Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Montana
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.
#30. Lake County
- 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%)
#29. Cascade County
- 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%)
#28. Yellowstone County
- 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%)
#27. Prairie County
- 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%)
#26. Sweet Grass County
- 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%)
#25. Deer Lodge County
- 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%)
#24. Toole County
- 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%)
#23. Dawson County
- 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%)
#22. Daniels County
- 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%)
#21. Custer County
- 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%)
#20. Fergus County
- 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%)
#19. Teton County
- 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%)
#18. Rosebud County
- 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%)
#17. Petroleum County
- 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%)

#16. Silver Bow County
- 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%)
#15. Chouteau County
- 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%)
#14. Judith Basin County
- 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%)
#13. Wheatland County
- 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%)
#12. Valley County
- 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%)
#11. Treasure County
- 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%)
#10. Garfield County
- 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%)
#9. McCone County
- 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%)
#8. Pondera County
- 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%)
#7. Roosevelt County
- 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%)
#6. Hill County
- 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%)
#5. Liberty County
- 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%)
#4. Big Horn County
- 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%)
#3. Phillips County
- 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%)
#2. Glacier County
- 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%)
#1. Blaine County
- 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%)



