Cut Bank, Montana
Encyclopedia
Cut Bank is a city in and the county seat
of Glacier County
, Montana
, United States
located just east-south-east of the "cut bank" (gorge) geographical feature which formed canyon-like along the eponymously named Cut Bank Creek
river. The population was 3,105 at the 2000 census
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
The city is located 30 miles south of the Canadian
border. The name of the city comes from the Cut Bank (gorge) a scenic hazard to navigation and geologic feature of the same name. The Cut Bank Creek
river is spanned cliffs to cliffs by a scenic elevated railway bridge high above the canyon floor less than a mile from the edge of the town.
of 2000, there were 3,105 people, 1,264 households, and 807 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,156.7 people per square mile (1,223.3/km2). There were 1,492 housing units at an average density of 1,516.8 per square mile (587.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.54% White, 0.03% African American, 13.53% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races
, and 3.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.
There were 1,264 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,885, and the median income for a family was $41,156. Males had a median income of $30,889 versus $21,193 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,977. About 9.9% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.
's Empire Builder
long-distance train on its route from Chicago
to Seattle. There is one eastbound and one westbound train per day.
A train of the same name served the city under Amtrak predecessor the Great Northern Railway. The city, in conjunction with Amtrak and current track owner BNSF Railway
, recently repainted their historic train station
into the traditional Great Northern depot colors.
The city contains an important railroad freight yard operated by the BNSF.
or Rocky Mountain Trail ended its 800 mile path in Cut Bank. Starting from Fort Smith, Arkansas
, this trail was carved by thousands of Cherokee
miners in the 1850s and 1860s, who sought gold mining rushes
in Colorado
, Wyoming
and California
On July 26, 1806, Captain Meriwether Lewis with George Drewyer (Drouillard), Joseph Fields and Reuben Fields camped with a party of eight young Blackfeet Indians. At first the meeting was cordial, but the encounter turned hostile when Lewis disclosed to the Blackfeet that the United States government had plans to supply all the Plains Indians with firearms for hunting. This was not good news for the Blackfeet, who until that point had controlled firearms through trade relations with the Hudson's Bay Company.
The Blackfeet decided to make off with the party’s guns and horses leaving them on foot. At this point, this was the only armed encounter with Indians during the entire expedition. Two of the young Blackfeet were killed in this fight over horses and guns.
This actual site wasn’t discovered until 1964 by two Cut Bank Boy Scout leaders,who used the directions and descriptions contained in Lewis’ journal. The "three solitary trees" described by Lewis in his journal still stood in the place Lewis depicted. The site has been marked and fenced by the local Boy Scouts.
Captain Meriwether Lewis followed the north branch of the Marias River, now known as the Cut Bank Creek and camped south and east of Cut Bank on Monday, July 21, 1806.
There wasn’t any timber to be found to build a fire so buffalo chips were used. The company was nearly out of provisions. They wounded a buffalo, but were unable to retrieve it. The following day, the group proceeded on to Camp Disappointment
.
BSk) 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 Glacier County
Glacier County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Glacier National Park * Lewis and Clark National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 13,247 people, 4,304 households, and 3,245 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 5,243 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...
located just east-south-east of the "cut bank" (gorge) geographical feature which formed canyon-like along the eponymously named Cut Bank Creek
Cut Bank Creek
Cut Bank Creek is a tributary of the Marias River in the Missouri river basin watershed, approximately 75 mi long, in northwestern Montana in the United States, which having deeply eroded steep cliff banks eponymously gives name to the cut bank formal terrain term of geological science.It...
river. The population was 3,105 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...
.
Geography
Cut Bank is located at 48°38′5"N 112°19′52"W (48.634801, −112.331090).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 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
The city is located 30 miles south of the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
border. The name of the city comes from the Cut Bank (gorge) a scenic hazard to navigation and geologic feature of the same name. The Cut Bank Creek
Cut Bank Creek
Cut Bank Creek is a tributary of the Marias River in the Missouri river basin watershed, approximately 75 mi long, in northwestern Montana in the United States, which having deeply eroded steep cliff banks eponymously gives name to the cut bank formal terrain term of geological science.It...
river is spanned cliffs to cliffs by a scenic elevated railway bridge high above the canyon floor less than a mile from the edge 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 3,105 people, 1,264 households, and 807 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 3,156.7 people per square mile (1,223.3/km2). There were 1,492 housing units at an average density of 1,516.8 per square mile (587.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.54% White, 0.03% African American, 13.53% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 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 3.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.
There were 1,264 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% 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, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,885, and the median income for a family was $41,156. Males had a median income of $30,889 versus $21,193 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 $15,977. About 9.9% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Cut Bank is served by AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Empire Builder
Empire Builder
The Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before...
long-distance train on its route from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to Seattle. There is one eastbound and one westbound train per day.
A train of the same name served the city under Amtrak predecessor the Great Northern Railway. The city, in conjunction with Amtrak and current track owner BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
, recently repainted their historic train station
Cut Bank (Amtrak station)
Cut Bank, Montana is a station stop for the Amtrak Empire Builder in Cut Bank, Montana and an important regional railway freight yard for the BNSF Railway—which operates no less than three grain collection elevators in the yard collecting grains from the western great plains region...
into the traditional Great Northern depot colors.
The city contains an important railroad freight yard operated by the BNSF.
Notable residents
- Gerard JonesGerard JonesFor the entrepreneur see Gérard Jones.Gerard Jones is an award-winning American author and comic book writer.-Biography:Jones was born in Cut Bank, Montana, and raised in Los Gatos and Gilroy, California...
- Comic book writer, was born here, but raised elsewhere. - James C. NelsonJames C. NelsonJames C. Nelson is a Justice of the Montana Supreme Court, having appointed to the Court by Republican Governor Marc Racicot in May 1993.-Education and early career:...
- Montana Supreme Court Justice
Historical relics
The Cherokee TrailCherokee Trail
The Cherokee Trail was a historic overland trail through the present-day U.S. states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming that was used from the late 1840s up through the early 1890s. The route was established in 1849 by a wagon train headed to the gold fields in California...
or Rocky Mountain Trail ended its 800 mile path in Cut Bank. Starting from Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
, this trail was carved by thousands of Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
miners in the 1850s and 1860s, who sought gold mining rushes
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...
in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
On July 26, 1806, Captain Meriwether Lewis with George Drewyer (Drouillard), Joseph Fields and Reuben Fields camped with a party of eight young Blackfeet Indians. At first the meeting was cordial, but the encounter turned hostile when Lewis disclosed to the Blackfeet that the United States government had plans to supply all the Plains Indians with firearms for hunting. This was not good news for the Blackfeet, who until that point had controlled firearms through trade relations with the Hudson's Bay Company.
The Blackfeet decided to make off with the party’s guns and horses leaving them on foot. At this point, this was the only armed encounter with Indians during the entire expedition. Two of the young Blackfeet were killed in this fight over horses and guns.
This actual site wasn’t discovered until 1964 by two Cut Bank Boy Scout leaders,who used the directions and descriptions contained in Lewis’ journal. The "three solitary trees" described by Lewis in his journal still stood in the place Lewis depicted. The site has been marked and fenced by the local Boy Scouts.
Captain Meriwether Lewis followed the north branch of the Marias River, now known as the Cut Bank Creek and camped south and east of Cut Bank on Monday, July 21, 1806.
There wasn’t any timber to be found to build a fire so buffalo chips were used. The company was nearly out of provisions. They wounded a buffalo, but were unable to retrieve it. The following day, the group proceeded on to Camp Disappointment
Camp Disappointment
Camp Disappointment is the northernmost campsite of the Lewis and Clark expedition, on its return trip from Washington.It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966....
.
Climate
Cut Bank experiences a semi-arid climate (KöppenKöppen 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...
BSk) with long, cold, dry winters and short, warm, wetter summers.
External links
- City of Cut Bank
- Cut Bank at WikitravelWikitravel-External links:* *...