Sidney, Montana
Encyclopedia
Sidney is a city in and the county seat
of Richland County
, Montana
, United States
, less than 10 mi (16.1 km) away from the North Dakota
border. The population was 5,191 at the 2010 census. The city lies along the Yellowstone River
and is in proximity to the badlands
of the Dakotas. Sidney is approximately midway between Glendive
and Williston, North Dakota
.
was established in 1888. Six year old Sidney Walters and his parents were staying with Hiram Otis, the local justice of the peace
, and Otis decided that Sidney was a good name for the town. The following year, Montana
became a state and Sidney was incorporated in 1911. http://www.sidneymt.com/history.htm
Sidney was originally part of Dawson County
, but became the county seat of Richland County at its inception in 1914.
Agriculture became an important part of the region after the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project was completed in 1909. A dam was built on the river south of Glendive
, which diverted water from the river into a 115.2 km (71.6 mi) main canal, which runs north-south, parallel to the Yellowstone, irrigating land from Glendive north up to Fairview
, where it dumps into the Missouri River
. This project irrigates 51429 acres (208.1 km²) and serves water to 450 farms, according to the manager of the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Districts.
The area experienced an oil boom and bust in the late 1970s and early 1980s, bringing an influx of people to the town for a short period of time. At the turn of the century, the town started experiencing another surge in oil exploration activity.
The MonDak Heritage Center can trace its origins in Sidney back to 1967. It focuses on the history of Montana, North Dakota
, and South Dakota
and features artwork by western artists such as J. K. Ralston
.
s, and Sidney is home to a sugar beet factory, built in 1925. The factory is the largest employer in the city, next to the Sidney Health Center and Sidney Public Schools. The town is served by Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport
, one mile (1.6 km) west of the central business district.
The city has two community newspapers, The Sidney Herald and The Roundup.
, a 6-8 junior high school, and a 9-12 senior high school
. There are no institutions of higher education
located within the city, however, and Williston State College
in North Dakota
is within commuting distance. MSU-Billings offers courses through telecommunication
, and Sidney High School has a variety of adult education classes each year.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
Sidney is 270 miles (434.5 km) northeast of Billings
, and 190 miles (305.8 km) south of Regina
, Saskatchewan
.
Sidney experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen
BSk) with long, cold, dry winters and hot, wetter summers.
of 2000, there were 4,774 people, 2,006 households, and 1,271 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,125.3 people per square mile (819.2/km²). There were 2,393 housing units at an average density of 1,065.3 per square mile (410.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.81% White, 0.10% African American, 1.89% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 1.01% from other races
, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.43% of the population.
There were 2,006 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,109, and the median income for a family was $38,992. Males had a median income of $30,347 versus $18,517 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,911. About 8.5% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 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 Richland County
Richland County, Montana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,667 people, 3,878 households, and 2,652 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were 4,557 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
, 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...
, less than 10 mi (16.1 km) away from the North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
border. The population was 5,191 at the 2010 census. The city lies along 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...
and is in proximity to the badlands
Badlands
A badlands is a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. It can resemble malpaís, a terrain of volcanic rock. Canyons, ravines, gullies, hoodoos and other such geological forms are common in badlands. They are often...
of the Dakotas. Sidney is approximately midway between Glendive
Glendive, Montana
Glendive is a city in and the county seat of Dawson County, Montana, United States. The population was 4,935 at the 2010 census.The town of Glendive is located in South Eastern Montana and is considered by many as an agricultural hub of Eastern Montana...
and Williston, North Dakota
Williston, North Dakota
-Demographics:Preliminary data from a 2010 housing study indicates that population has grown by nearly 22 percent over the past decade; the actual increase might be much higher. Williston is in western North Dakota's booming oil patch, and adequate, affordable housing has become a concern. The...
.
History
Settlers began arriving in the area in the 1870s, and a post officePost office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
was established in 1888. Six year old Sidney Walters and his parents were staying with Hiram Otis, the local justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, and Otis decided that Sidney was a good name for the town. The following year, 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,...
became a state and Sidney was incorporated in 1911. http://www.sidneymt.com/history.htm
Sidney was originally part of Dawson County
Dawson County, Montana
-Economy:Dawson County is known for its dryland grain, coal mines and gas and oil wells. There are 522 current farms and ranches, and 296 commercial businesses.-Demographics:...
, but became the county seat of Richland County at its inception in 1914.
Agriculture became an important part of the region after the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project was completed in 1909. A dam was built on the river south of Glendive
Glendive, Montana
Glendive is a city in and the county seat of Dawson County, Montana, United States. The population was 4,935 at the 2010 census.The town of Glendive is located in South Eastern Montana and is considered by many as an agricultural hub of Eastern Montana...
, which diverted water from the river into a 115.2 km (71.6 mi) main canal, which runs north-south, parallel to the Yellowstone, irrigating land from Glendive north up to Fairview
Fairview, Montana
As of the census of 2000, there were 709 people, 310 households, and 184 families residing in the town. The population density was 736.4 people per square mile . There were 390 housing units at an average density of 405.1 per square mile . The racial makeup of the town was 96.47% White, 0.85%...
, where it dumps into the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
. This project irrigates 51429 acres (208.1 km²) and serves water to 450 farms, according to the manager of the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Districts.
The area experienced an oil boom and bust in the late 1970s and early 1980s, bringing an influx of people to the town for a short period of time. At the turn of the century, the town started experiencing another surge in oil exploration activity.
The MonDak Heritage Center can trace its origins in Sidney back to 1967. It focuses on the history of Montana, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, and South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
and features artwork by western artists such as J. K. Ralston
J. K. Ralston
James Kenneth "J.K." Ralston was an American painter of the Old American West whose primary topics were the American West and images of cowboys and American Indians. He also did commercial artwork....
.
Economy
Sidney relies heavily on farming, ranching, and oil production for economic stability. The surrounding countryside is populated with many farms and cattle ranches, plus oil exploration activity. The area's main cash crop are sugar beetSugar beet
Sugar beet, a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose tuber contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. Sugar beets and other B...
s, and Sidney is home to a sugar beet factory, built in 1925. The factory is the largest employer in the city, next to the Sidney Health Center and Sidney Public Schools. The town is served by Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport
Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport
Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport is a public use airport located one nautical mile west of the central business district of Sidney, a city in Richland County, Montana, United States. It is owned by the Sidney Richland Airport Authority...
, one mile (1.6 km) west of the central business district.
The city has two community newspapers, The Sidney Herald and The Roundup.
Education
Sidney has three public schools; one K-5 elementary schoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
, a 6-8 junior high school, and a 9-12 senior high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. There are no institutions of higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
located within the city, however, and Williston State College
Williston State College
Williston State College is a two-year public college in Williston, North Dakota, part of the North Dakota University System. Founded in 1957, WSC provides general, vocational, and technical education. For most of its history the college has worked in close connection with the University of North...
in North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
is within commuting distance. MSU-Billings offers courses through telecommunication
Telecommunication
Telecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded...
, and Sidney High School has a variety of adult education classes each year.
Geography
Sidney is located in the northeastern part of the state at 47°42′45"N 104°9′41"W (47.712519, -104.161486), at an altitude of 1,949 feet (594 m).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 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
Sidney is 270 miles (434.5 km) northeast of Billings
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...
, and 190 miles (305.8 km) south of Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
.
Sidney experiences a semi-arid climate (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...
BSk) with long, cold, dry winters and hot, wetter summers.
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 4,774 people, 2,006 households, and 1,271 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 2,125.3 people per square mile (819.2/km²). There were 2,393 housing units at an average density of 1,065.3 per square mile (410.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.81% White, 0.10% African American, 1.89% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 1.01% 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 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.43% of the population.
There were 2,006 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% 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 36.6% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,109, and the median income for a family was $38,992. Males had a median income of $30,347 versus $18,517 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 $16,911. About 8.5% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
Radio
- KEYZKEYZKEYZ is a local radio station in Williston, North Dakota. The station broadcasts news and information, as well as country music 24 hours a day. KEYZ has a 5000 watt powerhouse signal that covers 20+ counties and 2 Canadian provinces....
AM 660 - KGCXKGCXKGCX is a radio station licensed to serve Sidney, Montana. The station is owned by the Marks Radio Group. It airs a Classic rock music format.The KGCX studios are at 213 2nd Ave SW in Sidney....
FM 93.1 - KTHCKTHCKTHC is a radio station licensed to Sidney, Montana, and serving northeast Montana and northwest North Dakota including the cities of Sidney, Montana and Williston, North Dakota. The station, also known as "Power 95.1," has a 24 hour Hot AC format....
FM 95.1 - KYYZKYYZKYYZ is a radio station broadcasting a New Country format. Licensed to Williston, North Dakota, USA. The station is currently owned by Ccr-Williston Iv, LLC....
FM 96.1 - KDSRKDSRKDSR is a radio station licensed to serve Williston, North Dakota. The station is owned by Marks Radio Group, and licensed to Williston Community Broadcasting Corp....
FM 101.1
Notable residents
- Brandon Eggum, born and raised in Sidney, won the 2001 World Freestyle Championships silver medalist at 85 kg/187.25 pounds.Bio: Brandon Eggum
- Marjorie Edmondson, 1956 Miss MontanaMiss MontanaThe Miss Montana competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Montana in the Miss America pageant.- Winners :-External links:*...
who was disqualified due to her being married. - Florrie FisherFlorrie FisherFlorence "Florrie" Fisher was an American motivational speaker in the 1960s and 1970s who traveled to high schools in the United States, telling stories about her past as a heroin addict and prostitute...
, former drug addict and motivational speaker, retired to Sidney. - Donald NutterDonald Grant NutterDonald Grant Nutter was an American politician. A recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross in World War II, Nutter served in the state senate and as the chair of the state Republican Party prior to being elected the 15th Governor of Montana in 1960...
, former Governor of Montana (1961–62), grew up here. - Clyde LambClyde LambClyde William Lamb was an artist and cartoonist whose gag cartoons, signed Clyde Lamb, were published in leading magazines of the 1940s and 1950s. He also drew a syndicated comic strip during the 1950s....
, gag cartoonist and syndicated comic strip artist, born in Sidney.