Table 1. Selected size, population, and agricultural attributes of the seven counties in the grizzly 

 bear conservation area. 



'Based on July 1999 population estimate from Montana Census Bureau. 



"Based on inventory estimates of all cattle and calves for year 2000, from Montana Agricultural Statistics, October 



2000. 



'Based on inventory estimates of all sheep and lambs for year 2000, from Montana Agricultural Statistics, October 



2000, 



■"Based on estimates of irrigated and non- irrigated acres harvested in 1999, from Montana Agriculture Statistics, 



October 2000. 



human population. County population size ranges from Gallatin (pop. 63,881) to Sweet Grass 

 (pop. 3,584). Population density for the entire area is 5.8 people/sq. mile, compared to 6.0 

 people/sq. mile for the entire state. The most densely populated county is Gallatin (25.2 

 people/sq. mile) and the least densely populated county is Beaverhead (1.6 people/sq. mile). 

 Major population centers include Bozeman (30,723), Livingston (7,626), Belgrade (5,195), 

 Dillon (4,342), Red Lodge (2,278), Big Timber (1,796), Three Forks (1,513), West Yellowstone 

 (1,222), and Big Sky (1,221). Within the seven-county area, only these eight cities exceed a 

 population of 1,000 people. 



According to census figures, the population in this area has increased by 19,853 people (20.4%) 

 from 1990-1999. During this same period the population of the entire state increased by 83,714 

 people or 10.5%. Gallatin County was the fastest growing county, increasing by 13,397 people 

 (26.5%) from 1990-1999, while Beaverhead County grew by only 366 people (4.3%) in the last 

 10 years. 



Land Ownership 



The majority of the mountainous habitat (above 6,000 ft.) is within publicly owned National 

 Forests. All or portions of the Custer, Gallatin, and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests 

 occur within this seven-county area. A small portion of mountainous habitat is in Montana 

 Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), FWP, Bureau of Land 

 Management (BLM), and private ownership, including private subdivisions, ranches, ski resorts 

 and timber company lands. 



Low-elevation river valleys (below 6,000 ft.) are largely privately owned with only a small 

 percentage in state (DNRC, FWP) and federal (BLM, USFS, and U.S. National Wildlife 

 Refiiges) public ownership. By far the largest amount of low-elevation land lies within privately 



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