Heron, Montana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Heron, Montana
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Location of Heron, Montana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| County | Sanders |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.09 sq mi (13.19 km2) |
| • Land | 5.09 sq mi (13.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,251 ft (686 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 173 |
| • Density | 33.96/sq mi (13.11/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
59844
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| Area code(s) | 406 |
| FIPS code | 30-35875 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0784801 |
Heron is a small community in Sanders County, Montana. It is called a census-designated place (CDP). This means it is an area that the government counts for the census, but it is not an officially incorporated town.
Heron is named after a village that is located within its boundaries. In 2020, about 173 people lived here. The town was first built in 1883 by the Northern Pacific Railroad. It was an important "division point" where trains would stop, change crews, or get serviced.
Contents
Discover Heron's Location
Heron is located in Sanders County, Montana. The United States Census Bureau says that the area of Heron is about 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water inside its borders.
Heron's Unique Climate
Heron has a special kind of climate. It is similar to places in northern Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. This is different from most of Montana. Heron gets a lot of rain and snow. It averages almost 34 inches (860 mm) of precipitation each year. This makes it one of the wettest places in Montana.
Winter and Summer Weather
Winters in Heron are wet and often snowy. Sometimes it rains instead of snows. Summers are usually dry and sunny. Days are warm, but nights are cool or even chilly.
Temperature Swings
One interesting thing about Heron's weather is how much the temperature changes between day and night. In the wettest months, like November to January, the temperature only changes about 10-11 degrees. But in the driest months, like July and August, it can change by almost 35 degrees. This is because the air is very dry in summer.
It gets to 90 degrees Fahrenheit about 11 days a year. It is very rare for the temperature to reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Nights stay cool all year, and it can freeze in any month. The lowest temperature each year is usually around -12 degrees Fahrenheit.
Rainfall Patterns
Heron gets a lot of rain and snow in winter, especially from November to January. It also stays pretty wet from February to June. In May and June, other parts of Montana get the most rain from thunderstorms. But in Heron, winter is the wettest time.
Heron's yearly rainfall is like the Pacific Northwest. It has dry summers and wet winters. But it also has some features of Montana's weather, with some rain in May or June. All these factors make Heron one of the wettest spots in Montana.
| Climate data for Heron 1981-2010, extremes 1912- | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 61 (16) |
59 (15) |
73 (23) |
88 (31) |
96 (36) |
100 (38) |
105 (41) |
106 (41) |
97 (36) |
87 (31) |
68 (20) |
58 (14) |
106 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 33.0 (0.6) |
37.9 (3.3) |
46.8 (8.2) |
57.4 (14.1) |
66.3 (19.1) |
73.0 (22.8) |
81.3 (27.4) |
80.9 (27.2) |
70.2 (21.2) |
54.6 (12.6) |
39.7 (4.3) |
31.7 (−0.2) |
56.1 (13.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22.3 (−5.4) |
22.8 (−5.1) |
27.2 (−2.7) |
32.0 (0.0) |
38.4 (3.6) |
44.5 (6.9) |
47.1 (8.4) |
45.8 (7.7) |
39.7 (4.3) |
33.3 (0.7) |
28.6 (−1.9) |
21.7 (−5.7) |
33.6 (0.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −39 (−39) |
−32 (−36) |
−22 (−30) |
−1 (−18) |
19 (−7) |
25 (−4) |
29 (−2) |
21 (−6) |
9 (−13) |
4 (−16) |
−14 (−26) |
−35 (−37) |
−39 (−39) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.25 (108) |
2.91 (74) |
2.94 (75) |
2.36 (60) |
2.83 (72) |
2.82 (72) |
1.38 (35) |
1.07 (27) |
1.73 (44) |
2.69 (68) |
4.61 (117) |
4.15 (105) |
33.74 (857) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 24.5 (62) |
12.6 (32) |
8.6 (22) |
1.3 (3.3) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
8.8 (22) |
24.6 (62) |
80.8 (204.31) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.04 in) | 14.7 | 10.8 | 12.0 | 10.1 | 10.8 | 9.8 | 5.5 | 4.6 | 6.3 | 10.2 | 14.6 | 14.2 | 123.6 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.4 in) | 9.6 | 5.8 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 4.7 | 10.5 | 36 |
| Source: NWS NOWDATA for Heron 2NW from the NWS Missoula area | |||||||||||||
Heron's Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 173 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, 173 people lived in Heron. The population density was about 34 people per square mile. This means there were 34 people living in each square mile of the area.
Community Life
In 2000, there were 58 households in Heron. Most of these were families. About 33% of households had children under 18. Most families were married couples living together. The average household had about 2.57 people.
Age Groups
The people in Heron are of different ages. In 2000, about 31% were under 18 years old. About 14% were 65 years or older. The average age was 42 years old.
Income Information
In 2000, the average income for a household in Heron was $28,750 per year. For families, it was $31,875. The average income per person was $14,725. About 18% of the people lived below the poverty line. This included some children and older adults.
Local News in Heron
The local newspaper for Heron is called the Sanders County Ledger. It is printed once a week. You can also find it online.
See also
In Spanish: Heron (Montana) para niños
