# Treasure County, Montana

Treasure County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 762, making it the second-least populous county in Montana. Its county seat is Hysham. The county was split off from Rosebud county in 1919 and named Treasure in hopes of drawing in new settlers.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 984 square miles (2,550 km$^2$), of which 977 square miles (2,530 km$^2$) is land and 6.6 square miles (17 km$^2$) (0.7%) is water. It is the fourth-smallest county in Montana by land area.

### Major highways

* I-94
* US 10 (Former)
* S-311

### Adjacent counties

* Rosebud County - northeast
* Big Horn County - south
* Yellowstone County - west

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 762 people living in the county.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 718 people, 335 households, and 219 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.7 inhabitants per square mile (0.27/km$^2$). There were 422 housing units at an average density of 0.4 per square mile (0.15/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% white, 0.8% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 1.9% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 40.2% were American, 22.4% were German, 9.9% were English, 9.9% were Irish, and 7.4% were Norwegian.
Of the 335 households, 22.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 2.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.6% were non-families, and 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.67. The median age was 51.5 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,969 and the median income for a family was $51,458. Males had a median income of $38,194 versus $26,563 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,882. About 4.6% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

Treasure County voters are reliably Republican. They have only selected the Democratic Party candidate in five national elections (as of 2021) during the century of the county's existence as an independent unit. The Republican strength in the county has increased recently, with Donald Trump's performances in 2016, 2020, and 2024 each being the best performances ever by a Republican presidential candidate.
United States presidential election results for Treasure County, Montana :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 367 | 83.03% | 57 | 12.90% | 18 | 4.07% |
| 2020 | 373 | 81.09% | 78 | 16.96% | 9 | 1.96% |
| 2016 | 351 | 79.23% | 59 | 13.32% | 33 | 7.45% |
| 2012 | 319 | 70.11% | 114 | 25.05% | 22 | 4.84% |
| 2008 | 314 | 64.61% | 156 | 32.10% | 16 | 3.29% |
| 2004 | 348 | 72.20% | 121 | 25.10% | 13 | 2.70% |
| 2000 | 344 | 71.82% | 106 | 22.13% | 29 | 6.05% |
| 1996 | 237 | 47.59% | 171 | 34.34% | 90 | 18.07% |
| 1992 | 206 | 37.66% | 157 | 28.70% | 184 | 33.64% |
| 1988 | 291 | 54.29% | 231 | 43.10% | 14 | 2.61% |
| 1984 | 353 | 61.28% | 209 | 36.28% | 14 | 2.43% |
| 1980 | 321 | 57.94% | 181 | 32.67% | 52 | 9.39% |
| 1976 | 315 | 55.85% | 239 | 42.38% | 10 | 1.77% |
| 1972 | 377 | 65.68% | 176 | 30.66% | 21 | 3.66% |
| 1968 | 298 | 56.55% | 188 | 35.67% | 41 | 7.78% |
| 1964 | 251 | 46.83% | 285 | 53.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 300 | 52.63% | 270 | 47.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 337 | 57.22% | 252 | 42.78% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 392 | 65.66% | 205 | 34.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 253 | 45.18% | 291 | 51.96% | 16 | 2.86% |
| 1944 | 287 | 50.09% | 282 | 49.21% | 4 | 0.70% |
| 1940 | 287 | 47.05% | 321 | 52.62% | 2 | 0.33% |
| 1936 | 244 | 36.47% | 398 | 59.49% | 27 | 4.04% |
| 1932 | 276 | 46.31% | 310 | 52.01% | 10 | 1.68% |
| 1928 | 354 | 65.43% | 186 | 34.38% | 1 | 0.18% |
| 1924 | 289 | 55.36% | 84 | 16.09% | 149 | 28.54% |
| 1920 | 517 | 71.41% | 174 | 24.03% | 33 | 4.56% |

## Communities
### Town

* Hysham (county seat)

### Unincorporated communities

* Bighorn, Montana
* Myers
* Sanders

### Ghost town

* Rancher