Jessica Wick is a writer and travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, meeting new people and, of course, beautiful Big Sky Country and every part of Washington State.
For the most part, Montana is a very healthy state. We’ve got access to fresh air, numerous hiking trails for great exercise, and plenty of fresh, healthy food. That being said, some of our counties rank higher than others in terms of healthy citizens.
This data from 2017 isn’t perfect. There wasn’t enough information for a few of our counties to rank, and we all know that health is a complex matter with a lot of factors, some of which could very well be inaccurately portrayed here. That being said, based on data like obesity, smoking rates, and premature death rates, these counties scored the lowest. Where does your county rank?
Home to places like Polson, Ronan, Arlee and Elmo, Lake County has a 28% obesity rate, a 19% adult smoking rate, and a high rate of alcohol-impaired driving deaths. Its overall statistics aren't horrible, probably because of the close proximity to outdoor activities.
Home to Thompson Falls, Plains and Hot Springs, Sanders County ranked low on the healthy list due to a fairly high rate (23%) of people who are completely inactive. 17% of adults drink excessively here, and 26% are uninsured.
Uh oh, Butte residents... your county isn't the healthiest. Many Silver Bow County residents are excessive drinkers, and the rate of alcohol-impaired driving deaths is 24%. The 20% adult smoking rate doesn't help, either.
Meagher County is small, with White Sulphur Springs being its largest city. While only 14% of its residents are in poor physical health, its low population makes that a pretty high statistic. The county also has a 24% obesity rate.
Not to be confused with the city of Choteau (it's in Teton County), Choteau County was ranked 38th (out of 47) for length of life. They have a 26% obesity rate and a 27% physical inactivity rate.
Home to Chinook, Harlem and Turner, Blaine County ranked 42nd for length of life -- meaning only 5 counties ranked lower. 36% of adults here are obese, and 27% of them smoke. Yikes.
Rosebud County, which includes Colstrip, Forsyth and Lame Deer, has a high rate of obesity (36%), physical inactivity (24%), and, sadly, alcohol-impaired driving deaths (50%).
The population of Big Horn County, which includes Hardin and Lodge Grass, is 12,865. 39% of adults are obese here, and 27% smoke. Alcohol-related car accidents are high, too -- 54%.
Unfortunately, having Glacier National Park practically in their backyard doesn't do much for Glacier County -- 29% of adults are physically inactive. Combine that with a 34% alcohol-related auto death rate and ranking dead last in the Quality of Life category and you've got a pretty unhealthy group.
A full 25% of Roosevelt County residents lack basic healthcare, and 37% of adults are obese. 22% admit to drinking excessively, which likely contributes to the sky-high alcohol related auto accident rate of 75%.
Obviously, you’ll find healthy and unhealthy people all over Montana. If your county is listed here, all you can do is live your best life and encourage your neighbors to do the same. If you do need to make some lifestyle changes, these beautiful hiking trails are all under 3 miles in length.
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