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Cascade County, Montana

County in Montana, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cascade County, Montanamap

Cascade County (cascade means waterfall in French) is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 84,414,[1] making it the fifth-most populous county in Montana. Its county seat is Great Falls.[2]

Quick Facts Country, State ...
Cascade County
County
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Cascade County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Montana
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Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°19′N 111°21′W
Country United States
State Montana
Founded1887
Named forGreat Falls of the Missouri River
SeatGreat Falls
Largest cityGreat Falls
Area
 • Total
2,711 sq mi (7,020 km2)
 • Land2,698 sq mi (6,990 km2)
 • Water13 sq mi (30 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
84,414
 • Estimate 
(2022)
84,864
 • Density31/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.cascadecountymt.gov
  • Montana county number 02
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Aerial view of Cascade County and Sun River

Cascade County comprises the Great Falls, MT Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

At the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Cascade County was the territory of the Blackfeet.[3] The county was named for the falls on the Missouri River.[4]

The United States Army once had Fort Shaw as an outpost in the northwest part of the county. Only a small settlement, a CDP, remains by that name.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,711 square miles (7,020 km2), of which 2,698 square miles (6,990 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (0.5%) is water.[5] The Missouri River and the Sun River flow through the county, and meet at the city of Great Falls. A portion of the Adel Mountains Volcanic Field is in the county's southwest corner. The Rocky Mountains are in the western part of the county, with the Little Belt and Highwood Mountains in the southeast.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

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Perspective
More information Census, Pop. ...
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18908,755—
190025,777194.4%
191028,83311.9%
192038,83634.7%
193041,1465.9%
194041,1990.1%
195053,02728.7%
196073,41838.5%
197081,80411.4%
198080,696−1.4%
199077,691−3.7%
200080,3573.4%
201081,3271.2%
202084,4143.8%
2022 (est.)84,864[6]0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960,[8] 1900–1990,[9]
1990–2000,[10] 2010–2020[1]
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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, 84,414 people were living in the county.[citation needed]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, 81,327 people, 33,809 households, and 21,403 families in the county. The population density was 30.1 inhabitants per square mile (11.6/km2). There were 37,276 housing units at an average density of 13.8 per square mile (5.3/km2). The county's racial makeup was 89.2% white, 4.3% American Indian, 1.2% black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 28.5% were German, 17.1% were Irish, 12.3% were English, 10.3% were Norwegian, and 4.5% were American.

Of the 33,809 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.7% were non-families, and 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 38.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,389, and the median income for a family was $53,540. Males had a median income of $37,904 versus $27,944 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,963. About 10.9% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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Perspective

Like Lewis & Clark County to the west, Cascade County leans Republican but has voted for Democrats four times since Lyndon Johnson's landslide in 1964. Hubert Humphrey easily won this county in 1968, one of nine counties he won. Barack Obama carried Cascade in 2008 but lost to Mitt Romney in 2012 by 9%. Since 2012, the county has voted Republican by comfortable margins. In 2020, Donald Trump won the county with over 58% of the vote, the best performance by a Republican since 1920. The county continued this trend in 2024, when Trump won nearly 60% of the vote.

In statewide races, Cascade County often acts as a bellwether county. It has been friendlier to Democrats - Senator Max Baucus carried the county in all of his elections, and Governors Brian Schweitzer and Steve Bullock carried it in all four elections in 2004–2016. Since at least 1984, no Democrat has won in Montana without winning Cascade County,[11] however, Republicans have occasionally won statewide without carrying the county, such as former Senator Conrad Burns in 1988 and 2000,[12][13] Governors Marc Racicot in 1992 and Judy Martz in 2000,[14][15] Secretaries of State Bob Brown in 2000 and Brad Johnson in 2004,[16][17] and Attorney General Tim Fox in 2012.[18]

More information Year, Republican ...
United States presidential election results for Cascade County, Montana[19][20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 22,419 59.65% 14,021 37.31% 1,143 3.04%
2020 23,315 58.46% 15,456 38.75% 1,114 2.79%
2016 19,632 56.79% 12,175 35.22% 2,764 8.00%
2012 18,345 53.06% 15,232 44.05% 999 2.89%
2008 16,857 47.62% 17,664 49.90% 875 2.47%
2004 19,028 56.87% 13,701 40.95% 730 2.18%
2000 18,164 54.52% 13,137 39.43% 2,016 6.05%
1996 14,291 40.82% 15,707 44.87% 5,008 14.31%
1992 12,494 34.16% 14,719 40.24% 9,365 25.60%
1988 15,946 49.64% 15,718 48.93% 460 1.43%
1984 19,846 57.52% 14,252 41.30% 407 1.18%
1980 17,664 54.80% 11,105 34.45% 3,465 10.75%
1976 15,289 50.11% 14,678 48.11% 544 1.78%
1972 16,159 52.40% 12,899 41.83% 1,778 5.77%
1968 11,588 43.23% 13,507 50.39% 1,708 6.37%
1964 8,986 33.64% 17,609 65.92% 119 0.45%
1960 11,928 45.72% 14,117 54.11% 45 0.17%
1956 12,455 52.88% 11,098 47.12% 0 0.00%
1952 12,176 52.09% 11,051 47.28% 146 0.62%
1948 6,830 34.47% 12,082 60.97% 905 4.57%
1944 6,372 36.54% 10,924 62.65% 141 0.81%
1940 6,443 31.70% 13,637 67.10% 244 1.20%
1936 4,077 22.92% 13,325 74.91% 387 2.18%
1932 5,800 34.48% 10,047 59.72% 976 5.80%
1928 8,183 55.08% 6,540 44.02% 133 0.90%
1924 5,081 43.41% 2,220 18.96% 4,405 37.63%
1920 6,808 58.83% 3,938 34.03% 826 7.14%
1916 3,253 30.57% 6,612 62.14% 776 7.29%
1912 1,079 23.72% 1,633 35.90% 1,837 40.38%
1908 1,935 44.86% 1,888 43.77% 490 11.36%
1904 2,405 55.34% 1,385 31.87% 556 12.79%
1900 1,997 42.96% 2,564 55.16% 87 1.87%
1896 953 24.51% 2,920 75.10% 15 0.39%
1892 1,295 45.22% 1,184 41.34% 385 13.44%
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Economy

Malmstrom Air Force Base is a driving force in the regional economy.[21] In 2009, Benefis, Great Falls Clinic, National Electronics Warranty and Walmart were the largest private employers.[21]

Education

The Apollos University, the University of Great Falls, and the MSU College of Technology—Great Falls are all located in Great Falls.

K-12 education

Public school districts include:[22]

Secondary:

Elementary:

  • Belt Elementary School District
  • Centerville Elementary School District
  • Cascade Elementary School District
  • Great Falls Elementary School District
  • Sun River Valley Elementary School District
  • Ulm Elementary School District
  • Vaughn Elementary School District

There is also a state-operated school, Montana School for the Deaf & Blind.

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

In popular culture

Several motion pictures have been filmed in Great Falls. Many have filmed in Cascade County and Great Falls, and a few in Cascade County (outside the Great Falls city limits). Those films shot in the county and outside Great Falls city limits include:

See also

References

Bibliography

External links

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