Articles in GeoCurrent Atlases
The Geography of Health and Longevity in Montana (and the Rest of the U.S.)
Although life expectancy tends to correlate with income, the correlation collapses in many of these areas. Hidalgo County, Texas is over 91 percent Hispanic and has a per capita income of only was $12,130, making it “one of the poorest counties in the United States,” but it ranks in the highest category on this map.
The Geography of Education in Montana (and the Rest of the United States)
What stands out is the high percentages of bachelor’s degrees in three different geographical categories: affluent urban and suburban countries, especially those associated with tech hubs; non-metropolitan countries with major universities (typified by adjoining Whitman County in eastern Washington and Latah County in northwestern Idaho); and affluent high-amenity rural counties in the West (typified by Pitkin County, Colorado).
The Geography of Religion in Montana (and the Rest of the US)
The map of religious adherence in the United States defies some common perceptions. Membership in a religious organization, for example, is shown as higher rate in southern New England than in the eastern part of the so-called Bible Belt. The data used to make these maps, however, are not necessarily accurate, and they do not measure the intensity of religious …
Cannabis Legalization and the Electoral Geography of Montana
Only two reliably Republican-voting states have fully legalized cannabis: Montana and Alaska. It is not coincidental that both are in the West. Western conservatism leans in a more libertarian direction than Southern or Midwestern conservatism, with the important exception of the deeply religious LDS (Mormon) region centered on Utah and eastern Idaho.
The Geography of Drug Use in Montana – and in the Rest of the United States
If there is a take-home message from these maps, it is that drug use tends to be higher in rural areas than in major metropolitan zones, particularly their suburban counties. This pattern is mostly clearly evident on the methamphetamine map. Many rural areas of the United States are experiencing economic and social distress, which is often associated with heightened drug use.
The Cost of Housing and Essential-Worker Relocation in Booming Southwestern Montana
But will such cities as Anaconda and Helena retain their affordability? Footloose and often well-compensated Zoom workers also find them attractive. And prices are increasing.
Voting Patterns of Native Americans in Montana
In racial/ethnic terms, Montana is not a diverse state. It has the lowest percentage of Black Americans in the country, the fifth lowest percentage of Hispanic and Latino Americans, and the third lowest percentage of Asian Americans (tied with Wyoming). It does, however, have the fifth largest percentage of Native Americans. Its indigenous population, moreover, is expanding. As can be …
Montana Population Change in Comparative Context
Recent posts have emphasized population decline in the Great Plains of eastern Montana. Comparative analysis shows, however, that eastern Montana has fared better than most other parts of the region. Almost every county in western Nebraska, for example, experienced population decline from 2010 to 2020.
Montana’s Changing Population Geography
Montana has experienced several demographic cycles, each marked by different geographical patterns. Geographer William Wyckoff has extensively documented these changes.
