Gallatin County, Montana

Gallatin County, Montana
Gallatin County is located in the U.S. state of Montana. With its county seat in Bozeman, it is the second-most populous county in Montana, with a population of 118,960 in the 2020 Census.
The county's prominent geographical features are the Bridger mountains in the north, and the Gallatin mountains and Gallatin River in the south, named by Meriwether Lewis in 1805 for Albert Gallatin, the United States Treasury Secretary who formulated the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
At the southern end of the county, West Yellowstone's entrance into Yellowstone National Park accounts for around half of all park visitors. Big Sky Resort, one of the largest ski resorts in the United States, lies in Gallatin and neighboring Madison counties, midway between Bozeman and West Yellowstone.
History
During the territorial era, a small patch of land known as "Lost Dakota" existed as a remote exclave of Dakota Territory until it was transferred to Gallatin County, Montana Territory, in 1873.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.1%) is water. The county attained its present boundaries in 1978, when the former Yellowstone National Park (part) county-equivalent was dissolved and apportioned between Gallatin County and Park County. Gallatin County received of land area and of water area, whereas Park County received of land area and of water area. The geographies transferred are known now as Census Tract 14 in Gallatin County, and as Census Tract 6 in Park County.
Major highways
Interstate 90
U.S. Highway 20
U.S. Highway 191
U.S. Highway 287
Montana Highway 2
Montana Highway 64
Montana Highway 84
Montana Highway 85
Montana Highway 86
Montana Secondary Highway 205
Transit
Jefferson Lines
Adjacent counties
Madison County - west
Jefferson County - northwest
Broadwater County - north
Meagher County - northeast
Park County - east
Park County, Wyoming - southeast
Teton County, Wyoming - southeast
Fremont County, Idaho - southwest
National protected areas
Gallatin National Forest (part)
Yellowstone National Park (part)
Demographics
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 118,960 people and 46,990 households living in the county. The population density was . There were 52,835 housing units in the county at an average density of . The racial make of the county was 89.0% White, 1.2% Asian, 0.9% American Indian, 0.4% Black of African American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 6.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic of Latino origin made up 5.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 25.4% were German, 14.8% were Irish, 12.4% were English, 8.8% were Norwegian, 4.6% were Italian, 4.0% were French, 3.5% were Scottish, 2.2% were Polish and 0.3% were Subsaharan African.
Of the 46,990 households, 48.2% were a Married-couple family household, 23.9% were a "Male householder, no spouse present, family household", and 20.4% were a "Female householder, no spouse present, family household". The averager family size was 2.96 in the county. The median age was 33.1 years old, compared with 40.1 in Montana.
The median income for a household in the county was $75,418 in the county, significantly higher than the $57,153 median household income in all of Montana. 11.9% of the population was below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under 18 and 6.5% of those over 65.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 89,513 people, 36,550 households, and 21,263 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 42,289 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 95.1% White, 1.1% Asian, 0.9% American Indian, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 32.2% were German, 18.1% were Irish, 14.7% were English, 9.4% were Norwegian, and 3.5% were American.
Of the 36,550 households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 41.8% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 32.5 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $50,136 and the median income for a family was $65,029. Males had a median income of $42,245 versus $31,349 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,423. About 7.4% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.
Government and politics
Gallatin County has traditionally favored Republican presidential candidates, often by large margins. Recent changes to Gallatin County's demographics (including migration from Democratic-leaning areas, and younger voters adopting more liberal political positions) have made the county more competitive.
Gallatin County is home to the flagship campus of Montana State University, which contributes to its democratic lean.
Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton narrowly won Gallatin County in 2008 and 2016 respectively, with Republican Mitt Romney winning in 2012. 2020 Democratic candidate Joe Biden won Gallatin County by the largest margin for a Democrat since Franklin Delano Roosevelt's victory in 1940.
Communities
Cities
Belgrade
Bozeman (county seat)
Three Forks
Towns
Manhattan
West Yellowstone
Census-designated places
Amsterdam (formerly Amsterdam-Churchill)
Big Sky
Bridger
Churchill (formerly Amsterdam-Churchill)
Four Corners
Gallatin Gateway
Gallatin River Ranch
Hebgen Lake Estates
King Arthur Park
Logan
Ponderosa Pines
Sedan
Springhill
Willow Creek
Unincorporated communities
Hillman
Maudlow
Notable people
Zales Ecton, a U.S. Senator from Montana, lived in Gallatin County.
Stan Jones lives and works in Gallatin County.
See also
List of lakes in Gallatin County, Montana
List of mountains in Gallatin County, Montana
National Register of Historic Places listings in Gallatin County, Montana
Lost Dakota
References
External links
Gallatin County, MT Official Website
Gallatin County Emergency Management
1865 establishments in Montana Territory
Populated places established in 1865