Colstrip, Montana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Colstrip is a city in Rosebud County, Montana, United States. The population was 2,346 at the 2000 census. Established in 1924 and incorporated as a city in 1998, Colstrip is the largest city in Rosebud County with 25% of the total population. Colstrip's primary industry is coal mining and electricity production. To the north of Colstrip there is an experimental coal gasification plant.

Colstrip, Montana

Sign Upon Entering Colstrip

Seal

Motto: Tomorrow's Town Today

Location of Colstrip, Montana

Coordinates: 45°53′32″N 106°37′44″W / 45.89222, -106.62889

Area

- Total

4.5 sq mi (11.6 km²)

- Land

4.5 sq mi (11.6 km²)

- Water

0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)

Elevation

3,222 ft (982 m)

Population (2000)

- Total

2,346

- Density

522.6/sq mi (201.8/km²)

Time zone

Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)

- Summer (DST)

MDT (UTC-6)

59323

30-16525

GNIS feature ID

0770042

1 Background Info
2 Famous People
3 Geography
4 Demographics
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Background Info

Castle Rock Lake near Colstrip

The Colstrip plants produce electricity from coal using steam. The water for the steam is pumped 29 miles from the Yellowstone River and stored in Colstrip's Castle Rock Lake (formerly named surge pond). The lake is stocked with fish and the home for a wide variety of wildlife.

Colstrip has a great deal of sports enthusiasm. For Sports Illustrated's 50th anniversary, the magazine named Colstrip the top sports town in Montana.

The primary way to travel to Colstrip is by driving. See the video Coal Strip Tease for a driving tour of Colstrip.

[edit] Famous People

Wally McRae -- part of Cowboy poetry genre, see video poem about Colstrip "Things of Intrinsic Worth"
George Armstrong Custer -- one of his final encampments before Battle of the Little Bighorn was 10 miles south of Colstrip
Tuff Harris -- free safety for Miami Dolphins, moved from Lodge Grass to play football at Colstrip High School as a sophomore

[edit] Geography

Colstrip is located at 45°52′50.03″N, 106°37′47.65″W (45.880563, -106.629903)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.5 square miles (11.6 km²), all of it land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 2,346 people, 825 households, and 674 families residing in the city. The population density was 522.6 people per square mile (201.7/km²). There were 936 housing units at an average density of 208.5/sq mi (80.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.93% White, 0.68% African American, 11.30% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 3.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.15% of the population.

There were 825 households out of which 48.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.8% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city the population was spread out with 34.4% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 3.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 106.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $55,650, and the median income for a family was $60,352. Males had a median income of $54,241 versus $25,234 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,336. About 5.9% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.