Madison County, Montana
CountyMadison County
StateMontana
Founded year1865
Seat wlVirginia City
Largest city wlEnnis
City typetown
Area total3603 sq mi
Area land3587 sq mi
Area water15 sq mi
Area percentage0.4
Population as of2020
Population total8623
Pop est as of2025
Population est10026
Webwww.madison.mt.gov
Ex imageMadison County Courthouse July 2020.jpg
Ex image capMadison County Courthouse in Virginia City
District1st
Time zoneMountain
Named forJames Madison[1]

Madison County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,623.[2] Its county seat is Virginia City.[3] The county was founded in 1865;[4] at the time it was part of the Montana Territory.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has an area of 3,603 square miles (9,330 km2), of which 3,587 square miles (9,290 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (0.4%) is water.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Politics

In presidential elections, Madison County has historically voted predominantly Republican, with Franklin D. Roosevelt the only Democrat to carry the vote since 1916, the last of the three times he did so being in 1940.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,623. Of the residents, 16.1% were under the age of 18 and 30.3% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 52.9 years. For every 100 females there were 109.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 109.8 males.[6] 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.[7]

The racial makeup of the county was 92.9% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 1.1% from some other race, and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.8% of the population.[8]

There were 4,006 households in the county, of which 19.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 17.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[6]

There were 6,379 housing units, of which 37.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.1% were owner-occupied and 24.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.8%.[6]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 7,691 people, 3,560 households, and 2,192 families residing in the county. The population density was 2.1 inhabitants per square mile (0.81 /km2). There were 6,940 housing units at an average density of 1.9 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% white, 0.5% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.8% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 31.0% were German, 19.7% were English, 18.9% were Irish, 7.3% were Norwegian, 5.9% were Swedish, 5.0% were Scottish, and 2.9% were American.

Of the 3,560 households, 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.4% were non-families, and 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.67. The median age was 49.8 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,998 and the median income for a family was $52,636. Males had a median income of $38,495 versus $28,125 for females. The per capita income for the county was $32,205. About 8.5% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Former communities

Education

K-12 school districts:[18]

Sheridan Public Schools has two components: Sheridan Elementary School District and Sheridan High School District.[19] Whitehall Public Schools has two components: Whitehall Elementary School District and Whitehall High School District.[20]

Secondary school districts:[18]

  • Sheridan High School District
  • Whitehall High School District

Elementary school districts:[18]

Notable person

See also

References

  1. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 196
  2. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Montana Place Names Companion". Montana Place Names From Alzada to Zortman. Montana Historical Society Research Center. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  5. ^ "2010 Census GazetteerFiles". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  6. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  7. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  8. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  9. ^ Cameron MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
  10. ^ Junction MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
  11. ^ Laurin MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
  12. ^ Nevada City, Madison County MT Google Maps (accessed 3 January 2019)
  13. ^ Red Bluff MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
  14. ^ Rochester MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
  15. ^ Ruby MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
  16. ^ Sterling MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
  17. ^ Summit, Madison County MT Google Maps (accessed January 3, 2019)
  18. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Madison County, MT". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2024-10-04. - Text list
  19. ^ "Directory of Montana Schools". Montana Office of Public Instruction. 2024-03-13. pp. 176/317. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  20. ^ "Directory of Montana Schools". Montana Office of Public Instruction. 2024-03-13. pp. 143/317. Retrieved 2024-03-13.