Big Timber, Montana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Big Timber
City
Grand Hotel
Grand Hotel
Location of Big Timber, Montana
Location of Big Timber, Montana
Coordinates: 45°50′0″N 109°57′1″W / 45.83333°N 109.95028°W / 45.83333; -109.95028Coordinates: 45°50′0″N 109°57′1″W / 45.83333°N 109.95028°W / 45.83333; -109.95028
CountryUnited States
StateMontana
CountySweet Grass
Government
 • TypeMayor Council
 • MayorRolland Karlin
Area
[1]
 • Total0.95 sq mi (2.47 km2)
 • Land0.95 sq mi (2.47 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
4,091 ft (1,247 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total1,650
 • Density1,736.84/sq mi (668.02/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP code
59011
Area code(s)406
FIPS code30-06475
GNIS feature ID0802032
Websitewww.cityofbigtimber.com

Big Timber is a city in, and the county seat of Sweet Grass County, Montana, United States.[3] The population was 1,650 at the 2020 census.[2]

Big Timber takes its name from Big Timber Creek, which was named by William Clark because of the large cottonwood trees.[4] The post office was established in 1880, closed, then reopened in 1882 with Ella Burns as postmaster.[5] As a stop on the Northern Pacific Railroad, Big Timber became a major wool-shipping depot. It became the county seat in 1895.[6] A fire in 1908 destroyed half the commercial buildings and a third of the residential homes.[6]

Geography[edit]

Big Timber is located at 45°50′0″N 109°57′1″W / 45.83333°N 109.95028°W / 45.83333; -109.95028 (45.833224, -109.950361).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.95 square miles (2.46 km2), of which 0.92 square miles (2.38 km2) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) is water.[8]

Climate[edit]

Big Timber has a cool semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) bordering on a humid continental climate (Dfb). Although winters can be frigid, frequent chinook winds will raise temperatures above 50 °F or 10 °C on an average twenty days between December and February, and have raised them to or above 68 °F or 20 °C on ten occasions during these months since 1894.[9] The chinooks mean Big Timber's 31.3 days per year failing to top freezing is among the fewest in Montana, with the average window for such maxima being from November 11 to March 18.[9] In the absence of chinooks, temperatures fall to 0 °F or −17.8 °C on seventeen mornings during an average winter, although such temperatures were reached just once in 1999/2000 but as many as thirty-four times during the very cold winters of 1935/1936 and 1978/1979. The average window for zero temperatures is from December 4 to February 25. The coldest temperature in Big Timber has been −47 °F (−43.9 °C) during the notorious 1936 cold wave on February 15, whilst February 1936 was also the coldest month on record at 5.0 °F or −15.0 °C, shading January 1916 which averaged 5.5 °F or −14.7 °C.

Spring is typically windy with temperatures nearly so variable as in winter: the last frost typically arrives on May 19, but temperatures have reached 80 °F or 26.7 °C as early as March 22 of 1928 and have fallen to zero Fahrenheit as late as April 13, 1928 and April 12, 1997. Late in spring thunderstorms increase in frequency and during late spring and early summer these provide most of Big Timber's annual precipitation. The wettest calendar year since 1894 has been 1957 with 25.71 inches (653.0 mm) and the driest 1939 with 9.38 inches (238.3 mm), whilst the wettest single month has been May 1981 with 7.69 inches (195.3 mm)

During the summer, days can be very hot, with maxima of 90 °F or 32.2 °C on 28.5 afternoons and over 100 °F or 37.8 °C on 1.1, although mornings very rarely stay above 65 °F or 18.3 °C. The record hottest temperature is 110 °F (43.3 °C) on July 21, 1931 and the hottest morning 73 °F (22.8 °C) on July 31 of 1936.

The fall season is usually short and variable, with snow occasionally falling in September, but at other times hot weather can extend into October or even November.

Climate data for Big Timber, Montana, 1991-2020 normals, extremes 1894-present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 78
(26) 		72
(22) 		80
(27) 		89
(32) 		97
(36) 		106
(41) 		110
(43) 		107
(42) 		100
(38) 		88
(31) 		78
(26) 		80
(27) 		110
(43)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 56
(13) 		59
(15) 		68
(20) 		77
(25) 		84
(29) 		92
(33) 		98
(37) 		96
(36) 		91
(33) 		80
(27) 		66
(19) 		56
(13) 		98
(37)
Average high °F (°C) 38.1
(3.4) 		40.0
(4.4) 		49.3
(9.6) 		56.8
(13.8) 		66.6
(19.2) 		75.8
(24.3) 		86.2
(30.1) 		84.9
(29.4) 		74.1
(23.4) 		59.0
(15.0) 		45.9
(7.7) 		37.2
(2.9) 		59.5
(15.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 28.8
(−1.8) 		29.8
(−1.2) 		37.7
(3.2) 		44.6
(7.0) 		53.4
(11.9) 		61.9
(16.6) 		69.8
(21.0) 		68.1
(20.1) 		58.8
(14.9) 		46.7
(8.2) 		35.9
(2.2) 		28.4
(−2.0) 		47.0
(8.3)
Average low °F (°C) 19.5
(−6.9) 		19.6
(−6.9) 		26.0
(−3.3) 		32.4
(0.2) 		40.3
(4.6) 		47.9
(8.8) 		53.5
(11.9) 		51.3
(10.7) 		43.4
(6.3) 		34.4
(1.3) 		26.0
(−3.3) 		19.5
(−6.9) 		34.5
(1.4)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −11
(−24) 		−6
(−21) 		2
(−17) 		17
(−8) 		27
(−3) 		37
(3) 		44
(7) 		40
(4) 		30
(−1) 		14
(−10) 		0
(−18) 		−7
(−22) 		−21
(−29)
Record low °F (°C) −36
(−38) 		−47
(−44) 		−32
(−36) 		−10
(−23) 		10
(−12) 		26
(−3) 		33
(1) 		28
(−2) 		12
(−11) 		−14
(−26) 		−29
(−34) 		−38
(−39) 		−47
(−44)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.73
(19) 		0.65
(17) 		0.98
(25) 		2.18
(55) 		3.06
(78) 		2.63
(67) 		1.38
(35) 		0.99
(25) 		1.31
(33) 		1.51
(38) 		0.78
(20) 		0.73
(19) 		16.93
(431)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 7.1
(18) 		10.8
(27) 		9.1
(23) 		3.6
(9.1) 		0.6
(1.5) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.5
(1.3) 		4.8
(12) 		7.9
(20) 		10.2
(26) 		54.6
(137.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 4.7 4.4 6.1 8.6 11.4 10.6 7.5 5.4 6.3 7.2 4.9 4.4 81.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 2.6 3.1 2.1 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.2 2.2 2.4 15.2
Source 1: NOAA [10]
Source 2: National Weather Service [11]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880100—
1890265165.0%
1900850220.8%
19101,02220.2%
19201,28225.4%
19301,224−4.5%
19401,53325.2%
19501,6799.5%
19601,660−1.1%
19701,592−4.1%
19801,6906.2%
19901,557−7.9%
20001,6506.0%
20101,641−0.5%
20201,6500.5%
source:[12]
U.S. Decennial Census[13][2]

2010 census[edit]

As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 1,641 people, 751 households, and 429 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,783.7 inhabitants per square mile (688.7/km2). There were 933 housing units at an average density of 1,014.1 per square mile (391.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.9% White, 0.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 751 households, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.9% were non-families. 38.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.82.

The median age in the city was 45.5 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 25.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

2000 census[edit]

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 1,650 people, 711 households, and 430 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,752.6 people per square mile (677.7/km2). There were 812 housing units at an average density of 862.5 per square mile (333.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.61% White, 0.79% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.70% of the population.

There were 711 households, out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,595, and the median income for a family was $38,869. Males had a median income of $29,000 versus $17,596 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,569. About 9.3% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Infrastructure[edit]

Big Timber Airport is a public use airport located 3 miles southwest of town.

Education[edit]

Sweet Grass County High School provides public high school education in Big Timber.[16] They are known as the Sheepherders.[17]

Carnegie Public Library serves the Big Timber area.[18]

Notable people[edit]

Orvin Fjare

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ French, Brett (June 12, 2008). "Big Timber's Chinatown: Dig reveals a rich cultural past". Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  5. ^ Carkeek Cheney, Roberta (1983). Names on the Face of Montana. Missoula, Montana: Mountain Press Publishing Company. p. 5. ISBN 0-87842-150-5.
  6. ^ a b "Montana Place Names Companion". Montana Historical Society. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  9. ^ a b National Weather Service, Billings, MT; NOW Data
  10. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved on August 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service. Retrieved on August 5, 2022
  12. ^ Moffatt, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850-1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 127.
  13. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  16. ^ "Sweet Grass County High School". Sweet Grass County High School. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Member Schools". Montana High School Association. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Carnegie Public Library". Carnegie Public Library. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  19. ^ "FJARE, Orvin Benonie, (1918 - 2011)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  20. ^ "Montana Governor Judy Martz". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  21. ^ "Bobby Hauck". Gogriz.com. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  22. ^ Jim Robbins (4 January 1994). "Montana town puts out unwelcome mat". High Country News (published January 4, 1994). Retrieved January 27, 2017. Near Big Timber, a tiny ranching town 30 miles east of Livingston, Tom Brokaw, Michael Keaton and Whoopi Goldberg have all dropped anchor. Mel Gibson has a spread a little farther east, near Columbus. Kiefer Sutherland, Emilio Estevez, Joe Montana, Christopher Lloyd, Huey Lewis and Andie McDowall all have homes in western Montana.
  23. ^ http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hal/Langworthy/ps15/ps15_163.html[user-generated source]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Big Timber, Montana.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Big_Timber,_Montana&oldid=1102582139"