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Valley County, Montana facts for kids

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Valley County
Valley County Courthouse in Glasgow
Valley County Courthouse in Glasgow
Map of Montana highlighting Valley County
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Map of the United States highlighting Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Montana
Founded 1893
Seat Glasgow
Largest city Glasgow
Area
 • Total 5,062 sq mi (13,110 km2)
 • Land 4,926 sq mi (12,760 km2)
 • Water 136 sq mi (350 km2)  2.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 7,578
 • Estimate 
(2022)
7,513 Decrease
 • Density 1.49704/sq mi (0.57801/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 2nd
  • Montana county number 20

Valley County is a county in the state of Montana, USA. It was created in 1893 from a part of Dawson County. In 2020, about 7,578 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Glasgow. Valley County is located right on the border with Saskatchewan, a province in Canada.

Exploring Valley County's Land and Location

Valley County is a large area in Montana. It covers about 5,062 square miles. Most of this land, about 4,926 square miles, is dry land. The rest, about 136 square miles, is water. This makes it Montana's fourth-largest county by total area.

Getting Around: Roads, Buses, and Trains

It's easy to travel through Valley County. There are several important roads and other ways to get around.

Main Roads to Know

  • US 2.svg U.S. Highway 2
  • MT-24.svg Montana Highway 24
  • MT-42.svg Montana Highway 42
  • MT-117.svg Montana Highway 117
  • MT-sec-248.svg Montana Secondary Highway 248

Bus Services

If you need a ride, Valley County has a special taxi and bus service. It's called Valley Country Transit. This service helps people get around Glasgow and the wider county area.

Train Travel

You can also travel by train! Amtrak's Empire Builder train stops at the Glasgow station. This train route connects cities across the northern United States.

Neighboring Areas: Counties and Canadian Regions

Valley County shares its borders with several other counties in Montana and even some areas in Canada.

Protected Natural Areas

A part of the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge is located in Valley County. This refuge is a special place that protects wildlife and their habitats.

Valley County's Economy and Jobs

The main way people make a living in Valley County is through farming. This is called agriculture. For many years, the Glasgow Air Force Base was also a big part of the local economy. It was located near St. Marie and was active until 1976.

People and Population in Valley County

The number of people living in Valley County has changed over the years. Here's a look at the population from past censuses:

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 4,355
1910 13,630 213.0%
1920 11,542 −15.3%
1930 11,181 −3.1%
1940 15,181 35.8%
1950 11,353 −25.2%
1960 17,080 50.4%
1970 11,471 −32.8%
1980 10,250 −10.6%
1990 8,239 −19.6%
2000 7,675 −6.8%
2010 7,369 −4.0%
2020 7,578 2.8%
2022 (est.) 7,513 2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960, 1900–1990,
1990–2000, 2010–2020

Population in 2020

According to the 2020 United States census, 7,578 people lived in Valley County.

Population in 2010

In the 2010 United States census, there were 7,369 people living in the county. Most people were white (87.0%), and about 9.8% were Native American. People from German, Norwegian, Irish, and English backgrounds were also common.

Towns and Communities in Valley County

Valley County has several towns and smaller communities.

Main City

  • Glasgow (This is the county seat, meaning it's where the county government is located.)

Towns to Visit

Special Census Areas

These are places that are like towns but don't have their own local government.

Smaller Communities (Unincorporated)

These are even smaller places that are not officially towns or cities.

Old Ghost Towns

Some places that used to be communities are now "ghost towns," meaning most people have moved away.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Valley (Montana) para niños

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