Lewistown, Montana
Encyclopedia
Lewistown is a city in and the county seat
of Fergus County
, Montana
, United States
. The population was 5,813 at the 2000 census. Lewistown is located in central Montana, the geographic center of the state, southeast of Great Falls
. First planned in 1882, it was the site of an 1880s gold rush
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land.
The city is located in the exact center of the state of Montana and is part of the Rocky Mountains. The city's water source is Big Spring Creek which originates in the Big Snowy Mountains located south of Lewistown.
s. In 1874, the Military base
Fort Lewis was established there by the Company "F" of the 7th U.S. Infantry to provide military protection for people traveling on the Carroll Trail, the then shortest route between Carroll, Montana and Helena, Montana
. Lewistown is named after this fort.
The first permanent settlers of Lewistown were Métis. With them came Francis A. Janeaux, the founder of Lewistown. He founded the first public school house in 1883. This date is considered the official "founding" of Lewistown.
Lewistown was also the site of a gold rush
when gold
was discovered in the nearby Judith Mountains
in 1880. Before the gold rush, Maiden was the largest city in central Montana
. When the gold supply ran out, many of the miners gained new employment in Lewistown and settled there permanently.
of 2000, there were 5,813 people, 2,594 households, and 1,507 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,055.3 people per square mile (1,181.3/km²). There were 2,868 housing units at an average density of 1,507.4 per square mile (582.8/km²).
The racial makeup of the city was 96.53% White, 0.07% African American, 1.41% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.14% from other races
, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.
There were 2,594 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 37.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,949, and the median income for a family was $36,888. Males had a median income of $30,231 versus $20,019 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,817. About 9.0% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
(Köppen
Dfb) with long, cold, dry winters and short, warm, wetter summers.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Fergus County
Fergus County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge * Lewis and Clark National Forest * Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument -Demographics:...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,813 at the 2000 census. Lewistown is located in central Montana, the geographic center of the state, southeast of Great Falls
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
. First planned in 1882, it was the site of an 1880s gold rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
.
Geography
Lewistown is located at 47°3′53"N 109°25′48"W (47.064615, -109.429882).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land.
The city is located in the exact center of the state of Montana and is part of the Rocky Mountains. The city's water source is Big Spring Creek which originates in the Big Snowy Mountains located south of Lewistown.
History
The area that is now Lewistown was once the territory of the Blackfoot Native AmericanIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
s. In 1874, the Military base
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
Fort Lewis was established there by the Company "F" of the 7th U.S. Infantry to provide military protection for people traveling on the Carroll Trail, the then shortest route between Carroll, Montana and Helena, Montana
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
. Lewistown is named after this fort.
The first permanent settlers of Lewistown were Métis. With them came Francis A. Janeaux, the founder of Lewistown. He founded the first public school house in 1883. This date is considered the official "founding" of Lewistown.
Lewistown was also the site of a gold rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
when gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
was discovered in the nearby Judith Mountains
Judith Mountains
The Judith Mountains are located in the north central area in the U.S. State of MontanaJudith Peak is the highest summit of this range, with an elevation of 6,428 feet....
in 1880. Before the gold rush, Maiden was the largest city in central Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. When the gold supply ran out, many of the miners gained new employment in Lewistown and settled there permanently.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,813 people, 2,594 households, and 1,507 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,055.3 people per square mile (1,181.3/km²). There were 2,868 housing units at an average density of 1,507.4 per square mile (582.8/km²).
The racial makeup of the city was 96.53% White, 0.07% African American, 1.41% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.14% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.
There were 2,594 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 37.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,949, and the median income for a family was $36,888. Males had a median income of $30,231 versus $20,019 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,817. About 9.0% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Loren ActonLoren ActonLoren Wilber Acton is an American physicist who flew on Space Shuttle mission STS-51-F as a Payload Specialist for the Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory.Acton was born in Lewistown, Montana...
— Astronaut and physicist born here. - Roy E. AyersRoy E. AyersRoy Elmer Ayers was a U.S. Democratic politician.He was born on a ranch near Lewistown, Montana; attended the rural schools and Lewistown High School; was graduated from the law department of Valparaiso University in 1903; was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Lewistown;...
, Governor of and United States Congressman from Montana. - Walter A. CosletWalter A. CosletWalter Allen Coslet was a well known science fiction fan, collector, and fanzine publisher as well as a charter member of the International Society of Bible Collectors, writing many articles for the society's publications...
— Figure in science fiction fandomScience fiction fandomScience fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
and Bible collecting was born here. - Alma Smith JacobsAlma Smith JacobsAlma Smith Jacobs was the first African American to serve as Montana State Librarian. She served as Head Librarian at the Great Falls Public Library from 1954–1973, and in 1973 was named Montana State Librarian, serving until 1981.[1]Alma Smith was born in Lewistown, Montana, the daughter of...
- first African American Montana State Librarian - Ed McGivernEd McGivernEdward McGivern from Lewistown, Montana, was a famous exhibition shooter, shooting instructor and author of the book Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting...
(1874–1957) a famous exhibition shooter, shooting instructor and author of the book Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting was born here. - Bobby PetrinoBobby PetrinoBobby Petrino is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arkansas, a position he has held since the 2008 season...
— Current head footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach of the University of ArkansasUniversity of ArkansasThe University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
. Born here; raised in HelenaHelena, MontanaHelena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
. - Rick RydellRick RydellRick Rydell is an American talk radio host, outdoorsman, writer and author. Rydell has enjoyed a long career in radio, most prominently with various stations in Anchorage, Alaska...
- radio talk showhost and outdoors authorAuthorAn author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
worked at the local radio stations here. - Tom StoutTom StoutTom Stout was a U.S. Representative from Montana.Born in New London, Missouri, Stout attended the common schools, Warrenburg State Normal School, and the University of Missouri.He taught school.He studied law....
- United States Congressman from Montana. - Roger YouderianRoger YouderianRoger Youderian was an Armenian-American evangelical Christian missionary to Ecuador who, along with four others, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Huaorani people through efforts known as Operation Auca....
— Christian martyrChristian martyrsA Christian martyr is one who is killed for following Christianity, through stoning, crucifixion, burning at the stake or other forms of torture and capital punishment. The word "martyr" comes from the Greek word μάρτυς, mártys, which means "witness."...
, was raised here.
Climate
Lewistown experiences a dry continental climateHumid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
(Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dfb) with long, cold, dry winters and short, warm, wetter summers.