Hardin, Montana

Hardin He'konemâhoeve'ho'eno [1]
City
Former train depot, originally from Lodge Grass, now featured among other buildings at the Big Horn County Historical Museum in Hardin.
Motto:  A city with a reason. . .
Location of Hardin, Montana
Coordinates: 45°43′55″N107°36′45″W / 45.73194°N 107.61250°W / 45.73194; -107.61250
Country	United States
State	Montana
County	Big Horn
Government
• Mayor	Joe Purcell
Area [2]
• Total	2.97 sq mi (7.70 km2)
• Land	2.97 sq mi (7.70 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [3]	2,907 ft (886 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,818
• Density	1,284.22/sq mi (495.78/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code	59034
Area code	406
FIPS code	30-34225
GNIS feature ID	0772140 [3]
Website	www.hardinmt.com

Hardin is a city in and the county seat of Big Horn County, Montana, United States. ^[4] The population was 3,818 at the 2020 census. ^[5]

It is located just north of the Crow Indian Reservation.

History

The city was named for Samuel Hardin, a friend of developer Charles Henry Morrill. ^[6] It was incorporated in 1911. ^[7] Thomas D. Campbell operated the nation's largest wheat farm on 95,000 acres near here and pioneered the use of industrial machinery in farming. ^[7] The Holly Sugar Company established a sugar beet–processing plant in Hardin in 1937. ^[7]

Geography

Hardin is located at 45°43′55″N107°36′45″W / 45.73194°N 107.61250°W / 45.73194; -107.61250 (45.731824, -107.612542). ^[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.57 square miles (6.66 km²), all land. ^[9]

The Little Bighorn River empties into the Bighorn River near the town.

Economy

Hardin hosts a bitcoin mining facility by Marathon Patent Group, according to a press release by the company. ^[10]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	1,312		—
1930	1,169		−10.9%
1940	1,886		61.3%
1950	2,306		22.3%
1960	2,789		20.9%
1970	2,733		−2.0%
1980	3,300		20.7%
1990	2,940		−10.9%
2000	3,384		15.1%
2010	3,505		3.6%
2020	3,818		8.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [11] [5]

2010 census

As of the census ^[12] of 2010, there were 3,505 people, 1,301 households, and 850 families living in the city. The population density was 1,363.8 inhabitants per square mile (526.6/km²). There were 1,401 housing units at an average density of 545.1 per square mile (210.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.8% White, 0.7% African American, 40.8% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.2% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.1% of the population.

There were 1,301 households, of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.7% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.29.

The median age in the city was 33.2 years. 29.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.7% were from 45 to 64; and 13.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[13] of 2000, there were 3,384 people, 1,295 households, and 868 families living in the city. The population density was 2,415.5 inhabitants per square mile (932.6/km²). There were 1,411 housing units at an average density of 1,007.2 per square mile (388.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.26% White, 0.12% African American, 31.59% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 1.03% from other races, and 4.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.53% of the population.

There were 1,295 households, out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,018, and the median income for a family was $33,729. Males had a median income of $28,493 versus $19,444 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,041. About 17.2% of families and 23.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.1% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.

Events

The Hardin Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture conducts the annual Little Big Horn Days festival in the 3rd weekend in June, including the Custer's Last Stand Reenactment.

Jail

Main article: Two Rivers Detention Facility

In 2004–05, a consortium including architectural, bond sellers and contractors located in Texas, promoting the construction of speculative prison and jail ventures ^[14] convinced Hardin's industrial development authority to float a $27 million bond issuance to build the Two Rivers Detention Facility. It was designed for 464 inmates, and was to be located on a 40-acre (160,000 m²) sugar beet field. The facility was slated to open in July 2007 but the state of Montana would not approve it. ^[15] The Authority bonds defaulted on May 1, 2008. ^{[16] [17]} The consortium's contract terminated in January 2009 without any prisoners ever being housed in the jail. ^{[18] [19]}

In November 2009 the Two Rivers Board hired its fifth director. A reserve fund of $814,000 was earmarked to maintain the building for possible future use. ^[20] It remained complete and vacant for over seven years, though it was partially filled for 18 months. By February 2016, empty once again, it had cost the city $582,595 paid to Two Rivers to maintain it since 2004. ^[21] Due to unpaid interest on the defaulted bonds, its estimated indebtedness had increased to over $40 million by December 2015. ^[22]

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Hardin has a cold semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

Climate data for Hardin, Montana, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	70 (21)	74 (23)	84 (29)	96 (36)	97 (36)	106 (41)	112 (44)	109 (43)	104 (40)	94 (34)	81 (27)	72 (22)	112 (44)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	56.7 (13.7)	60.8 (16.0)	72.6 (22.6)	82.3 (27.9)	88.2 (31.2)	97.0 (36.1)	101.7 (38.7)	100.7 (38.2)	95.9 (35.5)	83.6 (28.7)	69.1 (20.6)	58.9 (14.9)	103.0 (39.4)
Average high °F (°C)	36.4 (2.4)	41.1 (5.1)	52.8 (11.6)	62.1 (16.7)	71.4 (21.9)	81.0 (27.2)	90.7 (32.6)	89.7 (32.1)	79.1 (26.2)	63.6 (17.6)	48.3 (9.1)	38.0 (3.3)	62.9 (17.2)
Daily mean °F (°C)	23.7 (−4.6)	27.8 (−2.3)	37.9 (3.3)	47.0 (8.3)	56.3 (13.5)	65.3 (18.5)	73.1 (22.8)	71.5 (21.9)	61.6 (16.4)	48.2 (9.0)	34.9 (1.6)	25.5 (−3.6)	47.7 (8.7)
Average low °F (°C)	10.9 (−11.7)	14.5 (−9.7)	23.1 (−4.9)	31.8 (−0.1)	41.2 (5.1)	49.7 (9.8)	55.5 (13.1)	53.3 (11.8)	44.1 (6.7)	32.8 (0.4)	21.5 (−5.8)	12.9 (−10.6)	32.6 (0.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−15.7 (−26.5)	−8.7 (−22.6)	1.6 (−16.9)	18.5 (−7.5)	28.9 (−1.7)	39.8 (4.3)	47.5 (8.6)	44.2 (6.8)	32.5 (0.3)	16.0 (−8.9)	−0.4 (−18.0)	−10.2 (−23.4)	−23.4 (−30.8)
Record low °F (°C)	−43 (−42)	−38 (−39)	−31 (−35)	−1 (−18)	15 (−9)	30 (−1)	34 (1)	30 (−1)	15 (−9)	−14 (−26)	−31 (−35)	−47 (−44)	−47 (−44)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.50 (13)	0.55 (14)	0.89 (23)	1.50 (38)	2.52 (64)	1.92 (49)	1.28 (33)	0.86 (22)	1.36 (35)	1.36 (35)	0.52 (13)	0.49 (12)	13.75 (351)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	6.0 (15)	6.2 (16)	3.4 (8.6)	1.3 (3.3)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	1.6 (4.1)	3.1 (7.9)	6.3 (16)	27.9 (70.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	5.2	5.0	5.5	7.0	8.7	8.1	5.4	4.1	5.4	6.6	5.0	4.1	70.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	3.3	3.3	1.8	0.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.6	1.4	2.4	13.4
Source 1: NOAA [23]
Source 2: National Weather Service [24]

Infrastructure

Big Horn County Airport is a public use airport located 3 miles west of town.

Education

The Hardin School Districts serves students from kindergarten to 12th grade. ^[25] Hardin High School's mascot Bulldogs. ^[26]

The Big Horn County Library operates in Hardin. ^[27]

Notable people

• Kroy Biermann - NFL defensive end
• Kendall Cross - Olympic Gold Medalist in Freestyle Wrestling
• Tim Fox - Attorney General of Montana

Media

Radio

• KHDN 1230 (Talk) (silent)
• KRWS-LP 100.7 (Oldies)

Newspapers

• Big Horn County News
• The Original Briefs

References

1. Cheyenne Language Map
2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hardin, Montana
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 2, 2021.
6. "Profile for Hardin, Montana". ePodunk . Retrieved 2010-05-28.
7. "Hardin". Montana Place Names Companion. Montana Historical Society. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-07-02. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
10. "Bitmain Ships 4,000 Antminer S-19 Pro ASIC Miners to Marathon Patent Group". nasdaq.com. Globe Newswire. 2021-02-01.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2012-12-18.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
14. Hodai, Beau (March 3, 2010), "The Rainmakers - Banking on Private Prisons in the Fleecing of Small Town America", In These Times
15. Hardin Has Gitmo Aspirations, 2 May 2009
16. Wyoming Won’t Put Prisoners in Montana Jail
17. Hardin jail hopes to house sex offenders
18. Shay, Becky (May 11, 2009), "Hardin prison drawing media attention from around globe", Billings Gazette , archived from the original on May 14, 2009
19. Dawson, Pat. "The Montana Town That Wanted to Be Gitmo." TIME . Sunday May 3, 2009. Retrieved on May 3, 2009.
20. Hard time in Hardin
21. Regional Hardin Jail Population drops to Zero, Billings Gazette , Matt Hudson, February 4, 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
22. Lacking prisoners Hardin jail closes again, Billings Gazette , Matt Hudson, April 29, 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
23. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
24. "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
25. "Hardin School District 17H & 1". Hardin Public Schools. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
26. "Member Schools". Montana High School Association. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
27. "Library". Big Horn County Montana. Retrieved 12 April 2021.