Bridger, Montana
Encyclopedia
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
. Residents originally wanted to name the town after George Town one of the original settlers, but Town encouraged residents to name the newly founded town after his old friend Jim Bridger. The Bridger Trail
passes to the southeast of the town of Bridger.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land. The Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone River
runs through the eastern part of the town.
of 2000, there were 745 people, 313 households, and 200 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,175.2 people per square mile (456.6/km²). There were 345 housing units at an average density of 544.2 per square mile (211.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.12% White, 0.40% Native American, 0.13% from other races
, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.62% of the population.
There were 313 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,103, and the median income for a family was $32,981. Males had a median income of $24,063 versus $18,929 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,060. About 10.7% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
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 745 at the 2000 census.
The town of Bridger was named for the scout Jim Bridger
Jim Bridger
James Felix "Jim" Bridger was among the foremost mountain men, trappers, scouts and guides who explored and trapped the Western United States during the decades of 1820-1850, as well as mediating between native tribes and encroaching whites...
. Residents originally wanted to name the town after George Town one of the original settlers, but Town encouraged residents to name the newly founded town after his old friend Jim Bridger. The Bridger Trail
Bridger Trail
The Bridger Trail was an overland route connecting the Oregon Trail to the gold fields of Montana. Gold was discovered in Virginia City, Montana in 1863, prompting settlers and prospectorsto find a trail to travel from central Wyoming to Montana...
passes to the southeast of the town of Bridger.
Geography
Bridger is located at 45°17′40"N 108°54′59"W (45.294337, -108.916421).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 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land. 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...
runs through the eastern 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 745 people, 313 households, and 200 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 1,175.2 people per square mile (456.6/km²). There were 345 housing units at an average density of 544.2 per square mile (211.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.12% White, 0.40% Native American, 0.13% 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 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.62% of the population.
There were 313 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% 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, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,103, and the median income for a family was $32,981. Males had a median income of $24,063 versus $18,929 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 $17,060. About 10.7% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- David Thatcher, a Staff SergeantStaff SergeantStaff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
in the United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and the last survivor of the crew of the "Ruptured Duck" during the Doolittle RaidDoolittle RaidThe Doolittle Raid, on 18 April 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese Home Islands during World War II. By demonstrating that Japan itself was vulnerable to American air attack, it provided a vital morale boost and opportunity for U.S. retaliation after the...
, was born here.