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Jordan
Intersection of Main Street and Jordan
Intersection of Main Street and Jordan
Location of Jordan, Montana
Location of Jordan, Montana
Country United States
State Montana
County Garfield
Area
 • Total 0.35 sq mi (0.90 km2)
 • Land 0.35 sq mi (0.90 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
2,602 ft (793 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 356
 • Density 1,020.06/sq mi (393.88/km2)
Time zone UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
59337
Area code(s) 406
FIPS code 30-39925
GNIS feature ID 0772903

Jordan is a town in and the county seat of Garfield County, Montana, United States. The population was 356 at the 2020 census. It is Garfield County's only incorporated community.

History

Jordan was settled in 1896. The founder, Arthur Jordan, had hunted the area and decided to settle with his family in 1896 along the banks of the Big Dry Creek.

A post office was opened in Jordan on July 11, 1899. Afterward, a town began building around the post office. There were saloons, rooming houses, livery stables, blacksmiths, and stores. In the later part of the 1910s, the homestead boom hit Garfield County, which was then actually part of Dawson County to the east. By 1919, the citizens reached a consensus to form a county of their own, therefore establishing Garfield County. Jordan was finally chosen as the county seat, by popular vote. The Great Northern Railroad had proposed a route starting from Lewiston, MT eastbound through Winnett, MT and Jordan, MT, and connecting to their line at Richey, MT. Grading had been completed between Lewiston, MT and Winnett, MT but no track was laid. [1]

Jordan was incorporated as a town in 1951.

On March 25, 1996, an 81-day-long standoff between an anti-government gang known as the Montana Freemen and federal officers began near Jordan.

Geography

Jordan is located at 47°19.3′N 106°54.6′W / 47.3217°N 106.9100°W / 47.3217; -106.9100 (47.3212, -106.9106). Montana Highway 59 and Montana Highway 200 intersect just south of town. Fort Peck Lake is nearby.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.34 square miles (0.88 km2), all land.

Climate

Jordan experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with long, freezing although exceedingly variable, and dry winters alongside hot, wetter summers. The town is noted for its extreme weather: on December 15, 2009, the low was −40 °F (−40 °C).

Jordan ranks 10th in the U.S. in temperature range, from its lowest at −58 °F (−50 °C), to its highest at 112 °F (44.4 °C), a range of 170 °F (94 °C), and within February alone the range is 132 °F or 73.3 °C. An illustration of the extreme year-to-year winter climate variability can be seen in February 1936 averaging −9.5 °F (−23.1 °C), whereas February 1954 averaged 36.9 °F (2.7 °C), or a whopping 46.4 °F (25.8 °C) warmer.

Climate data for Jordan, Montana, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1905–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 68
(20)
74
(23)
82
(28)
94
(34)
102
(39)
111
(44)
112
(44)
110
(43)
107
(42)
95
(35)
80
(27)
78
(26)
112
(44)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 52.3
(11.3)
56.4
(13.6)
70.4
(21.3)
80.7
(27.1)
88.8
(31.6)
97.0
(36.1)
101.4
(38.6)
100.7
(38.2)
95.1
(35.1)
83.6
(28.7)
67.5
(19.7)
53.9
(12.2)
103.4
(39.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 29.9
(−1.2)
34.0
(1.1)
45.8
(7.7)
57.6
(14.2)
67.4
(19.7)
76.9
(24.9)
87.1
(30.6)
86.5
(30.3)
74.6
(23.7)
59.4
(15.2)
44.4
(6.9)
33.2
(0.7)
58.1
(14.5)
Daily mean °F (°C) 17.2
(−8.2)
20.9
(−6.2)
32.1
(0.1)
43.2
(6.2)
53.1
(11.7)
63.1
(17.3)
71.0
(21.7)
69.4
(20.8)
57.6
(14.2)
44.4
(6.9)
30.8
(−0.7)
20.4
(−6.4)
43.6
(6.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 4.6
(−15.2)
7.7
(−13.5)
18.4
(−7.6)
28.9
(−1.7)
38.7
(3.7)
49.3
(9.6)
54.8
(12.7)
52.2
(11.2)
40.6
(4.8)
29.4
(−1.4)
17.2
(−8.2)
7.6
(−13.6)
29.1
(−1.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −22.6
(−30.3)
−15.0
(−26.1)
0.3
(−17.6)
16.5
(−8.6)
26.0
(−3.3)
37.2
(2.9)
44.6
(7.0)
40.2
(4.6)
25.8
(−3.4)
12.2
(−11.0)
−4.6
(−20.3)
−21.4
(−29.7)
−31.4
(−35.2)
Record low °F (°C) −51
(−46)
−58
(−50)
−35
(−37)
−13
(−25)
10
(−12)
29
(−2)
31
(−1)
29
(−2)
13
(−11)
−14
(−26)
−32
(−36)
−46
(−43)
−58
(−50)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.30
(7.6)
0.35
(8.9)
0.52
(13)
1.36
(35)
2.19
(56)
2.65
(67)
1.65
(42)
1.34
(34)
1.06
(27)
1.16
(29)
0.49
(12)
0.38
(9.7)
13.45
(341.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 3.3 3.8 4.4 6.0 8.0 8.5 6.7 4.8 4.4 4.9 3.5 4.0 62.3
Source 1: NOAA
Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 1981–2010)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1960 557
1970 529 −5.0%
1980 485 −8.3%
1990 494 1.9%
2000 364 −26.3%
2010 343 −5.8%
2020 356 3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 343 people, 170 households, and 93 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,008.8 inhabitants per square mile (389.5/km2). There were 206 housing units at an average density of 605.9 per square mile (233.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.8% White, 0.6% Native American, 0.3% from other races, and 0.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 170 households, of which 18.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.3% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.9% 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 2.71.

The median age in the town was 48.8 years. 18.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.2% were from 25 to 44; 31% were from 45 to 64; and 25.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

Infrastructure

Jordan Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport located two miles (4 km) northwest of town.

Education

Jordan Public Schools educates students from kindergarten through 12th grade. They are known as the Mustangs. Garfield County District High School is a Class C school.

Garfield County Library serves the area.

Notable persons

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Jordan (Montana) para niños

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