# Valley County, Montana

Valley County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. Valley County was created in 1893 with area partitioned from Dawson County. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,578. Its county seat is Glasgow. It is located on the Canada–United States border with Saskatchewan.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,062 square miles (13,110 km$^2$), of which 4,926 square miles (12,760 km$^2$) is land and 136 square miles (350 km$^2$) (2.7%) is water. It is Montana's fourth-largest county by total area.

### Transportation
#### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 2
* Montana Highway 24
* Montana Highway 42
* Montana Highway 117
* Montana Secondary Highway 248

#### Bus

Glasgow and the greater Valley County region are served by a non-profit taxi/bus service called Valley Country Transit.

#### Rail

* Amtrak Empire Builder (Glasgow station)

### Adjacent counties and rural municipalities

* Phillips County - west
* Garfield County - south
* McCone County - south
* Roosevelt County - east
* Daniels County - east
* Rural Municipality (RM) of Mankota No. 45, Saskatchewan (SK) - north
* RM of Waverley No. 44, SK - north
* RM of Old Post No. 43, SK - north

### National protected area

* Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (part)

## Economy

Agriculture is the major economic activity of Valley County. The US Air Force operated Glasgow Air Force Base at St. Marie until 1976, which was a strong influence on the local economy until its closure.

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 7,578 people living in the county.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 7,369 people, 3,198 households, and 1,997 families living in the county. The population density was 1.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.58/km$^2$). There were 4,879 housing units at an average density of 1.0 units per square mile (0.39/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 87.0% white, 9.8% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 33.4% were German, 27.9% were Norwegian, 12.4% were Irish, 10.3% were English, and 6.8% were American.
Of the 3,198 households, 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.6% were non-families, and 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 46.4 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,050 and the median income for a family was $54,096. Males had a median income of $40,802 versus $30,272 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,305. About 5.7% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

Valley County voters vote reliably Republican in national elections. Since 1964, they have selected the Democratic Party candidate only once (1992, due to strong showing by third-party candidate Ross Perot, which split the Republican voters).
United States presidential election results for Valley County, Montana :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 3,019 | 74.01% | 935 | 22.92% | 125 | 3.06% |
| 2020 | 3,135 | 73.57% | 1,030 | 24.17% | 96 | 2.25% |
| 2016 | 2,698 | 69.29% | 886 | 22.75% | 310 | 7.96% |
| 2012 | 2,337 | 60.56% | 1,385 | 35.89% | 137 | 3.55% |
| 2008 | 2,121 | 54.23% | 1,645 | 42.06% | 145 | 3.71% |
| 2004 | 2,476 | 61.62% | 1,431 | 35.61% | 111 | 2.76% |
| 2000 | 2,500 | 63.08% | 1,273 | 32.12% | 190 | 4.79% |
| 1996 | 1,838 | 43.69% | 1,674 | 39.79% | 695 | 16.52% |
| 1992 | 1,497 | 32.77% | 1,715 | 37.54% | 1,356 | 29.68% |
| 1988 | 2,467 | 52.42% | 2,163 | 45.96% | 76 | 1.61% |
| 1984 | 3,123 | 61.89% | 1,849 | 36.64% | 74 | 1.47% |
| 1980 | 3,242 | 62.47% | 1,567 | 30.19% | 381 | 7.34% |
| 1976 | 2,520 | 50.82% | 2,352 | 47.43% | 87 | 1.75% |
| 1972 | 3,210 | 60.02% | 1,973 | 36.89% | 165 | 3.09% |
| 1968 | 2,290 | 49.44% | 1,926 | 41.58% | 416 | 8.98% |
| 1964 | 2,077 | 40.53% | 3,032 | 59.16% | 16 | 0.31% |
| 1960 | 2,387 | 44.65% | 2,953 | 55.24% | 6 | 0.11% |
| 1956 | 2,357 | 48.42% | 2,511 | 51.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 2,462 | 53.28% | 2,130 | 46.09% | 29 | 0.63% |
| 1948 | 1,375 | 33.45% | 2,535 | 61.68% | 200 | 4.87% |
| 1944 | 1,341 | 37.44% | 2,196 | 61.31% | 45 | 1.26% |
| 1940 | 1,597 | 30.94% | 3,493 | 67.67% | 72 | 1.39% |
| 1936 | 996 | 14.11% | 5,862 | 83.07% | 199 | 2.82% |
| 1932 | 1,242 | 30.35% | 2,499 | 61.07% | 351 | 8.58% |
| 1928 | 2,330 | 63.85% | 1,294 | 35.46% | 25 | 0.69% |
| 1924 | 1,555 | 51.10% | 497 | 16.33% | 991 | 32.57% |
| 1920 | 2,096 | 62.89% | 895 | 26.85% | 342 | 10.26% |
| 1916 | 1,111 | 32.28% | 2,102 | 61.07% | 229 | 6.65% |
| 1912 | 668 | 25.84% | 696 | 26.92% | 1,221 | 47.23% |
| 1908 | 843 | 59.12% | 503 | 35.27% | 80 | 5.61% |
| 1904 | 742 | 67.70% | 335 | 30.57% | 19 | 1.73% |

## Communities
### City

* Glasgow (county seat)

### Towns

* Fort Peck
* Nashua
* Opheim

### Census-designated places

* Frazer
* Hinsdale
* St. Marie

### Unincorporated communities

* Baylor
* Glentana
* Larslan
* Lustre
* Miles Crossing
* Oswego
* Park Grove
* Richland
* Roanwood
* Tampico
* Vandalia
* Whately
* Wheeler

### Ghost towns

* Beaverton
* Genevieve
* Thoeny

### Census Maps

| Valley County Census Districts 1940 | Valley County Census Districts, colored, 2010 U.S. Census |