Townsend, Montana
Encyclopedia
Townsend is a city in and the county seat
of Broadwater County
, Montana
, United States
. The population was 1,867 at the 2000 census.
Situated at approximately 3800 feet above sea level. Located approximately 35 miles from Helena, the state capitol and 35 miles from the convergence of the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers which form the headwaters of the Missouri River. Nicknamed "the first city on the Missouri River" Townsend sits nearby the southern tip of Canyon Ferry Lake (a part of, and fed by, the Missouri River) a popular recreation destination and Montana's third largest body of water.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,867 people, 786 households, and 507 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,176.2 people per square mile (453.4/km²). There were 847 housing units at an average density of 533.6 per square mile (205.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.59% White, 0.11% African American, 1.39% Native American, 0.43% from other races
, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population.
There were 786 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,820, and the median income for a family was $32,679. Males had a median income of $26,859 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,674. About 10.1% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
BSk) with cold, dry winters and hot, 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 Broadwater County
Broadwater County, Montana
-Economy:Agriculture is one of the primary industries in Broadwater County. RY Timber and Wheat Montana Bakery were the largest private employers according to the 2000 Census.-Demographics:...
, 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 1,867 at the 2000 census.
History
Lewis and Clark passed through on the voyage of discovery in 1805, although the first white settlers, homesteaders and Civil War veterans in search of gold, did not arrive until the late 1860s. In 1883, a railstop was established as businesses became established supporting gold mining in the region. Townsend was named by railroad officials, in honor of the wife of Charles Barstow Wright, president of the Northern Pacific (1875–1879).Geography
Townsend is located at 46°19′13"N 111°31′4"W (46.320218, -111.517642).Situated at approximately 3800 feet above sea level. Located approximately 35 miles from Helena, the state capitol and 35 miles from the convergence of the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers which form the headwaters of the Missouri River. Nicknamed "the first city on the Missouri River" Townsend sits nearby the southern tip of Canyon Ferry Lake (a part of, and fed by, the Missouri River) a popular recreation destination and Montana's third largest body of water.
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 1.6 square miles (4.1 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 1,867 people, 786 households, and 507 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 1,176.2 people per square mile (453.4/km²). There were 847 housing units at an average density of 533.6 per square mile (205.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.59% White, 0.11% African American, 1.39% Native American, 0.43% 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 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population.
There were 786 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% 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, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,820, and the median income for a family was $32,679. Males had a median income of $26,859 versus $19,375 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 $13,674. About 10.1% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
Climate
Townsend 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 cold, dry winters and hot, wetter summers.
Notable residents
- Patrick DuffyPatrick DuffyPatrick George Duffy is an American character actor of stage and film. He is best known for his role on the CBS television drama Dallas, where he played Bobby Ewing from 1978 to 1985 and from 1986 to 1991, Duffy returns to reprise his role as Bobby in a new up-to-date Dallas currently scheduled to...
- Actor who played Bobby Ewing in Dallas (TV series)Dallas (TV series)Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing...
and was also in Step By Step, was born here.