Jefferson County, Montana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jefferson County
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_-_Jefferson_County,_Montana.png)
Jefferson County Courthouse in Boulder
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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 | February 2, 1865 |
| Named for | Thomas Jefferson |
| Seat | Boulder |
| Largest town | Clancy |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,659 sq mi (4,300 km2) |
| • Land | 1,656 sq mi (4,290 km2) |
| • Water | 2.6 sq mi (7 km2) 0.2% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,085 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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12,826  |
| • Density | 7/sq mi (3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
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Jefferson County is a place in Montana, United States. It's like a big section of the state, similar to a borough or parish in other places. In 2020, about 12,085 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, where the local government offices are, is Boulder.
Jefferson County was created a long time ago in 1865. It was named after Thomas Jefferson, who was an important early president of the United States. This county is also part of the larger Helena area, which is a group of nearby towns and cities.
Contents
Exploring Jefferson County's Land
Jefferson County covers a large area of land. It's about 1,659 square miles in total. Most of this is dry land, but a small part, about 2.6 square miles, is water. That's like having a big backyard with a tiny pond!
Main Roads and Highways
Many important roads run through Jefferson County. These roads help people travel easily to different towns and cities.
Interstate 15
Interstate 90
U.S. Highway 12
U.S. Highway 287
Montana Highway 2
Montana Highway 41
Montana Highway 55
Montana Highway 69
Neighboring Counties
Jefferson County shares its borders with several other counties in Montana. Think of them as its neighbors!
- Lewis and Clark County - to the north
- Broadwater County - to the east
- Gallatin County - to the southeast
- Madison County - to the south
- Silver Bow County - to the west
- Deer Lodge County - to the west
- Powell County - to the northwest
Protected Natural Areas
Part of Jefferson County is home to beautiful national forests. These areas are protected to keep nature safe and healthy.
- Deerlodge National Forest (part of it is in Jefferson County)
- Helena National Forest (part of it is in Jefferson County)
People of Jefferson County
The number of people living in Jefferson County has changed a lot over the years. Here's a quick look at how the population has grown:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 1,531 | — | |
| 1880 | 2,464 | 60.9% | |
| 1890 | 6,026 | 144.6% | |
| 1900 | 5,330 | −11.5% | |
| 1910 | 5,601 | 5.1% | |
| 1920 | 5,203 | −7.1% | |
| 1930 | 4,133 | −20.6% | |
| 1940 | 4,664 | 12.8% | |
| 1950 | 4,014 | −13.9% | |
| 1960 | 4,297 | 7.1% | |
| 1970 | 5,238 | 21.9% | |
| 1980 | 7,029 | 34.2% | |
| 1990 | 7,939 | 12.9% | |
| 2000 | 10,049 | 26.6% | |
| 2010 | 11,406 | 13.5% | |
| 2020 | 12,085 | 6.0% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 12,826 | 12.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960, 1900–1990, 1990–2000, 2010–2020 |
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Population in Recent Years
In 2020, the official count showed 12,085 people living in the county. In 2010, there were 11,406 people. This means the population has been slowly growing.
Most people in Jefferson County are white (about 95.5%). About 1.4% are American Indian. People from Hispanic or Latino backgrounds make up about 2% of the population.
The average age of people in the county in 2010 was about 46 years old.
Towns and Places to Live
Jefferson County has several towns and smaller communities where people live.
Towns
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but don't have their own local government.
- Basin
- Cardwell
- Clancy (This area includes Alhambra.)
- Elkhorn
- Jefferson City
- Montana City
- Rader Creek
- South Hills
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller places where people live that are not officially towns or cities.
- Amazon
- Bernice
- Corbin
- Elk Park
- Homestake
- Leadville
- La Hood Park
- Louisville
- Pappas Place
- Paul Place
- Piedmont
- Pipestone
- Renova
Old Communities
Some communities that used to exist in Jefferson County are now gone.
Schools in Jefferson County
Education is important in Jefferson County! There are different school districts for elementary and high school students.
Whitehall Public Schools has two parts: one for elementary students and one for high school students.
High school students in the county might go to:
- Jefferson High School District
- Whitehall High School District
Younger students attend elementary schools in these districts:
- Basin Elementary School District
- Boulder Elementary School District
- Cardwell Elementary School District
- Clancy Elementary School District
- Montana City Elementary School District
- Three Forks Elementary School District
- Whitehall Elementary School District
- Willow Creek Elementary School District
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Jefferson (Montana) para niños
