# Wheatland County, Montana

Wheatland County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,069. Its county seat is Harlowton. Wheatland County was established on February 22, 1917, with areas partitioned from Meagher and Sweet Grass counties. It was named for the abundant wheat-growing areas across the center portion of the new county's area.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,428 square miles (3,700 km$^2$), of which 1,423 square miles (3,690 km$^2$) is land and 5.0 square miles (13 km$^2$) (0.4%) is water.

### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 12
* U.S. Highway 191
* Montana Highway 3

### Adjacent counties

* Judith Basin County - north
* Fergus County - north
* Golden Valley County - east
* Sweet Grass County - south
* Meagher County - west

### National protected area

* Lewis and Clark National Forest (part)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 2,069 people living in the county.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 2,168 people, 887 households, and 538 families in the county. The population density was 1.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.58/km$^2$). There were 1,197 housing units at an average density of 0.8 per square mile (0.31/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 95.8% white, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.4% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 35.2% were American, 22.7% were German, 14.1% were English, 11.5% were Irish, and 6.6% were Norwegian.
Of the 887 households, 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.3% were non-families, and 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 44.9 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,321 and the median income for a family was $41,161. Males had a median income of $30,769 versus $17,083 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,474. About 5.1% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 27.6% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

Wheatland County voters have selected the Republican Party candidate in every national election since 1964 (as of 2020).
United States presidential election results for Wheatland County, Montana :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 843 | 77.62% | 209 | 19.24% | 34 | 3.13% |
| 2020 | 823 | 77.06% | 225 | 21.07% | 20 | 1.87% |
| 2016 | 702 | 74.21% | 179 | 18.92% | 65 | 6.87% |
| 2012 | 693 | 69.86% | 272 | 27.42% | 27 | 2.72% |
| 2008 | 657 | 66.84% | 289 | 29.40% | 37 | 3.76% |
| 2004 | 706 | 72.11% | 250 | 25.54% | 23 | 2.35% |
| 2000 | 708 | 70.87% | 243 | 24.32% | 48 | 4.80% |
| 1996 | 563 | 51.75% | 391 | 35.94% | 134 | 12.32% |
| 1992 | 478 | 41.57% | 384 | 33.39% | 288 | 25.04% |
| 1988 | 667 | 59.03% | 443 | 39.20% | 20 | 1.77% |
| 1984 | 753 | 64.19% | 407 | 34.70% | 13 | 1.11% |
| 1980 | 742 | 60.33% | 381 | 30.98% | 107 | 8.70% |
| 1976 | 755 | 57.20% | 535 | 40.53% | 30 | 2.27% |
| 1972 | 761 | 57.39% | 445 | 33.56% | 120 | 9.05% |
| 1968 | 673 | 51.77% | 525 | 40.38% | 102 | 7.85% |
| 1964 | 583 | 42.46% | 790 | 57.54% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 793 | 52.24% | 724 | 47.69% | 1 | 0.07% |
| 1956 | 932 | 61.72% | 578 | 38.28% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 1,026 | 63.85% | 572 | 35.59% | 9 | 0.56% |
| 1948 | 780 | 50.88% | 733 | 47.81% | 20 | 1.30% |
| 1944 | 767 | 50.59% | 733 | 48.35% | 16 | 1.06% |
| 1940 | 786 | 45.12% | 948 | 54.42% | 8 | 0.46% |
| 1936 | 602 | 36.29% | 1,037 | 62.51% | 20 | 1.21% |
| 1932 | 828 | 45.10% | 996 | 54.25% | 12 | 0.65% |
| 1928 | 1,207 | 68.81% | 542 | 30.90% | 5 | 0.29% |
| 1924 | 723 | 44.22% | 221 | 13.52% | 691 | 42.26% |
| 1920 | 1,250 | 68.79% | 520 | 28.62% | 47 | 2.59% |

## Communities
### Cities

* Harlowton (county seat)
* Judith Gap

### Census-designated places

* Duncan Ranch Colony
* Martinsdale Colony
* Shawmut
* Springwater Colony
* Twodot

### Other unincorporated communities

* Hedgesville
* Living Springs