Census Data for Deer Lodge
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Deer Lodge a population of 2,834 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Deer Lodge a population of 3,111 people.
The city of Deer Lodge is located in Powell County. The 2010 Census gave Powell County; a population of 7,019 people. This means that Deer Lodge had 44.32% of the county's total population, making it Powell's most populous community.
At the same time, Montana had a population of 989,415 people, meaning that Deer Lodge had 0.31% of the total population of Montana - making it the state's 25th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Deer Lodge has a total area of 1.44 square miles [3.7 km²].
Powell County has a land area of 2,326 square miles [6,025.3 km²]. At 1.44 square miles [3.7 km²], Deer Lodge has 0.06% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Deer Lodge, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for Deer Lodge reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Deer Lodge might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 46° 23' 51" (or 46.4°)
- Lon: -112° 43' 58" (or -112.73°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Deer Lodge had 1,549 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 3,111 people, this averages 2.01 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Deer Lodge had a land area of 1.44 square miles [3.7 km²]. This translates to 1,075 Housing Units per square mile [415.3 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Deer Lodge had 1,593 Housing Units, a population of 3,421 people and a land area of 1.44 square miles [3.7 km²]. This gives a density of 2.15 people per Housing Unit and 1,103 Housing Units per square mile [426 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Deer Lodge and you need to be careful when comparing results between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Powell County ...
The community of Deer Lodge is located in Powell County<4> and is the County Seat for Powell County.
The county had a population of 7,019 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 3,111 people, Deer Lodge represented 44.32% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Deer Lodge has a population density of 2,160 people per square mile [834 people/km²], Powell County averages 3.02 people per square mile [1.16 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Powell County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Deer Lodge, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Deer Lodge. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Deer Lodge or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Deer Lodge, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Deer Lodge.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 46.397618° (or 46°23'51" N)
- Lon: -112.732934° (or -112°43'58" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 46.396183° (or 46°23'46" N)
- Lon: -112.732922° (or -112°43'58" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 523 feet to the north<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2410310) to Deer Lodge. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Deer Lodge. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 46.397435° (or 46°23'50" N)
- Lon: -112.733360° (or -112°44'0" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 126.2 feet to the northeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Deer Lodge. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Deer Lodge.
Miscellaneous Information for Deer Lodge ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Powell County or the city of Deer Lodge:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 30 (Montana)
- County Code: 077 (Powell County)
- Place Code: 19825 (Deer Lodge)
- State & County Code: 30/077 (Montana / Powell County)
- State & Place Code: 30/19825 (Montana / Deer Lodge)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Deer Lodge is located in Census Region #4 (the West Region) and Division #8 (the Mountain Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Deer Lodge.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Deer Lodge. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for State of Montana: https://mt.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Montana's counties, including Powell, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 0 degrees and a distance of 523 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 301 degrees and a distance of 126.2 feet. |