Neihart, Montana | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 46°55′59″N110°44′12″W / 46.93306°N 110.73667°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Montana |
County | Cascade |
Area | |
• Total | 1.99 sq mi (5.15 km2) |
• Land | 1.99 sq mi (5.15 km2) |
• Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
Elevation | 5,627 ft (1,715 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 43 |
• Density | 21.63/sq mi (8.35/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
ZIP code | 59465 |
Area code | 406 |
FIPS code | 30-53200 |
GNIS feature ID | 0787933 [2] |
Neihart is a town in Cascade County, Montana, United States. [3] It is located in the center of Little Belt Mountains. [4] The population was 43 at the 2020 census. [5] It is part of the Great Falls, Montana, Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The town has a total area of 1.99 square miles (5.15 km2), all land. [6] Its elevation is 5,661 feet (1,725 m). [3] Neihart is on U.S. Route 89, also known as the Kings Hill Scenic Byway. [7] Snow removal crews work throughout the winter to keep the road open. It is the only town between Monarch to the north and White Sulphur Springs to the south. [8] The Lewis and Clark National Forest surrounds the town. [9] The ski area at Showdown, Montana is nearby and takes advantage of the mountainous terrain. [10] Just south of Neihart, Route 89 begins to follow Sawmill Creek. [11] The highway then climbs toward King's Hill, a major pass through the Little Belt Mountains. [11]
The Neihart area is rich in mineral deposits. [8] Gold, lead, sapphires, silver, and zinc have all been discovered and mined in the area. [8] Much of the exposed rock in the area is dated to the Precambrian era, or around or before 542 million BC. [8] Rocks in the area belong to what is known as the Belt Supergroup and rest against granitic gneiss. [12] Amethyst and marine fossils are common in the area. [11] Pinto diorite, a red-and-green spotted diorite, is found in large quantities in the area. [11]
The area is one of only three places in the world where Neihart quartzite (a reddish, coarse-grained sandstone with interbedded dark-green sandstone and shale) may be found. The rock unit was named for the locality. [13]
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Neihart has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps. [14]
Climate data for Neihart, Montana, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1967–2008 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 67 (19) | 64 (18) | 71 (22) | 82 (28) | 86 (30) | 96 (36) | 97 (36) | 97 (36) | 93 (34) | 89 (32) | 73 (23) | 60 (16) | 97 (36) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 37.1 (2.8) | 39.6 (4.2) | 46.5 (8.1) | 54.4 (12.4) | 63.2 (17.3) | 71.4 (21.9) | 81.2 (27.3) | 81.3 (27.4) | 72.0 (22.2) | 57.7 (14.3) | 44.0 (6.7) | 36.8 (2.7) | 57.1 (13.9) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 26.6 (−3.0) | 27.7 (−2.4) | 34.1 (1.2) | 40.9 (4.9) | 49.0 (9.4) | 56.6 (13.7) | 64.1 (17.8) | 64.1 (17.8) | 55.9 (13.3) | 44.8 (7.1) | 33.8 (1.0) | 26.4 (−3.1) | 43.7 (6.5) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 16.2 (−8.8) | 15.9 (−8.9) | 21.7 (−5.7) | 27.3 (−2.6) | 34.8 (1.6) | 41.8 (5.4) | 46.9 (8.3) | 46.9 (8.3) | 39.8 (4.3) | 31.9 (−0.1) | 23.6 (−4.7) | 16.1 (−8.8) | 30.2 (−1.0) |
Record low °F (°C) | −39 (−39) | −46 (−43) | −30 (−34) | −19 (−28) | 11 (−12) | 19 (−7) | 28 (−2) | 27 (−3) | 4 (−16) | −13 (−25) | −26 (−32) | −44 (−42) | −46 (−43) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.93 (24) | 0.63 (16) | 1.56 (40) | 2.05 (52) | 3.56 (90) | 3.68 (93) | 2.30 (58) | 2.07 (53) | 2.00 (51) | 1.54 (39) | 0.83 (21) | 1.02 (26) | 22.17 (563) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 14.3 (36) | 12.6 (32) | 19.0 (48) | 14.9 (38) | 6.7 (17) | 0.4 (1.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | trace | 3.2 (8.1) | 9.6 (24) | 10.4 (26) | 13.8 (35) | 104.9 (265.1) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.2 | 5.2 | 7.9 | 8.6 | 12.1 | 12.5 | 9.2 | 8.9 | 7.7 | 6.8 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 97.2 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 6.0 | 5.3 | 6.9 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 5.0 | 6.1 | 38.0 |
Source 1: NOAA (precip/precip days, snow/snow days 1981–2010) [15] [16] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: XMACIS2 [17] |
On October 20, 1879, [18] E.A. "Buck" Barker and Patrick Hughes, two prospectors, discovered silver ore on Galena Creek in the Little Belt Mountains. [19] The mining towns of Barker, Galena Creek, and Hughesville soon sprang up in the area. [18] [19] Among the many small mining camps which were erected was Jericho, which soon went bust. [20] In July 1881, three prospectors from Barker—James LeRoy Neihart, John O'Brien, and Richard Harley [3] —discovered silver near the present-day town of Neihart [18] and established the Queen of the Mountains Mine. [21] When the news reached Barker, several parties of prospectors headed for the area [22] and established a new mining camp on Belt Creek named Canyon City. [4] Canyon City was later renamed Neihart after the aforementioned James LeRoy Neihart, [22] who was also an uncle of poet John Neihardt. [11] The mining district was never formally organized, but for many years[ specify ] was called the "Montana District". [22] More than 40 mines operated in the area over the next 75 years. [11]
In 1882, the town was large enough for the United States Post Office Department to establish a post office there. [4] A road to White Sulphur Springs was constructed shortly thereafter, although ore was packed out by mule to Barker and smelted there. [4] [22] When the Barker smelter closed in 1883, a new smelter was built close to Neihart at the Mountain Chief Mine in 1885. [23] By this time, the town featured a blacksmith's shop, a boarding house, restaurants, two saloons, and stables. [23] About 50 houses had been built in Neihart, although many residents still lived in tents. [23] From 1882 to 1929, about $16 million in silver was taken out of the area around Neihart. [3] [23] The Galt and Broadwater mines were dug in 1883, and a year later the Ball and Mountain Chief mines were in operation. [24] The M and I, Rochester, and Silver Dyke mines also opened near Neihart. [11] Despite the area's rich ore deposits, investment in mining in the Neihart region remained low due to the expense of ore extraction. [23] [25] In 1887, these early mines largely shut down, as most of the richest and easily accessible veins of ore had been exhausted. [25] By 1890, Neihart was almost deserted.
On November 15, 1891, a spur of the Montana Central Railway reached Neihart, and a strong mining boom began. [23] Now even low-grade ore could be easily and cheaply shipped to the huge smelter in Great Falls. [25] The Panic of 1893 wiped out the area's mining economy, but the town continued to exist. [23] This was largely because some mines, such as the Benton, Big Seven, and Florence, continued in operation. [25]
Neihart went through a series of booms and busts over the next half-century. Mining booms occurred during and after World War I, in 1929, and in 1935. [23] The 1935 boom was built primarily around zinc mining, and Neihart continued to be a major source for zinc during World War II. [11] [3] In 1939, the town's population was 168. [11] After World War II, the rail spur was abandoned and the track removed.
Portions of Neihart have been abandoned, and ghost town ruins can be seen in the city's outer limits, [9] among them being Wu Tang's former laundry and drug store. [9] The remains of Jericho can also still be found in Neihart. [20]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1900 | 833 | — | |
1910 | 268 | −67.8% | |
1920 | 749 | 179.5% | |
1930 | 169 | −77.4% | |
1940 | 466 | 175.7% | |
1950 | 289 | −38.0% | |
1960 | 150 | −48.1% | |
1970 | 109 | −27.3% | |
1980 | 91 | −16.5% | |
1990 | 53 | −41.8% | |
2000 | 91 | 71.7% | |
2010 | 51 | −44.0% | |
2020 | 43 | −15.7% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [26] [5] |
As of the census [27] of 2010, there were 51 people, 32 households, and 17 families residing in the town. The population density was 25.6 inhabitants per square mile (9.9/km2). There were 170 housing units at an average density of 85.4 per square mile (33.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 92.2% White, 3.9% Native American, and 3.9% from two or more races.
There were 32 households, of which 3.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, and 46.9% were non-families. 43.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 31.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.59 and the average family size was 2.06.
The median age in the town was 68.2 years. 2% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 5.9% were from 25 to 44; 31.4% were from 45 to 64; and 56.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 54.9% male and 45.1% female.
As of the census [28] of 2000, there were 91 people, 44 households, and 27 families residing in the town. The population density was 45.8 inhabitants per square mile (17.7/km2). There were 164 housing units at an average density of 82.5 per square mile (31.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.41% White, 1.10% Native American, 1.10% from other races, and 4.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.10% of the population.
There were 44 households, out of which 15.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 2.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.36.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 17.6% under the age of 18, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 31.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54 years. For every 100 females there were 152.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 167.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,458, and the median income for a family was $25,625. Males had a median income of $11,250 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,266. There were 20.7% of families and 21.7% of the population living below the poverty line, including 20.0% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.
Miami is a town in Gila County, Arizona, United States. Miami is a classic Western copper boom-town. Miami's old downtown has been partly renovated, and the Bullion Plaza Museum features the cultural, mining and ranching history of the Miami area.
Ajo is an unincorporated community in Pima County, Arizona, United States. It is the closest community to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The population was 3,039 at the 2020 census. Ajo is located on State Route 85 just 43 miles (69 km) from the Mexican border.
Superior is a town in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. Superior, which is in northern Pinal County, is the oldest town in that county. According to the 2020 census, the population of the town was 2,407. Superior was founded as a mining town for the Silver King and the later Magma mines; silver was mined at first, and then transitioned to copper. Currently, exploitation of the huge Resolution Copper deposit is being explored.
Dewey–Humboldt is a town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. The population of the town was 3,894 according to the 2010 census. The Dewey–Humboldt area was a census-designated place (CDP) at the 2000 census, at which time its population was 6,295.
The Town of Montezuma is a statutory town located in eastern Summit County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 74 at 2020 United States Census. The town is a former mining camp that sits at an elevation of 10,200 feet (3,110 m), just west of the Continental Divide, nestled among mountains that reach an elevation of 12,000-13,000 feet around it. It is situated in the upper valley of the Snake River above the ski resort of Keystone in the Rocky Mountains.
The City of Victor is a Statutory City in Teller County, Colorado, United States. Gold was discovered in Victor in the late 19th century, an omen of the future of the town. With Cripple Creek, the mining district became the second largest gold mining district in the country and realized approximately $10 billion of mined gold in 2010 dollars. It reached its peak around the turn of the century when there were about 18,000 residents in the town. Depleted ore in mines, labor strife and the exodus of miners during World War I caused a steep decline in the city's economy, from which it has never recovered. The population was 379 at the 2020 census. There is a resumed mining effort on Battle Mountain.
Kellogg is a city in the Silver Valley of Shoshone County, Idaho, United States, in the Idaho Panhandle region. The city lies near the Coeur d'Alene National Forest and about 36 miles (58 km) east-southeast of Coeur d'Alene along Interstate 90. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 2,120, down by a third from its population in 1980.
Potosi is a city in Washington County, Missouri, United States. Potosi is seventy-two miles southwest of St. Louis. The population was 2,660 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Washington County.
Dillon is a city in and the county seat of Beaverhead County, Montana, United States. The population was 3,880 at the 2020 census. The city was named for Sidney Dillon (1812–1892), president of Union Pacific Railroad.
Belt is a town in Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 510 according to the 2020 census. It is part of the Great Falls, Montana metropolitan area.
Black Eagle is a census-designated place (CDP) in Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 904 at the 2010 census. It is a suburb of Great Falls.
Philipsburg is a town in and the county seat of Granite County, Montana, United States. The population was 841 at the 2020 census. The town was named after the famous mining engineer Philip Deidesheimer, who designed and supervised the construction of the ore smelter around which the town originally formed. He platted the townsite in 1867.
East Helena is a city in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, United States, approximately 5 miles (8 km) east of downtown Helena. The population was 1,944 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Helena Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Lewis and Clark and Jefferson counties; its population is 83,058 according to the 2020 Census.
Virginia City is a town in and the county seat of Madison County, Montana, United States. In 1961 the town and the surrounding area were designated a National Historic Landmark District, the Virginia City Historic District. The population was 219 at the 2020 census.
Basin is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson County, Montana, United States. It lies approximately 10 miles (16 km) southeast of the Continental Divide in a high narrow canyon along Interstate 15 about halfway between Butte and Helena. Basin Creek flows roughly north to south through Basin and enters the Boulder River on the settlement's south side. The population was 212 at the 2010 census, down from 255 at the 2000 census.
Bellmont is a town in Franklin County, New York, United States. The town is on the eastern border of the county and is southeast of Malone. The population was 1,434 at the 2010 census. The town is named after William Bell, a major landowner in the early history of the town.
Ducktown is a city in Polk County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 461 at the 2020 census and 475 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Cleveland Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Tooele is a city in Tooele County in the U.S. state of Utah. The population was 35,742 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Tooele County. Located approximately 40 minutes southwest of Salt Lake City, Tooele is known for Tooele Army Depot, for its views of the nearby Oquirrh Mountains and the Great Salt Lake.
Republic is a city in Ferry County, Washington, United States. The population was 992 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Ferry County. It was the largest mining camp in the Republic Mining District, and home to the "Hot Air Line" railway.
Northport is a town in Stevens County, Washington, United States. The population was 297 at the 2020 census.