Sun River, Montana

Last updated

Sun River, Montana
CDP
Cascade County Montana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sun River Highlighted.svg
Location of Sun River, Montana
Coordinates: 47°31′55″N111°43′47″W / 47.53194°N 111.72972°W / 47.53194; -111.72972
CountryUnited States
State Montana
County Cascade
Area
[1]
  Total1.86 sq mi (4.82 km2)
  Land1.86 sq mi (4.82 km2)
  Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
3,412 ft (1,040 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total95
  Density51.05/sq mi (19.71/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain (MST))
  Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP code
59483
Area code 406
FIPS code 30-72475
GNIS feature ID0777313

Sun River is a census-designated place (CDP) in Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 124 at the 2010 census. [2] It is part of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

History

The town is named after the Sun River, by which it is located. The name was from the Indian word Nataeosueti, translated by the English as "Medicine" or "Sun" river. Artifacts have been found in the area related to native cultures dating back to 2000 B.C. More recent Native tribes include Blackfeet and Crow.

The town was established in 1867 by John Largent, who laid out the town, sold lots, and opened a store and post office. Largent and Joe Healy also built a toll bridge across the Sun River to profit from the Mullan Road traffic between Fort Benton and the new gold mines to the south. [3]

Geography

Sun River is located at 47°31′55″N111°43′47″W / 47.53194°N 111.72972°W / 47.53194; -111.72972 (47.531915, -111.729648). [4] It is located at the intersection of U.S. Route 89 and Montana Highway 200. It is about 23 miles from Great Falls.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
2020 95
U.S. Decennial Census [5]

As of the census [6] of 2000, there were 500 people, 230 households, and 58 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 98.8 inhabitants per square mile (38.1/km2). There were 65 housing units at an average density of 35.8 per square mile (13.8/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.95% White, 2.29% Native American, and 0.76% from two or more races.

There were 58 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 27.5% 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 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $25,357, and the median income for a family was $28,750. Males had a median income of $24,583 versus $19,531 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,647. There were 13.5% of families and 10.2% of the population living below the poverty line, including 14.7% of under eighteens and 14.3% of those over 64.

Climate

Like most of Montana outside of the highest mountains, Sun River has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) characterised by hot summers with chilly nights, and cold winters with very high temperature variability due to warming by chinook winds contrasting with occasional severe chilling by polar air from Canada.

During winter, maximum temperatures exceed 50 °F or 10 °C on an average of 18.4 days between December and February, and a total of 26.7 days in November and March. During cold outbreaks minima fall below 0 °F or −17.8 °C on 25.5 nights in an average winter, though only seven such nights occurred during the very mild winter of 1999–2000 but as many as fifty-two in the cold winter of 1968–69. In the summer temperature exceed 90 °F or 32.2 °C on 14.2 days, although 100 °F or 37.8 °C is exceeded merely once in five summers on average.

Most precipitation comes from thunderstorms in late spring and summer, but even then it is less heavy than further into the Plains. The wettest recorded month has been May 1953 with 6.74 inches or 171.2 millimetres, whilst in September 2012 not even a “trace” was reported. Snowfall is moderate due to the dry winters, with a mean of 39.2 inches or 1.00 metre and a median of 29.4 inches or 0.75 metres. The most snow in a month has been 28.8 inches or 0.73 metres in April 1967, whilst the most snow on the ground has been 19 inches or 0.48 metres on 17 February 1959 following a storm depositing 13.9 inches (0.35 m) over the previous two days.

Climate data for Sun River 4 S, Montana (1971-2000; extremes 1912-)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)66
(19)
73
(23)
78
(26)
88
(31)
93
(34)
99
(37)
111
(44)
102
(39)
97
(36)
91
(33)
74
(23)
65
(18)
111
(44)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)34.3
(1.3)
40.0
(4.4)
47.4
(8.6)
57.3
(14.1)
66.0
(18.9)
74.0
(23.3)
81.5
(27.5)
80.8
(27.1)
70.3
(21.3)
59.5
(15.3)
43.4
(6.3)
35.8
(2.1)
57.5
(14.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)11.9
(−11.2)
16.2
(−8.8)
22.2
(−5.4)
30.4
(−0.9)
38.7
(3.7)
46.3
(7.9)
49.8
(9.9)
48.8
(9.3)
40.4
(4.7)
33.0
(0.6)
22.8
(−5.1)
14.7
(−9.6)
31.3
(−0.4)
Record low °F (°C)−46
(−43)
−45
(−43)
−33
(−36)
−16
(−27)
8
(−13)
26
(−3)
33
(1)
28
(−2)
16
(−9)
−19
(−28)
−40
(−40)
−51
(−46)
−51
(−46)
Average precipitation inches (mm)0.42
(11)
0.36
(9.1)
0.67
(17)
1.24
(31)
2.18
(55)
2.08
(53)
1.47
(37)
1.51
(38)
1.06
(27)
0.81
(21)
0.49
(12)
0.42
(11)
12.71
(322.1)
Average snowfall inches (cm)7.0
(18)
4.6
(12)
6.9
(18)
4.2
(11)
0.8
(2.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.1
(0.25)
0.3
(0.76)
2.7
(6.9)
4.3
(11)
8.3
(21)
39.2
(100.91)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)5.64.66.57.610.29.27.17.86.65.15.05.080.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)4.93.83.32.00.20.00.00.020.20.93.13.822.2
Source 1: NOAA [7]
Source 2: NWS (January and July record highs) [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skwentna, Alaska</span> CDP in Alaska, United States

Skwentna is a census-designated place (CDP) on Iditarod Trail in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States. Located 61 miles northwest of Wasilla along the Skwentna River, it is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2020 census the population was 62, up from 37 in 2010. The town is served by Skwentna Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Valley, Arizona</span> CDP in Pima County, Arizona

Green Valley is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Pima County, Arizona, United States. The population was 22,616 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Markleeville, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Markleeville is a census-designated place (CDP) and the county seat of Alpine County, California, United States. The population was 191 at the 2020 census, down from 210 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fallston, Maryland</span> Census-designated place in Maryland, United States

Fallston is a census-designated place (CDP) in Harford County, Maryland, United States. The population was 8,958 at the 2010 census, up from 8,427 in 2000. Fallston is a semi-rural community consisting mostly of farms and suburban-like developments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisdom, Montana</span> Census-designated place in Montana, United States

Wisdom is a census-designated place (CDP) in Beaverhead County, Montana, United States. The population was 98 at the 2010 census. The ZIP Code of the area is 59761. The town includes three tourist lodgings, service station, grocery, school (K-8), post office and a Forest Service office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toston, Montana</span> Census-designated place in Montana, United States

Toston is a census-designated place (CDP) in Broadwater County, Montana, United States. The population was 108 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Eagle, Montana</span> CDP in Montana, United States

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Shaw, Montana</span> CDP in Montana, United States

Fort Shaw is a census-designated place (CDP) in Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 280 at the 2010 census. Named for a former United States military outpost, it is part of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simms, Montana</span> CDP in Montana, United States

Simms is a census-designated place (CDP) in Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 354 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun Prairie, Montana</span> CDP in Montana, United States

Sun Prairie is a census-designated place (CDP) in Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,630 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Great Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area and may have evolved as a remote suburb of Great Falls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulm, Montana</span> CDP in Montana, United States

Ulm is a census-designated place (CDP) in Cascade County, Montana, United States. It was originally a large ranch owned by Indiana-born cattleman William Ulm. The population was 738 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Zip Code is 59485.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four Corners, Montana</span> Census-designated place in Montana, United States

Four Corners is a census-designated place (CDP) in Gallatin County, Montana, United States. The population was 5,901 at the 2020 census, up from 3,146 in 2010. It is part of the Bozeman, MT Micropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willow Creek, Montana</span> Census-designated place in Gallatin County, Montana, United States.

Willow Creek is a census-designated place (CDP) in Gallatin County, Montana, United States. The population was 210 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Bozeman, MT Micropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Glacier Park Village, Montana</span> CDP in Montana, United States

East Glacier Park is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Glacier County, Montana, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 354.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Arm, Montana</span> Census-designated place in Montana, United States

Big Arm is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lake County, Montana, United States. The population was 177 at the 2010 census, up from 131 in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ravalli, Montana</span> Place in Montana, United States

Ravalli is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Montana, United States. The population was 76 at the 2010 census, down from 119 in 2000. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Ravalli as a census-designated place (CDP). In the early 1900s, the Pablo-Allard herd in Ravalli was said to be the largest collection of the bison remaining in the U.S. and played a critical role in the conservation of bison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">De Borgia, Montana</span> Census-designated place in Montana, United States

De Borgia is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Mineral County, Montana, United States. The population was 91 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Missoula, Montana</span> Census-designated place in Montana, United States

East Missoula is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Missoula County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Missoula metropolitan area. The population was 2,465 at the 2020 census, up from 2,157 in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belvedere, South Carolina</span> Census-designated place in South Carolina, United States of America

Belvedere is a census-designated place (CDP) and suburb of North Augusta in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. It is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area. The population was 5,792 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power, Montana</span> CDP in Montana, United States

Power is a census-designated place (CDP) in Teton County, Montana, United States. The population was 171 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Montana pioneer, Thomas Charles Power, who platted the townsite in 1910.

References

  1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  2. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Sun River CDP, Montana". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 27, 2012.
  3. "Sun River". Montana Place Names Companion. Montana Historical Society. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  7. "Climatography of the United States No. 20: 1971-2000 – Station: ROY 8 NE, MT" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  8. "National Weather Service Forecast Office Great Falls, Montana". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved September 14, 2016.