Winnett, Montana
Encyclopedia
Winnett is a town in and the county seat
of Petroleum County
, Montana
, United States
. The population was 185 at the 2000 census
. Winnett was named for Walter John Winnett, who was born in the Crytal Palace—now Queen's Hotel—in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Winnett ran away from home as a boy, seeking adventure in "Indian country." His excellent marksmanship abilities helped him get jobs with outfits who were always looking for someone who could keep them in fresh meat. When he was captured by Sioux Indians and later adopted into the tribe, he was given the name Eagle Eyes because of his remarkable shooting skills.
Winnett established a ranch in Montana Territory in 1879 near an active trading post and the Hangman's Tree used by vigilantes in the area. The massive ranch house, which he built in 1900 housed his own family and served as a gathering place for the community. Dances, weddings, funerals, church services, and school were all held here. Billings was the closest town, so Winnett built up a freight line business to haul supplies. Each of his outfits consisted of ten to twenty horses and huge wagons. In 1910 he built a store and petitioned for a post office—and with that, Winnett became an official town. (from Cheney's Names on the Face of Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company)
His father, Henry (William Albert) Winnett was one of the finest hoteliers in Canada owning many well regarded and established hotels.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 185 people, 87 households, and 52 families residing in the town. The population density
was 190.4 people per square mile (73.6/km²). There were 124 housing units at an average density of 127.6 per square mile (49.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.46% White, and 0.54% from two or more races.
There were 87 households out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 36.8% 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 2.13 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $17,361, and the median income for a family was $26,875. Males had a median income of $21,667 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $10,892. About 23.1% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.5% of those under the age of eighteen and 6.8% of those sixty five or over.
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 Petroleum County
Petroleum County, Montana
-National protected areas:*Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge *War Horse National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 493 people, 211 households and 136 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.29 per square mile . There were 292 housing units...
, 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 185 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. Winnett was named for Walter John Winnett, who was born in the Crytal Palace—now Queen's Hotel—in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Winnett ran away from home as a boy, seeking adventure in "Indian country." His excellent marksmanship abilities helped him get jobs with outfits who were always looking for someone who could keep them in fresh meat. When he was captured by Sioux Indians and later adopted into the tribe, he was given the name Eagle Eyes because of his remarkable shooting skills.
Winnett established a ranch in Montana Territory in 1879 near an active trading post and the Hangman's Tree used by vigilantes in the area. The massive ranch house, which he built in 1900 housed his own family and served as a gathering place for the community. Dances, weddings, funerals, church services, and school were all held here. Billings was the closest town, so Winnett built up a freight line business to haul supplies. Each of his outfits consisted of ten to twenty horses and huge wagons. In 1910 he built a store and petitioned for a post office—and with that, Winnett became an official town. (from Cheney's Names on the Face of Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company)
His father, Henry (William Albert) Winnett was one of the finest hoteliers in Canada owning many well regarded and established hotels.
Geography
Winnett is located at 47°0′16"N 108°21′4"W (47.004381, -108.351052).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 town has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
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 185 people, 87 households, and 52 families residing in the town. 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 190.4 people per square mile (73.6/km²). There were 124 housing units at an average density of 127.6 per square mile (49.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.46% White, and 0.54% from two or more races.
There were 87 households out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% 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, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 36.8% 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 2.13 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $17,361, and the median income for a family was $26,875. Males had a median income of $21,667 versus $16,250 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 town was $10,892. About 23.1% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.5% of those under the age of eighteen and 6.8% of those sixty five or over.