867 1.4%
2022 (est.) 12,032 2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960, 1900–1990,
1990–2000, 2010–2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 11,867 people living in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 11,699 people, 5,031 households, and 3,014 families living in the county. The population density was 3.1 inhabitants per square mile (1.2/km2). There were 5,560 housing units at an average density of 1.5 per square mile (0.58/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.5% white, 1.7% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.5% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 33.6% were German, 18.3% were Irish, 14.3% were American, 14.1% were Norwegian, and 10.6% were English.

Of the 5,031 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.1% were non-families, and 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 42.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,913 and the median income for a family was $49,011. Males had a median income of $37,535 versus $26,576 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,676. About 12.4% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Agriculture (dryland farming) and cattle raising provide the bulk of Custer County economy. Miles City serves as the center of commerce in an area extending for 100 miles in every direction. As of 2009 the county's largest employers were Holy Rosary Healthcare, Sanjel USA, Stockman Bank, and Walmart.

Communities

Custer County Courthouse - Miles City MT
County Courthouse in Miles City

City

Town

Unincorporated communities

  • Bonfield, Montana
  • Kinsey
  • Knowlton, Montana
  • Mizpah, Montana
  • Tusler, Montana
  • Volborg

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Custer (Montana) para niños

kids search engine
Custer County, Montana Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.