Ekalaka, Montana

Ekalaka is a town in and the county seat of Carter County, Montana, United States.[5] The population was 332 at the 2010 census.

Ekalaka, Montana[1]
Town
Carter County Courthouse
Location of Ekalaka, Montana
Coordinates: 45°53′21″N 104°32′59″W
CountryUnited States
StateMontana
CountyCarter
Area
 • Total1.03 sq mi (2.67 km2)
 • Land1.03 sq mi (2.67 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
3,425 ft (1,044 m)
Population
 • Total332
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
372
 • Density361.52/sq mi (139.52/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
59324
Area code(s)406
FIPS code30-23650
GNIS feature ID0771161

Geography

Ekalaka is located at 45°53′21″N 104°32′59″W (45.889231, −104.549716).[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.04 square miles (2.69 km2), all land.[7]

Known for its sandstone rock and open plains, Ekalaka is part of the Montana Dinosaur Trail, and is home to the Carter County Museum, which is known for its dinosaur collection.[8] Nearby is the Custer National Forest.

History

Ekalaka was named after a Sioux girl, Ijkalaka,[9] who was the wife of David Harrison Russell, a scout.[10]

Ijkalaka (Restless or Moving About) was an Oglala Lakota and the daughter of Wombalee We-chosh (Eagle Man).[9] She was born in 1858 on the Powder River.,[9] while she was living with a cousin, Hi Kelly, at a ranch on Chugwater Creek, near Laramie Wyoming.[9] She was 16 when she met Russell, who was a scout and frontiersman.[9]

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".[11] The site became a trade center for cattle ranchers and sheepherders.[11] He put up houses to house freight workers and hunters who ran the local freight line (team and horses), and other added to it.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1920433—
19304759.7%
194071951.4%
195090425.7%
1960738−18.4%
1970663−10.2%
1980620−6.5%
1990439−29.2%
2000410−6.6%
2010332−19.0%
2019 (est.)372[4]12.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[12][13]

2010 census

At the 2010 census,[3] there were 332 people, 176 households and 87 families residing in the town. The population density was 319.2 inhabitants per square mile (123.2/km2). There were 266 housing units at an average density of 255.8 per square mile (98.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.4% White, 1.2% Native American, 0.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

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 census,[14] there were 410 people, 195 households and 109 families residing in the town. The population density was 391.5 per square mile (150.8/km2). There were 287 housing units at an average density of 274.1 per square mile (105.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 99.02% White, 0.49% Native American, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.49% of the population.

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 median household income was $19,432 and the median family income was $27,750. Males had a median income of $22,656 and females $18,125. The per capita income $13,667. About 7.1% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

Ekalaka experiences a dry continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with cold, dry winters and hot, wetter summers.

Climate data for Ekalaka
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)		 66
(19)		 108
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 29.8
(−1.2)		 35.9
(2.2)		 45.1
(7.3)		 57.5
(14.2)		 68.3
(20.2)		 77.7
(25.4)		 85.5
(29.7)		 84.4
(29.1)		 72.7
(22.6)		 59.4
(15.2)		 41.7
(5.4)		 32.9
(0.5)		 57.6
(14.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 18.9
(−7.3)		 24.9
(−3.9)		 33.0
(0.6)		 44.2
(6.8)		 54.7
(12.6)		 64.1
(17.8)		 70.7
(21.5)		 69.7
(20.9)		 58.4
(14.7)		 46.5
(8.1)		 31.2
(−0.4)		 22.1
(−5.5)		 44.9
(7.2)
Average low °F (°C) 8.0
(−13.3)		 13.8
(−10.1)		 20.9
(−6.2)		 30.9
(−0.6)		 41.1
(5.1)		 50.4
(10.2)		 55.9
(13.3)		 55.0
(12.8)		 44.1
(6.7)		 33.5
(0.8)		 20.6
(−6.3)		 11.3
(−11.5)		 32.1
(0.1)
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) 0.59
(15)		 0.51
(13)		 0.81
(21)		 1.85
(47)		 2.69
(68)		 3.16
(80)		 1.90
(48)		 1.27
(32)		 1.52
(39)		 1.59
(40)		 0.79
(20)		 0.57
(14)		 17.25
(437)
Source 1: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000)[15]
Source 2: The Weather Channel (Records)[16]

Notable person

References
  1. TravelMT. "Ekalaka". Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  8. "Ekalaka: A home where dinosaurs roamed, and the coffee game they do play". Retrieved 2014-12-15.
  9. Speiser, James; Speiser, Mildred; Gilman, Johnnie; Gilman, Gertrude (1975). Changing West. Miles City, MT: H&T Quality Printing.
  10. "Montana Place Names: E-G". Retrieved 2008-02-04. condensed from the 1957 Montana Almanac
  11. "Montana: Official State Travel Site". Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. "Census & Economic Information Center". Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. "Climatography of the United States NO.81" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  16. "Monthly Averages for Ekalaka, MT". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
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