Toole County, Montana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toole County
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Toole County Courthouse in Shelby
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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 | 1914 |
| Named for | Joseph Toole |
| Seat | Shelby |
| Largest city | Shelby |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,946 sq mi (5,040 km2) |
| • Land | 1,916 sq mi (4,960 km2) |
| • Water | 30 sq mi (80 km2) 1.5% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,971 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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5,082  |
| • Density | 2.5545/sq mi (0.9863/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
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Toole County is a special area called a county in the northern part of Montana, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 4,971 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Shelby.
Toole County was created in 1914. It was formed from parts of two other counties: Hill County and Teton County. The county is named after Joseph Toole, who was the first and fourth governor of Montana. The northern edge of Toole County touches the border with Canada, right next to Alberta.
Contents
Exploring Toole County's Geography
Toole County covers a large area. The United States Census Bureau says it is about 1,946 square miles in total. Most of this area, about 1,916 square miles, is land. The rest, about 30 square miles, is water.
The northern border of the county is the Canada–United States border. This means you can easily cross into Canada from here! A river called the Marias River flows through the southern part of the county. In the eastern part, there are several smaller streams. The biggest one is Willow Creek, which starts in the Sweet Grass Hills and flows south. People have found signs of oil and gas in the Sweet Grass Hills and other places in the county.
Main Roads in Toole County
These are the important roads that help people travel through Toole County:
Interstate 15 - This highway goes all the way to the Canadian border, where it connects to Alberta Highway 4.
U.S. Route 2
Neighboring Areas
Toole County shares its borders with several other counties and areas:
- Glacier County - to the west
- Pondera County - to the south
- Liberty County - to the east
- County of Warner No. 5, Alberta - to the north (in Canada)
- County of Forty Mile No. 8, Alberta - to the northeast (in Canada)
People of Toole County
The number of people living in Toole County has changed over the years. Here's a quick look:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 3,724 | — | |
| 1930 | 6,714 | 80.3% | |
| 1940 | 6,769 | 0.8% | |
| 1950 | 6,867 | 1.4% | |
| 1960 | 7,904 | 15.1% | |
| 1970 | 5,839 | −26.1% | |
| 1980 | 5,559 | −4.8% | |
| 1990 | 5,046 | −9.2% | |
| 2000 | 5,267 | 4.4% | |
| 2010 | 5,324 | 1.1% | |
| 2020 | 4,971 | −6.6% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 5,082 | −4.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960, 1900–1990, 1990–2000, 2010–2020 |
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Population in 2020
According to the 2020 census, there were 4,971 people living in Toole County.
Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 5,324 people living in the county. Most people were white (92.0%). About 4.5% were American Indian. People from Hispanic or Latino backgrounds made up 2.4% of the population. Many residents had ancestors from Germany, Ireland, England, or Norway.
The average age of people in Toole County was about 41.5 years old. The average income for a family was around $54,722 per year.
Communities in Toole County
Toole County has several towns and communities where people live.
City
- Shelby - This is the biggest town and the county seat.
Towns
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or towns.
- Camrose Colony
- Hillside Colony
- Rimrock Colony
- Sweet Grass
Other Small Communities
These are even smaller places where people live, but they are not officially recognized as towns.
Famous People from Toole County
Some interesting people have connections to Toole County:
- Earl W. Bascom (1906–1995) - He is known as the "Father of Modern Rodeo." He was a Hall of Fame cowboy, artist, sculptor, actor, and inventor. He worked on a ranch near Kicking Horse Creek in the 1920s.
- Charles M. Russell (1864–1926) - He was a famous cowboy artist and sculptor. He also had a ranch near Kicking Horse Creek, close to the Sweetgrass Hills. He is honored in the Hall of Great Westerners in Oklahoma City.
Images for kids
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Toole County Courthouse in Shelby
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Toole para niños
