Ekalaka, Montana
Ekalaka, Montana FIPS code | 30-23650 | |
---|---|---|
GNIS feature ID | 2412470[3] |
Ekalaka is a town in and the
History
Ekalaka was named after a Sioux girl, Ijkalaka,[6] who was the wife of David Harrison Russell, a scout.[7]
Ijkalaka (Restless or Moving About) was an
The town was created by Russell on the edge of his ranch. A man named Carter bogged down in mud the spring of 1885 opened a saloon and is credited with saying "Anyplace in Montana is a good place to open a saloon".[8] The site became a trade center for cattle ranchers and sheepherders.[8] He put up houses to house freight workers and hunters who ran the local freight line (team and horses), and other added to it.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.04 square miles (2.69 km2), all land.[9] The area is known for its sandstone rock and open plains. Nearby is the Custer National Forest. Russell Creek flows through town.
Climate
Ekalaka experiences a dry continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with cold, dry winters and hot, wetter summers.
Climate data for Ekalaka, Montana, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1896–present | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 65 (18) |
66 (19) |
83 (28) |
90 (32) |
98 (37) |
105 (41) |
108 (42) |
108 (42) |
103 (39) |
92 (33) |
78 (26) |
67 (19) |
108 (42) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 51.6 (10.9) |
53.8 (12.1) |
66.9 (19.4) |
75.9 (24.4) |
82.9 (28.3) |
90.4 (32.4) |
96.3 (35.7) |
94.8 (34.9) |
90.8 (32.7) |
79.0 (26.1) |
64.3 (17.9) |
52.8 (11.6) |
98.0 (36.7) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 32.5 (0.3) |
35.0 (1.7) |
46.4 (8.0) |
56.8 (13.8) |
66.8 (19.3) |
76.5 (24.7) |
85.6 (29.8) |
84.7 (29.3) |
74.5 (23.6) |
58.4 (14.7) |
44.0 (6.7) |
34.3 (1.3) |
58.0 (14.4) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 21.6 (−5.8) |
24.0 (−4.4) |
34.1 (1.2) |
43.7 (6.5) |
53.6 (12.0) |
63.2 (17.3) |
71.2 (21.8) |
70.0 (21.1) |
60.0 (15.6) |
45.8 (7.7) |
32.8 (0.4) |
23.6 (−4.7) |
45.3 (7.4) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 10.8 (−11.8) |
13.1 (−10.5) |
21.8 (−5.7) |
30.7 (−0.7) |
40.4 (4.7) |
49.9 (9.9) |
56.8 (13.8) |
55.3 (12.9) |
45.6 (7.6) |
33.2 (0.7) |
21.5 (−5.8) |
12.9 (−10.6) |
32.7 (0.4) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | −17.3 (−27.4) |
−11.6 (−24.2) |
−3.4 (−19.7) |
12.6 (−10.8) |
24.3 (−4.3) |
36.8 (2.7) |
44.5 (6.9) |
40.2 (4.6) |
29.4 (−1.4) |
12.8 (−10.7) |
−2.4 (−19.1) |
−13.3 (−25.2) |
−24.1 (−31.2) |
Record low °F (°C) | −44 (−42) |
−43 (−42) |
−32 (−36) |
−11 (−24) |
8 (−13) |
27 (−3) |
30 (−1) |
26 (−3) |
13 (−11) |
−15 (−26) |
−30 (−34) |
−43 (−42) |
−44 (−42) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.58 (15) |
0.66 (17) |
0.95 (24) |
1.86 (47) |
3.21 (82) |
2.95 (75) |
2.10 (53) |
1.35 (34) |
1.60 (41) |
1.58 (40) |
0.76 (19) |
0.51 (13) |
18.11 (460) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 6.5 (17) |
9.0 (23) |
8.8 (22) |
5.3 (13) |
2.6 (6.6) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
2.4 (6.1) |
6.2 (16) |
7.5 (19) |
48.4 (122.95) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 8.4 | 11.3 | 10.7 | 7.9 | 6.7 | 6.5 | 8.0 | 6.7 | 7.1 | 95.3 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 6.6 | 6.8 | 4.9 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 4.4 | 6.7 | 34.0 |
Source 1: NOAA[10] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: National Weather Service[11] |
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1920 | 433 | — | |
1930 | 475 | 9.7% | |
1940 | 719 | 51.4% | |
1950 | 904 | 25.7% | |
1960 | 738 | −18.4% | |
1970 | 663 | −10.2% | |
1980 | 620 | −6.5% | |
1990 | 439 | −29.2% | |
2000 | 410 | −6.6% | |
2010 | 332 | −19.0% | |
2020 | 399 | 20.2% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[12][5] |
2010 census
At the 2010 census,
There were 176 households, of which 17.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 50.6% were non-families. 45.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.82 and the average family size was 2.52.
The median age was 54 years. 15.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 12.3% were from 25 to 44; 34.2% were from 45 to 64; and 31.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.
2000 census
At the 2000
There were 195 households, of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 42.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.73.
21.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 2.4% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 30.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.
The
Arts and culture
Ekalaka is part of the Montana Dinosaur Trail, and is home to the Carter County Museum, which is known for its dinosaur collection.[15]
Ekalaka Public Library serves the town.[16]
Education
Ekalaka Public Schools educates students from kindergarten through 12th grade. There is the Ekalaka Elementary District and Carter County High School.[17] They are known as the Bulldogs.[18]
Media
The Ekalaka Eagle is the official newspaper of Carter County.[19] It is published weekly both in print and online.
Infrastructure
Ekalaka is the southern start of
Ekalaka Airport is a public use airport located 2 miles southeast of town.[20]
Notable person
- Bertha Berry, pioneering nurse in Ekalaka
References
- ^ TravelMT. "Ekalaka". Retrieved November 17, 2011.
- ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ekalaka, Montana
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Speiser, James; Speiser, Mildred; Gilman, Johnnie; Gilman, Gertrude (1975). Changing West. Miles City, MT: H&T Quality Printing.
- ^ "Montana Place Names: E-G". Retrieved 2008-02-04. condensed from the 1957 Montana Almanac
- ^ a b "Montana: Official State Travel Site". Retrieved 2011-12-31.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
- ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Ekalaka: A home where dinosaurs roamed, and the coffee game they do play". Retrieved 2014-12-15.
- ^ "Ekalaka Public Library". Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "Ekalaka Public Schools". Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "Member Schools". Montana High School Association. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "About the Ekalaka Eagle". The Ekalaka Eagle. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "97M Ekalaka". FAA. Retrieved 3 September 2023.