• Overall, Gallatin County’s economy is performing well. From 2001-2016, Gallatin County’s employment increased by 55 percent while total real personal income increased by 111 percent. Compared to Montana, Gallatin County’s real per capita income grew 12 percent faster.
  • As Gallatin County’s economy diversifies, all sectors of the economy are growing, except farm.
  • Since 1990, Gallatin County has lost more open space than any other county in Montana.

Gallatin County Is Growing Faster Than Montana

Gallatin County vs. Montana, Percent Change, 2001-2016
From 2001–2016, Gallatin County’s population, employment, total real personal income, and real per capita income increased substantially faster than Montana as a whole.
From 2001-2016, Gallatin County’s population grew 3x faster than the state

Gallatin County’s high quality of life and natural amenities attract entrepreneurs, workers, retirees, and tourists. While the economy diversifies, the rapid pace of growth threatens the open space and natural amenities that draw and keep people here.

Gallatin County’s Population Has Doubled Since 1990

Gallatin County Population Trends, 1990-2016
Average Annual Source of Population Change, 2001–2016

Gallatin County added more than 50,000 residents since 1990. The population in 2016 was 104,502. Nearly three-quarters of the population growth is from the arrival of new residents in the last 15 years.

All Sectors of the Economy Are Growing Except Farm

Gallatin County Change in Employment by Industry, 2001-2016
Farm is the only sector that lost jobs since 2001. Every other industry is growing. Professional and technical services, real estate and rental and leasing, accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance, and retail trade are growing the fastest.

Gallatin County Created More Than One-Quarter of All New Jobs

Job Growth for Five Fastest-Growing Counties in Montana, 2001-2016

Gallatin County Has Many Factors That Indicate Likely Future Growth

Gallatin County Has a High Quality of Life and Natural Amenities

Growth Threatens Open Space

Open Space Converted to Housing, 1990-2016
Since 1990, 15 percent of all Montana homes were built in Gallatin County. From 1990 to 2016, 93,440 acres were converted from open space to sprawl — large lot (10+ acres) residential development.
Gallatin County lost more open space than any other county in Montana
Home Construction in Gallatin County, 1900-2016
From 1990 to 2016, the number of single-family homes in Gallatin County grew by 150 percent, from roughly 11,640 homes in 1990 to 28,938 in 2016. More than a third were built on lots greater than 10 acres.

Open Space: Key to Gallatin’s Quality of Life

Gallatin County: Clean Water, Working Lands, Wildlife, Heritage, Economy

References

Population and demographic statistics from U.S. Department of Commerce. 2017. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office, Washington, D.C.

Job and economic statistics from U.S. Department of Commerce. 2017. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts, Washington, D.C.

Airport flight information from: https://bozemanairport.com/

Open space data from: https://archive.headwaterseconomics.org/economic-development/local-studies/montana-home-construction/

MSU enrollment data from: http://montana.edu/opa/facts/headhist.html

Author:
Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

For more information about this topic contact:

Kelly Pohl