Fergus County, Montana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fergus County
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Fergus County Courthouse in Lewistown
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Location within the U.S. state of Montana
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 Montana's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Montana |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Named for | James Fergus |
| Seat | Lewistown |
| Largest city | Lewistown |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4,350 sq mi (11,300 km2) |
| • Land | 4,340 sq mi (11,200 km2) |
| • Water | 11 sq mi (30 km2) 0.2% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 11,446 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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11,663  |
| • Density | 2.6313/sq mi (1.0159/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
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Fergus County is a county located in the state of Montana, USA. In 2020, about 11,446 people lived here. Its main town, or county seat, is Lewistown.
The county was started in 1885. It was named after James Fergus. He was a politician in Montana who helped create the county.
Contents
About Fergus County
Where is Fergus County?
According to the United States Census Bureau, Fergus County covers a total area of about 4,350 square miles (11,266 km²). Most of this area, about 4,340 square miles (11,240 km²), is land. Only a small part, about 11 square miles (28 km²), is water.
Neighboring Counties
Fergus County shares its borders with several other counties. These are:
- Chouteau County (to the northwest)
- Blaine County (to the north)
- Phillips County (to the northeast)
- Petroleum County (to the east)
- Musselshell County (to the southeast)
- Golden Valley County (to the south)
- Wheatland County (to the southwest)
- Judith Basin County (to the west)
Main Roads
Several important roads pass through Fergus County. These highways help people travel and connect different communities.
U.S. Highway 87
U.S. Highway 191
Montana Highway 3
Montana Highway 80
Montana Highway 81
Montana Highway 200
Special Protected Areas
Parts of Fergus County are home to important natural and protected areas. These places help protect wildlife and nature.
- Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (part of it)
- Lewis and Clark National Forest (part of it)
- Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument (part of it)
Military Presence
Some military facilities are located in Fergus County. These include missile silos that are part of a larger defense system. They are managed by the 341st Missile Wing from Malmstrom AFB, Montana.
People Who Live Here
The population of Fergus County has changed over the years. Here is a look at how many people have lived in the county during different census years:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 3,514 | — | |
| 1900 | 6,937 | 97.4% | |
| 1910 | 17,385 | 150.6% | |
| 1920 | 28,344 | 63.0% | |
| 1930 | 16,531 | −41.7% | |
| 1940 | 14,040 | −15.1% | |
| 1950 | 14,015 | −0.2% | |
| 1960 | 14,018 | 0.0% | |
| 1970 | 12,611 | −10.0% | |
| 1980 | 13,076 | 3.7% | |
| 1990 | 12,083 | −7.6% | |
| 2000 | 11,893 | −1.6% | |
| 2010 | 11,586 | −2.6% | |
| 2020 | 11,446 | −1.2% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 11,663 | 0.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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2020 Population Count
In 2020, the census counted 11,446 people living in Fergus County.
2010 Population Details
During the 2010 census, there were 11,586 people in the county. Most residents were white (96.6%). About 1.2% were American Indian. People of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population.
The average age of people in Fergus County was about 47.8 years old.
Communities in Fergus County
Fergus County has one main city and several smaller towns and communities.
City
- Lewistown (This is the county seat, meaning it's where the county government is located.)
Towns
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller places that are not officially organized as cities or towns.
Former Communities
- Moulton
Census-Designated Places
These are areas identified by the census for statistical purposes, but they are not official towns.
- Ayers Ranch Colony
- Brooks
- Coffee Creek
- Danvers
- Deerfield Colony
- Fords Creek Colony
- Hilger
- King Ranch Colony
- Lewistown Heights
- Roy
- Spring Creek Colony
- Warm Spring Creek
Notable People from Fergus County
Some important people have lived or worked in Fergus County.
- Roy E. Ayers was a member of the United States House of Representatives and later the 11th Governor of Montana. He worked as the county attorney for Fergus County from 1905 to 1909.
- Carl W. Riddick served in the United States House of Representatives for Montana. He was also the County Assessor for Fergus County.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Fergus para niños
