# Carter County, Montana

Carter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,415, making it the seventh-least populous county in Montana. The county seat is Ekalaka.

## History

Carter County was named for Thomas Henry Carter, the state's first congressman (representative in Congress from the Montana Territory, followed by first representative from the state of Montana to the US House of Representatives). Prior to settlement the land of Carter County was occupied by the Sioux tribe.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,348 square miles (8,670 km$^2$), of which 3,341 square miles (8,650 km$^2$) is land and 7.5 square miles (19 km$^2$) (0.2%) is water.
Medicine Rocks State Park is located 14 miles north of Ekalaka. Weathering has given the rocks an unusual texture. The site was used by Indian hunting parties.

### Adjacent counties

* Powder River County - west
* Custer County - northwest
* Fallon County - north
* Harding County, South Dakota - east
* Butte County, South Dakota - southeast
* Crook County, Wyoming - south

### National protected area

* Custer National Forest (part)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 1,415 people and 628 households in Carter County. Of the population, 96.7% were White, 0.2% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.1% Asian, and 1.9% two or more races. 1.1% were Hispanic. 1.0% had a different primary language to English. The county was 50.1% female, 49.9% male.
The median household income was $48,000, $6,970 below the median of Montana. 61.7% of the population aged over 16 were in the civilian labor force. 14.7% of the population were classed as living in poverty. 2.4% of the population had a disability. 92.5% of the population graduated high school, with 20.2% obtaining a bachelor's degree or higher. 86.5% of households had a computer, with 77.9% having broadband access.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,160 people, 532 households, and 354 families living in the county. The population density was 0.3 inhabitants per square mile (0.12/km$^2$). There were 810 housing units at an average density of 0.2 per square mile (0.077/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 97.8% white, 0.9% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 41.5% were German, 19.6% were English, 18.8% were Norwegian, 12.3% were Irish, and 4.3% were American.
Of the 532 households, 20.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.5% were non-families, and 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.65. The median age was 50.2 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,703 and the median income for a family was $47,955. Males had a median income of $26,736 versus $18,274 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,681. About 8.5% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

Carter County has voted for the Republican candidate in every presidential election since 1952, with Harry S. Truman being the last Democrat to carry the county.
United States presidential election results for Carter County, Montana :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 760 | 88.99% | 75 | 8.78% | 19 | 2.22% |
| 2020 | 775 | 89.70% | 74 | 8.56% | 15 | 1.74% |
| 2016 | 678 | 86.26% | 70 | 8.91% | 38 | 4.83% |
| 2012 | 678 | 85.18% | 96 | 12.06% | 22 | 2.76% |
| 2008 | 573 | 79.36% | 111 | 15.37% | 38 | 5.26% |
| 2004 | 623 | 87.87% | 76 | 10.72% | 10 | 1.41% |
| 2000 | 573 | 88.84% | 53 | 8.22% | 19 | 2.95% |
| 1996 | 522 | 68.24% | 150 | 19.61% | 93 | 12.16% |
| 1992 | 497 | 56.86% | 154 | 17.62% | 223 | 25.51% |
| 1988 | 686 | 72.82% | 242 | 25.69% | 14 | 1.49% |
| 1984 | 823 | 80.06% | 194 | 18.87% | 11 | 1.07% |
| 1980 | 766 | 72.40% | 237 | 22.40% | 55 | 5.20% |
| 1976 | 558 | 57.41% | 344 | 35.39% | 70 | 7.20% |
| 1972 | 726 | 73.86% | 218 | 22.18% | 39 | 3.97% |
| 1968 | 624 | 62.21% | 269 | 26.82% | 110 | 10.97% |
| 1964 | 576 | 55.98% | 453 | 44.02% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 688 | 64.00% | 383 | 35.63% | 4 | 0.37% |
| 1956 | 698 | 61.55% | 436 | 38.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 921 | 72.12% | 351 | 27.49% | 5 | 0.39% |
| 1948 | 501 | 46.22% | 568 | 52.40% | 15 | 1.38% |
| 1944 | 507 | 45.35% | 610 | 54.56% | 1 | 0.09% |
| 1940 | 556 | 43.03% | 734 | 56.81% | 2 | 0.15% |
| 1936 | 464 | 32.81% | 929 | 65.70% | 21 | 1.49% |
| 1932 | 565 | 37.39% | 915 | 60.56% | 31 | 2.05% |
| 1928 | 763 | 64.01% | 420 | 35.23% | 9 | 0.76% |
| 1924 | 669 | 54.17% | 283 | 22.91% | 283 | 22.91% |
| 1920 | 782 | 66.84% | 342 | 29.23% | 46 | 3.93% |

## Communities
### Town

* Ekalaka (county seat)

### Census-designated place

* Alzada

### Unincorporated communities

* Albion
* Belltower
* Boyes
* Hammond
* Mill Iron
* Ridge

### Former communities

* Capitol