Belfry, Montana
Encyclopedia
Belfry is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Carbon County
, Montana
, United States
. It is part of the Billings, Montana
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 219 at the 2000 census. It is located approximately 11 miles from the Wyoming border, roughly halfway between Billings, Montana and Cody, Wyoming
.
Belfry is predominantly an agricultural community. The primary crops are sugar beets, alfalfa
, and feed corn
. Ranchers raise cattle
and sheep. Water for agricultural
use comes mostly from the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone River
through several cooperative ditch companies, with water rights dating back 100 years or more.
At its peak in the early 1900s, a railway line came into Belfry, with a spur running up to the coal mines in Bearcreek
. When the mines closed down and the railway line was removed, Belfry's population dropped to its current level. Currently, the community has a general store, a bar, a restaurant, and a small bar/restaurant/casino.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land. The Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River
runs just east of the main part of the town.
of 2000, there were 219 people, 98 households, and 53 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 115.1 people per square mile (44.5/km²). There were 119 housing units at an average density of 62.5 per square mile (24.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.63% White, 0.91% Native American, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.83% of the population.
There were 98 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.9% were non-families. 41.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $25,313, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $16,667 versus $15,500 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $13,186. About 16.3% of families and 20.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under the age of eighteen and 11.6% of those sixty five or over.
, Bridger, Montana
, and Clark, Wyoming
. The school mascot is the bat
, and the sports teams are known as the Belfry Bats.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Carbon County
Carbon County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area * Custer National Forest * Gallatin National Forest -Economy:During the early history of Carbon County, coal mining was the predominant industry...
, 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...
. It is part of the Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Billings Metropolitan Area
The Billings Metropolitan Statistical Area is the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Montana. Located in south central portion of the state, its population was 158,050 at the 2010 census....
. The population was 219 at the 2000 census. It is located approximately 11 miles from the Wyoming border, roughly halfway between Billings, Montana and Cody, Wyoming
Cody, Wyoming
Cody is a city in Park County, Wyoming, United States. It is named after William Frederick Cody, primarily known as Buffalo Bill, from William Cody's part in the creation of the original town. The population was 9,520 at the 2010 census...
.
Belfry is predominantly an agricultural community. The primary crops are sugar beets, alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
, and feed corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
. Ranchers raise cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
and sheep. Water for agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
use comes mostly from the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone River
Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately long, in the western United States. Considered the principal tributary of the upper Missouri, the river and its tributaries drain a wide area stretching from the Rocky Mountains in the vicinity of the Yellowstone National...
through several cooperative ditch companies, with water rights dating back 100 years or more.
At its peak in the early 1900s, a railway line came into Belfry, with a spur running up to the coal mines in Bearcreek
Bearcreek, Montana
Bearcreek is a town in Carbon County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Billings, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 83 at the 2000 census.The town of Bearcreek was named for Bear Creek, which runs through the middle of town...
. When the mines closed down and the railway line was removed, Belfry's population dropped to its current level. Currently, the community has a general store, a bar, a restaurant, and a small bar/restaurant/casino.
Geography
Belfry is located at 45°8′29"N 109°0′28"W (45.141506, -109.007779).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 CDP has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land. The Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River
Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately long, in the western United States. Considered the principal tributary of the upper Missouri, the river and its tributaries drain a wide area stretching from the Rocky Mountains in the vicinity of the Yellowstone National...
runs just east of the main part of the town.
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 219 people, 98 households, and 53 families residing in the CDP. 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 115.1 people per square mile (44.5/km²). There were 119 housing units at an average density of 62.5 per square mile (24.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.63% White, 0.91% Native American, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.83% of the population.
There were 98 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% 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, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.9% were non-families. 41.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $25,313, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $16,667 versus $15,500 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 CDP was $13,186. About 16.3% of families and 20.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under the age of eighteen and 11.6% of those sixty five or over.
Schools
Belfry has its own school district, comprising two schools (elementary and high school) in adjoining buildings. Approximately 80 students attend Belfry schools, including children from Bearcreek, MontanaBearcreek, Montana
Bearcreek is a town in Carbon County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Billings, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 83 at the 2000 census.The town of Bearcreek was named for Bear Creek, which runs through the middle of town...
, Bridger, Montana
Bridger, Montana
Bridger is a town in Carbon County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Billings, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 745 at the 2000 census.The town of Bridger was named for the scout Jim Bridger...
, and Clark, Wyoming
Clark, Wyoming
Clark, Wyoming is a small rural community approximately 30 miles north of Cody, WY on Hwy 120, in Park County, Wyoming. Clark is unincorporated, and has no specific central "town site" per se, or town services...
. The school mascot is the bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
, and the sports teams are known as the Belfry Bats.