Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Montana

Written by:
April 15, 2021
J.B. Chandler // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Montana

In certain corners of the U.S., the only way you’ll ever be considered a local is if you were born there. Elsewhere, particularly in major metropolitan centers, the constant influx of new businesses, college students, and families can transform neighborhoods every few years and certainly decade over decade.

Americans change their addresses at higher rates than most other countries, but that “move, move, move” mentality may be shifting. In 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that only 11.2% of respondents had moved within the last year. Additionally, 72% of Americans reported living in or close to the city they grew up in. To learn more about where people are staying put, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Montana using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents that were born in the state as of 2019.

Keep reading to discover which counties in your state have the most born-and-bred residents.

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Montanabw // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Lake County

- Population: 30,013
- Born in Montana: 16,943 (56.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 12,177 (40.6% of population)
--- Midwest (11.9%), Northeast (4.3%), South (3.8%), West (20.5%)
- Born in another country: 580 (1.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.6%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.6%), Oceania (0.1%)
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Montanabw // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Cascade County

- Population: 81,625
- Born in Montana: 46,401 (56.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 32,410 (39.7% of population)
--- Midwest (11.6%), Northeast (4.0%), South (7.7%), West (16.2%)
- Born in another country: 1,691 (2.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.5%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Sara Goth // Wikicommons

#28. Yellowstone County

- Population: 159,008
- Born in Montana: 92,143 (57.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 62,400 (39.2% of population)
--- Midwest (13.4%), Northeast (2.5%), South (4.9%), West (18.4%)
- Born in another country: 3,339 (2.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
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TerryAdvocate // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Prairie County

- Population: 1,252
- Born in Montana: 731 (58.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 467 (37.3% of population)
--- Midwest (10.7%), Northeast (2.7%), South (4.6%), West (19.2%)
- Born in another country: 54 (4.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.9%), Asia (1.1%), Europe (2.1%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Jasperdo // Flickr

#26. Sweet Grass County

- Population: 3,670
- Born in Montana: 2,150 (58.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,483 (40.4% of population)
--- Midwest (11.6%), Northeast (3.6%), South (7.7%), West (17.5%)
- Born in another country: 32 (0.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Deer Lodge County

- Population: 9,106
- Born in Montana: 5,677 (62.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,245 (35.6% of population)
--- Midwest (8.8%), Northeast (2.5%), South (4.0%), West (20.2%)
- Born in another country: 134 (1.5% of population)
--- Africa (0.4%), Asia (0.8%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Toole County

- Population: 4,892
- Born in Montana: 3,104 (63.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,530 (31.3% of population)
--- Midwest (9.2%), Northeast (2.5%), South (4.4%), West (15.1%)
- Born in another country: 167 (3.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (1.7%), North America (1.4%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Dawson County

- Population: 9,017
- Born in Montana: 5,730 (63.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,081 (34.2% of population)
--- Midwest (14.0%), Northeast (1.1%), South (2.9%), West (16.0%)
- Born in another country: 149 (1.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.5%), Oceania (0.0%)
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J.B. Chandler // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Daniels County

- Population: 1,730
- Born in Montana: 1,103 (63.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 566 (32.7% of population)
--- Midwest (16.7%), Northeast (0.0%), South (1.0%), West (15.0%)
- Born in another country: 52 (3.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.8%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (1.4%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.6%)
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dave_mcmt // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Custer County

- Population: 11,729
- Born in Montana: 7,533 (64.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,037 (34.4% of population)
--- Midwest (14.6%), Northeast (2.3%), South (4.6%), West (12.9%)
- Born in another country: 120 (1.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Fergus County

- Population: 11,221
- Born in Montana: 7,259 (64.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,818 (34.0% of population)
--- Midwest (11.4%), Northeast (2.8%), South (3.8%), West (16.0%)
- Born in another country: 120 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.6%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Teton County

- Population: 6,086
- Born in Montana: 3,941 (64.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,011 (33.0% of population)
--- Midwest (9.8%), Northeast (3.3%), South (3.8%), West (16.0%)
- Born in another country: 77 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.5%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Rosebud County

- Population: 9,152
- Born in Montana: 5,945 (65.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,976 (32.5% of population)
--- Midwest (11.5%), Northeast (0.9%), South (3.5%), West (16.7%)
- Born in another country: 169 (1.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.5%), Oceania (0.0%)
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J.B. Chandler // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Petroleum County

- Population: 453
- Born in Montana: 304 (67.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 129 (28.5% of population)
--- Midwest (9.9%), Northeast (0.7%), South (2.9%), West (15.0%)
- Born in another country: 20 (4.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (4.4%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Christopher Boswell // Shutterstock

#16. Silver Bow County

- Population: 34,770
- Born in Montana: 23,537 (67.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 10,070 (29.0% of population)
--- Midwest (7.0%), Northeast (2.4%), South (4.1%), West (15.4%)
- Born in another country: 960 (2.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (1.2%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.7%), Oceania (0.0%)
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J.B. Chandler // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Chouteau County

- Population: 5,732
- Born in Montana: 3,946 (68.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,614 (28.2% of population)
--- Midwest (7.4%), Northeast (2.3%), South (3.2%), West (15.3%)
- Born in another country: 109 (1.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.3%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Judith Basin County

- Population: 1,954
- Born in Montana: 1,353 (69.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 594 (30.4% of population)
--- Midwest (9.1%), Northeast (2.2%), South (3.7%), West (15.4%)
- Born in another country: 4 (0.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Wheatland County

- Population: 2,142
- Born in Montana: 1,497 (69.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 563 (26.3% of population)
--- Midwest (10.4%), Northeast (1.8%), South (1.2%), West (13.0%)
- Born in another country: 65 (3.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.6%), Latin America (2.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Publichall // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Valley County

- Population: 7,471
- Born in Montana: 5,258 (70.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,056 (27.5% of population)
--- Midwest (12.1%), Northeast (2.4%), South (3.3%), West (9.7%)
- Born in another country: 123 (1.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.5%), Oceania (0.1%)
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Treasure County

- Population: 668
- Born in Montana: 472 (70.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 175 (26.2% of population)
--- Midwest (9.9%), Northeast (2.5%), South (3.0%), West (10.8%)
- Born in another country: 21 (3.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (3.0%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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J.B. Chandler // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Garfield County

- Population: 1,036
- Born in Montana: 741 (71.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 292 (28.2% of population)
--- Midwest (7.7%), Northeast (3.8%), South (2.0%), West (14.7%)
- Born in another country: (0.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Canva

#9. McCone County

- Population: 1,790
- Born in Montana: 1,320 (73.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 448 (25.0% of population)
--- Midwest (11.1%), Northeast (0.9%), South (5.9%), West (7.2%)
- Born in another country: 22 (1.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Pondera County

- Population: 5,994
- Born in Montana: 4,426 (73.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,462 (24.4% of population)
--- Midwest (9.5%), Northeast (2.8%), South (1.4%), West (10.8%)
- Born in another country: 80 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (1.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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J.B. Chandler // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Roosevelt County

- Population: 11,175
- Born in Montana: 8,358 (74.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,596 (23.2% of population)
--- Midwest (13.6%), Northeast (0.9%), South (1.5%), West (7.2%)
- Born in another country: 161 (1.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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J.B. Chandler // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Hill County

- Population: 16,436
- Born in Montana: 12,521 (76.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,624 (22.0% of population)
--- Midwest (7.9%), Northeast (1.0%), South (1.8%), West (11.3%)
- Born in another country: 182 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.3%), Oceania (0.1%)
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Jimmy Emerson, DVM // Flickr

#5. Liberty County

- Population: 2,351
- Born in Montana: 1,806 (76.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 472 (20.1% of population)
--- Midwest (7.4%), Northeast (1.1%), South (0.6%), West (10.9%)
- Born in another country: 13 (0.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.6%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Leonard J. DeFrancisci // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Big Horn County

- Population: 13,387
- Born in Montana: 10,299 (76.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,945 (22.0% of population)
--- Midwest (6.8%), Northeast (1.1%), South (3.6%), West (10.5%)
- Born in another country: 132 (1.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.7%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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J.B. Chandler // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Phillips County

- Population: 4,077
- Born in Montana: 3,217 (78.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 801 (19.6% of population)
--- Midwest (9.2%), Northeast (0.7%), South (2.4%), West (7.3%)
- Born in another country: 53 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.6%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.4%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Glacier County

- Population: 13,732
- Born in Montana: 11,010 (80.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,440 (17.8% of population)
--- Midwest (3.9%), Northeast (2.2%), South (3.5%), West (8.2%)
- Born in another country: 171 (1.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.5%), Oceania (0.0%)
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J.B. Chandler // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Blaine County

- Population: 6,719
- Born in Montana: 5,414 (80.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,230 (18.3% of population)
--- Midwest (5.6%), Northeast (1.7%), South (1.3%), West (9.8%)
- Born in another country: 50 (0.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

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