Petroleum County, MT

County

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2024 Population

447

US Senator

Steve Daines

Republican Party

US Senator

Tim Sheehy

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

51.6

0.194% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

8.05%

24.2% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$60,208

1.5% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$201,400

15.9% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

235

6.33% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Petroleum County, MT reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

100% of the residents in Petroleum County, MT are U.S. citizens.

In 2024, the median property value in Petroleum County, MT was $201,400, and the homeownership rate was 72.9%.

Most people in Petroleum County, MT drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 16.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Petroleum County, MT was 2 cars per household.

Petroleum County, MT borders Fergus County, MT, Garfield County, MT, Musselshell County, MT, Phillips County, MT, and Rosebud County, MT.

United States Montana

Population & Diversity

Petroleum County, MT is home to a population of 447 people, from which 100% are citizens. As of 2024, 0.895% of Petroleum County, MT residents were born outside of the country (4 people).

In 2024, there were 147 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (442 people) in Petroleum County, MT than any other race or ethnicity. There were 3 Asian (Non-Hispanic) and 2 American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

100%

2024 Citizenship

100%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 100% of Petroleum County, MT residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Petroleum County, MT was 100%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been maintaining.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Petroleum County, MT compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Petroleum County, MT

White (Non-Hispanic)
442 ± 103
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
3 ± 6
American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic)
2 ± 5

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Petroleum County, MT as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Montana.

Most Common Origin

Canada
4,118 ± 1,573 people
Mexico
2,905 ± 1,322 people
Philippines
1,984 ± 1,093 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Montana was Canada, the natal country of 4,118 Montana residents, followed by Mexico with 2,905 and Philippines with 1,984.

Foreign-Born Population

0.895%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

4 people

0.998%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

4 people

As of 2024, 0.895% of Petroleum County, MT residents (4 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Petroleum County, MT was 0.998%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Petroleum County, MT compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (1990s)
32 ± 29
Vietnam
25 ± 23
Gulf War (2001-)
3 ± 16

Petroleum County, MT has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (1990s), 1.28 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Petroleum County, MT.

Health

93.3% of the population of Petroleum County, MT has health coverage, with 26.6% on employee plans, 12.3% on Medicaid, 23.9% on Medicare, 27.1% on non-group plans, and 3.36% on military or VA plans.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 55.3% were men and 44.7% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

0 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in false

Primary care physicians in false see an average of 0 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (0 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in false in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 14.8% under 18 years, 8.95% between 18 and 34 years, 48.1% between 35 and 64 years, and 28.2% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 55.3% were men and 44.7% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

6.71%

Uninsured

26.6%

Employer Coverage

12.3%

Medicaid

23.9%

Medicare

27.1%

Non-Group

3.36%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Petroleum County, MT grew by 7.65% from 6.23% to 6.71%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Petroleum County, MT changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Clinical Care

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of population under age 65 without health insurance was 6.28% in Petroleum County, MT.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Petroleum County, MT.

Economy

The economy of Petroleum County, MT employs 235 people. In 2024, the largest industries in Petroleum County, MT were Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (82 people), Educational Services (33 people), and Construction (24 people), and the highest paying industries were Construction ($60,833), Retail Trade ($60,192), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($44,375).

Employment

Occupations

235

2024 Value

± 77

6.33%

1 Year growth

± 44.2%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Petroleum County, MT grew at a rate of 6.33%, from 221 employees to 235 employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Petroleum County, MT, are Management Occupations (44 people), Farming, Fishing, & Forestry Occupations (41 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (26 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Petroleum County, MT.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Montana.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Montana (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

235

2024 Value

± 77

6.33%

1 Year growth

± 44.2%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Petroleum County, MT grew at a rate of 6.33%, from 221 employees to 235 employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Petroleum County, MT, are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (82 people), Educational Services (33 people), and Construction (24 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Petroleum County, MT, though some of these residents may live in Petroleum County, MT and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$53,750

Median earning men ± $23,001

$32,721

Median earning women ± $10,305

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($67,000), Construction ($60,833), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($41,563).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Retail Trade ($60,769), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($43,750), and Public Administration ($34,250).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Montana.

Y-Axis

2.24%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 508k people employed in Montana. This represents a 2.24% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 11.8%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Montana.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

Retail Trade

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

$81

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Montana went to Donald J. Trump with 58.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (38.5%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.96%).

Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy are the senators currently representing the state of Montana. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Montana is currently represented by 2 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Petroleum County, MT. Showing the available data for Montana.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (58.4%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (38.5%)
Democratic Party
Robert Kennedy (1.96%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Montana went to Donald J. Trump with 58.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (38.5%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.96%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Montana for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Montana

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Montana.

Steve Daines

Senator from Montana

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Tim Sheehy

Senator from Montana

Assumed office on January 3, 2025

Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy are the senators currently representing Montana.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Montana over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Petroleum County, MT was $201,400 in 2024, which is 0.605 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $173,700 to $201,400, a 15.9% increase. The homeownership rate in Petroleum County, MT is 72.9%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Petroleum County, MT have an average commute time of 16.2 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Petroleum County, MT is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 7.18% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Petroleum County, MT. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 17.4%.

Housing

Property

$201,400

Median Property Value 2024

±$49,436

$161

Median Property Taxes

±$46

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Petroleum County, MT the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Petroleum County, MT compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

72.9%

Homeownership

2024

66.6%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 72.9% of the housing units in Petroleum County, MT were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 77%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Petroleum County, MT compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$60,208

Median Household Income

± $16,682

221

Number of Households

± 53

In 2024, the median household income of the 221 households in Petroleum County, MT grew to $60,208 from the previous year's value of $59,318.

The following chart displays the households in Petroleum County, MT distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $60k - $75k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Petroleum County, MT is from Montana.

0.458

2024 Wage GINI in Montana

0.46

2023 Wage GINI in Montana

In 2024, the income inequality in Montana was 0.458 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.613% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Montana was lower than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Montana in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Montana across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (49.8%)
Walked (24.3%)
Worked At Home (15.3%)

In 2024, 49.8% of workers in Petroleum County, MT drove alone to work, followed by those who walked to work (24.3%) and those who worked at home (15.3%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

16.2 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Petroleum County, MT have a shorter commute time (16.2 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.51% of the workforce in Petroleum County, MT have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Petroleum County, MT compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Petroleum County, MT distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Petroleum County, MT have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 7.18% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Petroleum County, MT. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 17.4%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

8.05% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Petroleum County, MT (36 out of 447 people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Females 65 - 74 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Petroleum County, MT is White, followed by Black and Native American.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.