Prairie County Demographics

A map of Prairie County's Population by Race

Prairie County, Montana has an estimated population of 1,250, a large increase from the 1,088 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 88.1% White, 4.4% Native American/Other, 4.2% Multiracial, 2.7% Asian, 0.6% Hispanic, and 0.0% Black. This demographic dot map shows the population of Prairie County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Prairie has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Montana overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Prairie County, that probability was 18.2% in 2020 and 22.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Prairie County is ranked the 51st most populous county in Montana, out of 56 counties. Prairie County was ranked the 52nd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Prairie County's White Population

1,101 residents of Prairie County, or 88.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Prairie County is slightly higher than in Montana overall, where 83.6% of the population is White. Prairie County ranks 24th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 56 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Prairie County's White population has grown by an estimated 12.1%. White residents' share of Prairie County's population has decreased from 90.3% to 88.1%.

Prairie County is less White than neighboring Dawson County (90.4% White), Custer County (89% White), McCone County (92.1% White), Fallon County (92.2% White), and Wibaux County (89.2% White).

Prairie County's Black Population

0 residents of Prairie County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Prairie County is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 0.4% of the population is Black. Prairie County ranks 33rd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 56 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Prairie County's Black population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Black residents' share of Prairie County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Prairie County is less Black than neighboring Dawson County (0.2% Black), and Wibaux County (0.6% Black).

Prairie County's Asian Population

34 residents of Prairie County, or 2.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Prairie County is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 0.8% of the population is Asian. Prairie County ranks 10th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 56 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Prairie County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 385.7%. Asian residents' share of Prairie County's population has increased from 0.6% to 2.7%.

Prairie County is more Asian than neighboring Dawson County (0.2% Asian), Custer County (0.5% Asian), McCone County (1% Asian), Fallon County (0% Asian), and Wibaux County (0.1% Asian).

Prairie County's Hispanic Population

7 residents of Prairie County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Prairie County is slightly lower than in Montana overall, where 4.6% of the population is Hispanic. Prairie County ranks 22nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 56 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Prairie County's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 78.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Prairie County's population has decreased from 3.0% to 0.6%.

Prairie County is more Hispanic than neighboring McCone County (0.2% Hispanic), and Fallon County (0.1% Hispanic). Prairie County is less Hispanic than neighboring Dawson County (3.6% Hispanic), Custer County (3.4% Hispanic), and Wibaux County (7.7% Hispanic).

Prairie County's Native American/Other Population

55 residents of Prairie County, or 4.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Prairie County is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 5.9% of the population is Native American/Other. Prairie County ranks 43rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 56 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Prairie County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 323.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Prairie County's population has increased from 1.2% to 4.4%.

Prairie County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Dawson County (2.1% Native American/Other), Custer County (2% Native American/Other), McCone County (2.5% Native American/Other), Fallon County (2.2% Native American/Other), and Wibaux County (2% Native American/Other).

Prairie County's Multiracial Population

53 residents of Prairie County, or 4.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Prairie County is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 4.7% of the population is Multiracial. Prairie County ranks 27th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 56 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Prairie County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 3.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Prairie County's population has decreased from 4.7% to 4.2%.

Prairie County is more Multiracial than neighboring Dawson County (3.4% Multiracial), McCone County (4.1% Multiracial), and Wibaux County (0.4% Multiracial). Prairie County is less Multiracial than neighboring Custer County (5.1% Multiracial), and Fallon County (5.4% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.