Phillips County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,217. Its county seat is Malta. Before February 5, 1915, Phillips County was part of Blaine County, and before 1912 both were part of Chouteau County. It was named for rancher and state senator Benjamin D. Phillips.

Its northern boundary is the Canada–United States border with Saskatchewan. The Missouri River defines its southern boundary.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.4%) is water. It is the second-largest county in Montana by land area and third-largest by total area.

Adjacent counties and rural municipalities

  • Blaine County - west
  • Fergus County - southwest
  • Petroleum County - south
  • Garfield County - southeast
  • Valley County - east
  • Rural Municipality (RM) of Lone Tree No. 18, Saskatchewan (SK) - north
  • RM of Val Marie No. 17, SK - north
  • RM of Mankota No. 45, SK - northeast

National protected areas

  • Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge
  • Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (part)
  • Hewitt Lake National Wildlife Refuge
  • UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge
  • Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument (part)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,217.

Of the residents, 23.3% were under the age of 18 and 23.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 44.7 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.6 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 83.6% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 8.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 1.2% from some other race, and 6.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.7% of the population.

There were 2,229 housing units, of which 20.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.2% were owner-occupied and 25.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.8%.

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Communities

City

  • Malta (county seat)

Towns

  • Dodson
  • Saco

Census-designated places

  • East Malta Colony
  • Landusky
  • Loring Colony
  • Sleeping Buffalo
  • Whitewater
  • Zortman

Other unincorporated communities

  • Bowdoin
  • Caldwell
  • Cole
  • Content
  • Cree Crossing
  • Jordan Crossing
  • Loring
  • Morgan
  • Tattnall
  • Wagner

See also

thumb|right|The fairgrounds for Phillips County

  • List of lakes in Phillips County, Montana
  • List of mountains in Phillips County, Montana
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Phillips County MT

References

  • Phillips County Sheriff's Office

Further reading