Glasgow, Montana | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Glasgow | |
 Logo | |
 Location of Glasgow, Montana | |
| Coordinates:48°11′57″N106°37′55″W / 48.19917°N 106.63194°W /48.19917; -106.63194 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| County | Valley |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Rod Karst |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.40 sq mi (3.63 km2) |
| • Land | 1.40 sq mi (3.63 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,113 ft (644 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,202 |
| • Density | 2,281.5/sq mi (880.89/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (Mountain) |
| ZIP codes | 59230–59231[3] |
| Area code | 406 |
| FIPS code | 30-31075 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410594[2] |
| Website | cityofglasgowmt.com |
Glasgow is a city in and thecounty seat ofValley County,Montana, United States. The population was 3,202 at the2020 census.[4]
Despite being just the23rd most populous city in Montana, Glasgow is the most populous city for over 110 mi (177 km), thus making it an important economic hub for a large region inEastern Montana.[5] BothAmtrak and theNational Weather Service operate facilities in Glasgow that link the city to the surrounding region.[6][7]
.jpg)
Native Americans inhabited the region for centuries, and extensivebuffalo andpronghorn antelope herds provided ample food for the nomadic tribes. TheNakoda,Lakota, andDakota peoples alternately inhabited and claimed the region from the 16th to the late 19th centuries. In 1804 theLewis and Clark Expedition came within 15 miles (24 km) of the future site of Glasgow and noted the extensive herds of buffalo and various game. In 1851, the US government formed the first treaty with the Native American tribes, in 1885 the tribes engaged in the last known buffalo hunt in the region.
From 1885 to Montana Statehood in 1889, the tribes participated in agreements with the US government to re-drawing the Fort Peck reservation boundaries in exchange for federal subsidies.[8] As more and more homesteaders moved into the surrounding areas, pressure was placed on Congress to open up the Fort Peck Reservation to homesteading, resulting in tribes leaving the Glasgow area.
Glasgow was founded in 1887 as arailroad town byJames Hill, who was responsible for creating many communities along theHi-Line. He and a local railroader named the town when they spun a globe with a finger landing onGlasgow, Scotland.[9] Glasgow grew during the 1930s when PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt authorized the construction of theFort Peck Dam, which became a major source of employment for the Glasgow area.[10]
During World War II, theGlasgow Army Airfield housed the 96th Bombardment Squadron and 614th Bombardment Squadron, flying B-17 Flying Fortresses, at different times during the war. Starting in December 1944, a German POW camp was established at the facility, lasting until the end of the war. After the war ended the base was closed, and part of the facility eventually became the present dayGlasgow Valley County Airport. Glasgow was the death place of Lieutenant ColonelRonald Speirs, famed member of Easy Company, 101st Airborne.[11][failed verification]
In the 1960s, the population rose to about 6,400 due to the nearby presence of theGlasgow Air Force Base, (SAC air command and housing B-52 bombers) used during theVietnam War and the earlier part of theCold War. A significant amount of mid-century modern andGoogie-style architecture was built then. After the de-activation and closure of the base in 1969, Glasgow's population declined to about half its one-time size by 1990, when the loss rate stabilized.[12][13] Glasgow still functions as the major regional administrative, shopping and services hub for Valley County and some of the areas beyond.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.43 square miles (3.7 km2), all land.[14] The town has an elevation of 2,093 feet (638 m).[15] It is nestled in theMilk River Valley with the river itself meandering along to south.
Glasgow is 18 miles (29 km) west ofFort Peck Lake, the fifth largest artificial lake in the United States. The lake is popular for fishing and for recreation. TheCharles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge surrounds the lake providing an opportunity to experience nearly the same surroundings as encountered by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805.[16]
Using data fromOxford University's Big Data Institute,The Washington Post, in 2018, identified Glasgow as "the middle of nowhere" for the contiguous United States. The article stated "Of all towns with more than 1,000 residents, Glasgow ... is farthest – about 4.5 hours in any direction – from any metropolitan area of more than 75,000 people".[17]
_-_Glasgow_Area%2c_MT(ThreadEx).svg)
Glasgow experiences a continentalsemi-arid climate (Köppen climate classificationBSk) with long, dry winters with typically freezing but exceedingly variable temperatures and hot, dry summers. The extreme variability of winter temperatures is due to the large warming produced bychinook winds as air descending from the Rockies is warmed, contrasting with very cold continental air masses typical of inland locations at this latitude. As an illustration, the record cold month of February 1936 averaged −15.8 °F (−26.6 °C), but the two warmest Februaries of 1931 and 1984 averaged above 32 °F or 0 °C and had mean maxima above 43.5 °F or 6.4 °C. Snowfall averages 34.8 inches or 0.88 metres per year.[18]Tornadoes are a rare occurrence. TwoF2 tornadoes did, however, hit the Glasgow area on June 25, 1975.[19]
| Climate data forGlasgow Valley County Airport, Montana, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 62 (17) | 74 (23) | 81 (27) | 93 (34) | 102 (39) | 110 (43) | 113 (45) | 108 (42) | 103 (39) | 96 (36) | 79 (26) | 69 (21) | 113 (45) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 46.7 (8.2) | 49.1 (9.5) | 65.7 (18.7) | 78.9 (26.1) | 86.5 (30.3) | 93.8 (34.3) | 98.8 (37.1) | 99.3 (37.4) | 92.7 (33.7) | 80.7 (27.1) | 64.3 (17.9) | 48.3 (9.1) | 101.4 (38.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 23.5 (−4.7) | 28.0 (−2.2) | 41.8 (5.4) | 56.8 (13.8) | 67.7 (19.8) | 76.3 (24.6) | 85.5 (29.7) | 84.8 (29.3) | 72.9 (22.7) | 56.5 (13.6) | 40.0 (4.4) | 27.2 (−2.7) | 55.1 (12.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 14.6 (−9.7) | 18.7 (−7.4) | 31.6 (−0.2) | 44.8 (7.1) | 55.5 (13.1) | 64.5 (18.1) | 72.0 (22.2) | 71.0 (21.7) | 59.9 (15.5) | 45.2 (7.3) | 30.2 (−1.0) | 18.5 (−7.5) | 43.9 (6.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 5.8 (−14.6) | 9.4 (−12.6) | 21.4 (−5.9) | 32.8 (0.4) | 43.3 (6.3) | 52.7 (11.5) | 58.5 (14.7) | 57.2 (14.0) | 46.9 (8.3) | 33.8 (1.0) | 20.5 (−6.4) | 9.7 (−12.4) | 32.7 (0.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −22.9 (−30.5) | −14.5 (−25.8) | −4.0 (−20.0) | 16.4 (−8.7) | 28.3 (−2.1) | 41.4 (5.2) | 48.1 (8.9) | 43.6 (6.4) | 30.4 (−0.9) | 15.1 (−9.4) | −2.8 (−19.3) | −16.5 (−26.9) | −27.8 (−33.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −56 (−49) | −59 (−51) | −45 (−43) | −19 (−28) | 15 (−9) | 24 (−4) | 34 (1) | 28 (−2) | 14 (−10) | −8 (−22) | −41 (−41) | −47 (−44) | −59 (−51) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.44 (11) | 0.35 (8.9) | 0.47 (12) | 1.01 (26) | 2.22 (56) | 2.83 (72) | 1.95 (50) | 1.27 (32) | 1.06 (27) | 0.92 (23) | 0.49 (12) | 0.43 (11) | 13.44 (341) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 9.8 (25) | 6.2 (16) | 5.6 (14) | 2.5 (6.4) | 0.9 (2.3) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.5 (3.8) | 5.9 (15) | 8.3 (21) | 40.7 (103) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 7.1 (18) | 5.8 (15) | 5.2 (13) | 1.6 (4.1) | 0.2 (0.51) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.9 (2.3) | 3.2 (8.1) | 4.9 (12) | 9.9 (25) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 7.8 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 7.8 | 10.6 | 12.7 | 9.2 | 7.6 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 95.1 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 8.5 | 6.7 | 5.1 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 4.6 | 7.1 | 36.3 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 73.5 | 74.8 | 71.0 | 56.4 | 55.9 | 54.8 | 50.4 | 48.8 | 55.2 | 60.1 | 70.9 | 74.9 | 62.2 |
| Averagedew point °F (°C) | 4.1 (−15.5) | 10.8 (−11.8) | 20.3 (−6.5) | 27.1 (−2.7) | 37.6 (3.1) | 45.7 (7.6) | 48.6 (9.2) | 46.0 (7.8) | 38.3 (3.5) | 29.7 (−1.3) | 19.4 (−7.0) | 8.4 (−13.1) | 28.0 (−2.2) |
| Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity and dew points 1961–1990)[20][21] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[22] | |||||||||||||
 | This graph was using thelegacy Graph extension, which is no longer supported. It needs to be converted to thenew Chart extension. |
See or editraw graph data.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 1,158 | — | |
| 1920 | 2,059 | 77.8% | |
| 1930 | 2,216 | 7.6% | |
| 1940 | 3,799 | 71.4% | |
| 1950 | 3,821 | 0.6% | |
| 1960 | 6,398 | 67.4% | |
| 1970 | 4,700 | −26.5% | |
| 1980 | 4,455 | −5.2% | |
| 1990 | 3,572 | −19.8% | |
| 2000 | 3,253 | −8.9% | |
| 2010 | 3,250 | −0.1% | |
| 2020 | 3,202 | −1.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12][4] | |||
As of the 2010census,[23] there were 3,250 people, 1,479 households, and 834 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,272.7 inhabitants per square mile (877.5/km2). There were 1,653 housing units at an average density of 1,155.9 per square mile (446.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.8%White, 0.2%African American, 4.5%Native American, 0.3%Asian, 0.4% fromother races, and 2.7% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.8% of the population.
There were 1,479 households, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% weremarried couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.6% were non-families. 39.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.85.
The median age in the city was 45.6 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.3% were from 25 to 44; 28% were from 45 to 64; and 22.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,504. 14.5% of the population were below the federal poverty line, compared to 15.1% for the USA as a whole.
In May 2012, the major industries present in Glasgow were retail (23% of employment), public administration (16%), construction (14%), and health care and social assistance (7%). Farmers and farm services comprised 4% of employment. As of June 2014[update], the unemployment rate was 3.2%.[24]
For Valley County, the median value of owner-occupied housing units was $160,800 from 2017 to 2021.[25]
Glasgow is served by theGlasgow School District,[26] with three public schools. For the 2021–2022 school year, 379 students were enrolled in kindergarten through 5th grade at Irle Elementary School.[27] At Glasgow Middle School, for 6th–8th grade, 167 students were enrolled.[28]Glasgow High School had 245 students enrolled.[29] The team name for the school is the Scotties.[30]
From 2017–2022 census data on those 25 years and older in Valley County, 93% had attained high school graduation or higher, 19.1% had a Bachelor's degree or higher.[25]
Glasgow City-County Library serves the area.[31]
As of 2023, the Scotties of Glasgow High School have won 48 Montana state championships.[32] Glasgow High School offered 13 sports in 2023.[32] Since the 1992–93 school year, they have competed as a Class B school, a designation used by theMontana High School Association based on population.
They have won 14 state championships and 33 state trophies in boys wrestling.[33] The Girls Cross Country team has won the state championship 16 times.[34]
The Glasgow Reds baseball team competes in theAmerican Legion Baseball league, played by 13-to-19-year-olds. They finished second at the state championships in 2000 and 2012 and third in 1999, 2013, and 2015.
There were no reports of rape or murder occurring in Glasgow in 2010, compared with one murder the previous year, and 16 incidents of rape from 2003 to 2008. Overall, the crime rate to 2010 appears to be in a general downward trend, and is well below the national average.[24]
Glasgow is on theHi-Line of theBNSF Railway and is served daily westbound and eastbound byAmtrak'sEmpire Builder route.[35]
Glasgow is served byGlasgow Valley County Airport and has daily commercial service toBillings. Since 2013, the commercial air service provider isCape Air.
Glasgow and the greater Valley County region are served by a non-profit taxi/bus service called Valley Country Transit.[36] Bus and/or Van rides are available daily for in-county travel and one-way or two-way trips out of the county. Riders are charged on a per trip basis and must call in a ride.As of 2022, the transportation service,Uber is also now in operation within city limits.
Glasgow is located onU.S. Highway 2, which is a major east-west traffic corridor of the northern Great Plains region.Montana Highway 24 passes nearby the city, a major north-south route connecting southern Montana to Canada. NoInterstates run near the region.
Glasgow is part of the Glendive Media Market, as of 2021, the smallest tracked byNielsen serving an estimated 3,900 homes.[37]
James Hill, president of theSt. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railroad, soon to be theGreat Northern, could not wait to share what he had seen with the rest of the world. They spun a globe, a railroad worker's finger landed on Glasgow, Scotland, and the siding was named Glasgow,Montana Territory.
Normal snowfall is 34.8 inches [34 inches or 0.86 metres], but the record was 108.6″ [108.6 inches or 2.76 metres] in 2010–2011.
Municipalities and communities ofValley County, Montana,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Indian reservations | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
