Red Lodge, Montana

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Red Lodge
town
Main Street in Red Lodge
Main Street in Red Lodge
Location of Red Lodge, Montana
Location of Red Lodge, Montana
Coordinates: 45°11′15″N 109°14′55″W / 45.18750°N 109.24861°W / 45.18750; -109.24861Coordinates: 45°11′15″N 109°14′55″W / 45.18750°N 109.24861°W / 45.18750; -109.24861
CountryUnited States
StateMontana
CountyCarbon
Government
 • MayorWilliam Larson
Area
[1]
 • Total2.71 sq mi (7.03 km2)
 • Land2.71 sq mi (7.03 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
5,568 ft (1,697 m)
Population
 (2010)[3]
 • Total2,125
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
2,303
 • Density849.19/sq mi (327.82/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
59068
Area code(s)406
FIPS code30-61525
GNIS feature ID0789456
Websitecityofredlodge.net

Red Lodge is a town in and the county seat of Carbon County, Montana, United States.[4] It is part of the Billings Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,125 at the United States Census, 2010.[5]

History[]

On September 17, 1851, the United States government signed a treaty with the Crow Nation, ceding the area which now contains Red Lodge, MT to the Crow Indians. Rich coal deposits were found there in 1866, and gold was discovered nearby in 1870. An 1880 treaty between the U.S. government and the Crow allowed the area to be settled starting April 11, 1882.[6]

The Red Lodge post office was established on Dec 9, 1884 with Postmaster Ezra L. Benton.[7] A rail line was constructed into town, and coal shipments began in June 1889. The boundaries of the Crow Reservation were redrawn October 15, 1892, opening the whole area to settlement. From then until the 1930s, coal mining defined the town.[8]

In the late 19th century, many new settlers came to Red Lodge, MT. The majority came from Italy, the British Isles, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Austria-Hungary. By the mid-1880s, migrants were still outnumbered by large numbers of Native Americans. By 1892 the population reached 1,180.

In 1896, Red Lodge had twenty saloons and, as the library records show, riotous and violent living was characteristic of the town. By 1906 the population had grown to 4,000 and by 1911 this had increased to 5,000[citation needed].

Red Lodge suffered in the Great Depression, which forced many mines to close. To offset this downturn, the manufacture of illegal bootleg liquor, labeled syrup, became an economic mainstay and was sold as far away as Chicago and San Francisco[citation needed].

In 1931 work began on the Beartooth Highway[9][10] linking Red Lodge to Yellowstone National Park; it was officially opened in 1936.

The downtown has been redeveloped since the mid-1980s for historic and cultural tourism, as the Red Lodge Commercial Historic District. The buildings in downtown Red Lodge fell into disrepair in large part because population had dropped from its 1915 peak of 6,000 people to about 2,000.[11]

As of 2006, an estimate suggests that the population of Red Lodge may increase from about 1,200 people in the winter to over 1,800 people during the summer tourist season, arriving via the Beartooth Highway.

Geography[]

Red Lodge is located at

 WikiMiniAtlas
45°11′15″N 109°14′55″W / 45.18750°N 109.24861°W / 45.18750; -109.24861 (45.187515, -109.248475).[12] U.S. Route 212 runs through the town. Rock Creek flows alongside Red Lodge. is one of several mountains surrounding Red Lodge.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.80 square miles (7.25 km2), all land.[13]

Climate[]

Red Lodge experiences a continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with cold, somewhat dry winters and warm, wetter summers. Summers are cooler than in areas of Montana further north, due to the high elevation. Winters however, are milder than areas further to the east due to the chinook wind influence, as with most of Montana.

hideClimate data for Red Lodge, Montana
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 70
(21) 		70
(21) 		72
(22) 		80
(27) 		88
(31) 		96
(36) 		101
(38) 		96
(36) 		92
(33) 		86
(30) 		80
(27) 		71
(22) 		101
(38)
Average high °F (°C) 34.1
(1.2) 		37.4
(3.0) 		43.9
(6.6) 		52.7
(11.5) 		61.9
(16.6) 		71.7
(22.1) 		79.2
(26.2) 		79.1
(26.2) 		68.6
(20.3) 		56.7
(13.7) 		41.7
(5.4) 		35.5
(1.9) 		55.2
(12.9)
Daily mean °F (°C) 23.0
(−5.0) 		26.5
(−3.1) 		32.5
(0.3) 		40.7
(4.8) 		49.5
(9.7) 		57.9
(14.4) 		64.3
(17.9) 		63.8
(17.7) 		54.3
(12.4) 		44.2
(6.8) 		31.0
(−0.6) 		24.5
(−4.2) 		42.7
(5.9)
Average low °F (°C) 11.8
(−11.2) 		15.5
(−9.2) 		21.0
(−6.1) 		28.6
(−1.9) 		37.0
(2.8) 		44.1
(6.7) 		49.3
(9.6) 		48.5
(9.2) 		40.0
(4.4) 		31.7
(−0.2) 		20.2
(−6.6) 		13.4
(−10.3) 		30.1
(−1.1)
Record low °F (°C) −38
(−39) 		−42
(−41) 		−30
(−34) 		−10
(−23) 		7
(−14) 		25
(−4) 		30
(−1) 		22
(−6) 		8
(−13) 		−13
(−25) 		−25
(−32) 		−42
(−41) 		−42
(−41)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.31
(33) 		1.06
(27) 		2.27
(58) 		2.88
(73) 		3.96
(101) 		2.56
(65) 		1.69
(43) 		1.37
(35) 		2.12
(54) 		2.04
(52) 		1.38
(35) 		1.13
(29) 		23.77
(605)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 15.0
(38) 		13.9
(35) 		22.1
(56) 		21.0
(53) 		8.0
(20) 		0.5
(1.3) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		3.7
(9.4) 		11.7
(30) 		13.6
(35) 		13.8
(35) 		124.8
(317)
Source 1: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000) [14]
Source 2: The Weather Channel (Records) [15]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1890624—
19002,152244.9%
19104,860125.8%
19204,515−7.1%
19303,026−33.0%
19402,950−2.5%
19502,730−7.5%
19602,278−16.6%
19701,844−19.1%
19801,8962.8%
19901,9583.3%
20002,17711.2%
20102,125−2.4%
2019 (est.)2,303[2]8.4%
source:[16]
U.S. Decennial Census[17]

2010 census[]

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 2,125 people, 1,082 households, and 513 families residing in the city. The population density was 758.9 inhabitants per square mile (293.0/km2). There were 1,675 housing units at an average density of 598.2 per square mile (231.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 0.4% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 1,082 households, of which 19.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 52.6% were non-families. 43.8% 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 1.92 and the average family size was 2.62.

The median age in the city was 47.3 years. 16.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 34.4% were from 45 to 64; and 19.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

2000 census[]

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 2,177 people, 1,020 households, and 528 families residing in the city. The population density was 846.0 people per square mile (327.1/km2). There were 1,415 housing units at an average density of 549.9 per square mile (212.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.14% White, 0.41% African American, 1.10% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.46% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.98% of the population.

There were 1,020 households, out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.2% were non-families. 39.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,750, and the median income for a family was $40,260. Males had a median income of $30,250 versus $20,208 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,090. About 6.9% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government[]

Red Lodge is the county seat of Carbon County and is an incorporated city, governed via the mayor/council system. There are six members of the city council, elected from one of three wards of roughly equal population. There are two council members from each ward. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote.

Outdoor recreation[]

Red Lodge Mountain Palisades
The Beartooth Highway in the Beartooth Mountains

Red Lodge is well known for many outdoor recreation opportunities: skiing, mountain biking, fly fishing, and backpacking are nearby. In April it is host to a popular triathlon called the Peaks to Prairie.

Smith Mine disaster[]

Site of the Smith Mine disaster

In 1943 tragedy hit Smith Mine #3 near Bearcreek, the area's largest remaining mine.[19] An explosion trapped and killed 74 men with only three of the workers in the mine that day escaping, making it the worst coal mine disaster in Montana's history. The mine was shut down shortly thereafter but was reopened in the late 1970s. The Red Lodge cemetery contains a memorial.

Infrastructure[]

Red Lodge Airport is a public use airport located one mile (1.85 km) northwest of town.

Education[]

Red Lodge is served by three public schools: Mountain View Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School, and Red Lodge High School.[20] They are known as the Rams.[21]

Red Lodge Carnegie Library serves the area.[22]

The Yellowstone Bighorn Research Association's Geology Field Station is located south of Red Lodge.[23]

Media[]

Radio[]

  • KMXE FM 99.3

Newspapers[]

Notable people[]

References[]

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. ^ U.S. Census website - Results
  6. ^ Blevins, Bruce. An Early History of Red Lodge, Montana. WIM: Powell, 1988, 3-6. No ISBN.
  7. ^ Lutz, Dennis. Montana Post Offices and Postmasters. Rochester: Johnson, 1986, 41. No ISBN.
  8. ^ Christensen, Bonnie. Red Lodge and the Mythic West. Lawrence: U of Kansas P, 2000, xii. ISBN 978-0-7006-1198-0
  9. ^ Blevins, Bruce H. Beartooth Highway Experiences. Powell: WIM, 2003. ISBN 1-893771-07-5.
  10. ^ [1], Public Roads, July/August 2006, v.70, No.1. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  11. ^ Michels Raffety Architects (1986). Red Lodge commercial historic district : revitalization master plan. Carbon County Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
  12. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  13. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2011-02-20. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  14. ^ "Climatography of the United States NO.81" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  15. ^ "Monthly Averages for Red Lodge, MT". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  16. ^ Moffatt, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850-1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 134.
  17. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  18. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  19. ^ The Darkest Hour: A Comprehensive Account of the Smith Mine Disaster of 1943, 2nd ed, by Gary D. Robson and Fay Kuhlman (2003). ISBN 0-9659609-1-9
  20. ^ "Red Lodge Public Schools".
  21. ^ "Member Schools". Montana High School Association. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Red Lodge Carnegie Library". City of Red Lodge. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  23. ^ Yellowstone Bighorn Research Association Homepage
  24. ^ National Register of Historic Places Form, Hi Bug Historic District, accessed October 25, 2016 at https://mhs.mt.gov/Portals/11/shpo/docs/HiBugHD(BoundaryDecrease).pdf
  25. ^ Crow Killer: The Saga of Liver-Eating Johnson, by Raymond W. Thorpe and Robert Bunker (1983) pg 188. ISBN 978-0-253-20312-0

External links[]

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