# Wibaux County, Montana

Wibaux County (/ˈwiːboʊ/ WEE-boh) is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 937, making it the fourth-least populous county in Montana. Its county seat is Wibaux.

## History

Wibaux County was created by the Montana Legislature in 1914 from parts of Dawson, Fallon, and Richland Counties. The name comes from Pierre Wibaux (1858–1913), a late 19th-century cattle baron and friend of Theodore Roosevelt whose ranch was just over the border (in Dakota Territory, later North Dakota). According to legend, Pierre Wibaux's cowboys surrounded the town of Mingusville, and wouldn't let anyone enter or leave town unless they signed a petition changing the name of the town to Wibaux. Upon his death, his ashes were spread over a hill west of Wibaux. Today, a statue of Pierre Wibaux stands on that hill.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 890 square miles (2,300 km$^2$), of which 889 square miles (2,300 km$^2$) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km$^2$) (0.07%) is water. It is the third-smallest county in Montana by land area.

### Adjacent counties

* Richland County – north
* Dawson County – northwest
* Prairie County – west
* Fallon County – south
* Golden Valley County, North Dakota – east
* McKenzie County, North Dakota – northeast

### Major highways

* Interstate 94
* U.S. Highway 10 (Former)
* Montana Highway 7
* S-261

### National protected area

* Lamesteer National Wildlife Refuge

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 937 people living in the county.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,017 people, 457 households, and 281 families in the county. The population density was 1.1 inhabitants per square mile (0.42/km$^2$). There were 538 housing units at an average density of 0.6 units per square mile (0.23/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 97.6% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 46.3% were German, 13.7% were Polish, 13.4% were Irish, 12.1% were American, 9.5% were English, 8.0% were Norwegian, and 5.3% were Dutch.
Of the 457 households, 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.5% were non-families, and 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.80. The median age was 49.0 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,417 and the median income for a family was $51,354. Males had a median income of $43,438 versus $24,821 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,579. About 7.2% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

Wibaux County voters are reliably Republican. Since 1964 they have selected the Democratic Party candidate in only one national election (as of 2020).
United States presidential election results for Wibaux County, Montana :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 463 | 84.80% | 71 | 13.00% | 12 | 2.20% |
| 2020 | 516 | 86.29% | 77 | 12.88% | 5 | 0.84% |
| 2016 | 463 | 85.58% | 55 | 10.17% | 23 | 4.25% |
| 2012 | 421 | 77.39% | 98 | 18.01% | 25 | 4.60% |
| 2008 | 379 | 67.32% | 146 | 25.93% | 38 | 6.75% |
| 2004 | 407 | 72.68% | 144 | 25.71% | 9 | 1.61% |
| 2000 | 369 | 71.24% | 121 | 23.36% | 28 | 5.41% |
| 1996 | 284 | 46.33% | 197 | 32.14% | 132 | 21.53% |
| 1992 | 234 | 38.55% | 195 | 32.13% | 178 | 29.32% |
| 1988 | 358 | 56.92% | 258 | 41.02% | 13 | 2.07% |
| 1984 | 423 | 64.98% | 216 | 33.18% | 12 | 1.84% |
| 1980 | 450 | 61.56% | 219 | 29.96% | 62 | 8.48% |
| 1976 | 308 | 44.57% | 352 | 50.94% | 31 | 4.49% |
| 1972 | 390 | 55.48% | 283 | 40.26% | 30 | 4.27% |
| 1968 | 347 | 52.98% | 252 | 38.47% | 56 | 8.55% |
| 1964 | 308 | 41.79% | 427 | 57.94% | 2 | 0.27% |
| 1960 | 387 | 48.01% | 419 | 51.99% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 431 | 52.50% | 390 | 47.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 556 | 62.82% | 324 | 36.61% | 5 | 0.56% |
| 1948 | 421 | 46.52% | 471 | 52.04% | 13 | 1.44% |
| 1944 | 432 | 50.29% | 425 | 49.48% | 2 | 0.23% |
| 1940 | 461 | 44.20% | 576 | 55.23% | 6 | 0.58% |
| 1936 | 362 | 31.18% | 790 | 68.04% | 9 | 0.78% |
| 1932 | 445 | 35.54% | 798 | 63.74% | 9 | 0.72% |
| 1928 | 583 | 56.27% | 448 | 43.24% | 5 | 0.48% |
| 1924 | 505 | 56.93% | 189 | 21.31% | 193 | 21.76% |
| 1920 | 692 | 71.64% | 223 | 23.08% | 51 | 5.28% |
| 1916 | 466 | 42.13% | 585 | 52.89% | 55 | 4.97% |

## Communities
### Town

* Wibaux (county seat)

### Unincorporated communities

* Carlyle
* St. Phillip
* Yates