Lodge Grass, Montana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lodge Grass, Montana
Eelalapiío
Aashbacheeitche |
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Landforms near Lodge Grass, Montana
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Location of Lodge Grass, Montana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| County | Big Horn |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2) |
| • Land | 0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,366 ft (1,026 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 441 |
| • Density | 1,709.30/sq mi (659.83/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
59050
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| Area code(s) | 406 |
| FIPS code | 30-44275 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412909 |
Lodge Grass is a small town in Montana, United States. Its name in the Crow language is Eelalapiío. It is located in Big Horn County. In 2020, about 441 people lived there.
Lodge Grass sits where Lodge Grass Creek meets the Little Bighorn River. It is also part of the Crow Indian Reservation.
Contents
Why is it Called Lodge Grass?
The name "Lodge Grass" came from a mistake. The Crow people had a different name for the area.
The town is named after Lodge Grass Creek. But the correct Crow name for this creek is "Greasy Grass Creek." This was explained by Joe Medicine Crow, a famous Crow tribal historian.
The Story of Greasy Grass
Crow traditions say that when they camped by Lodge Grass Creek or the Little Bighorn River, the grass was very tall. In spring and summer, the morning dew made the grass wet. When horses walked through it, their legs and bellies would look shiny, as if covered in grease.
Another story says that when people walked through the dewy grass, their moccasins and leggings would get wet and look greasy. Because of this, the Crow people called these valley areas "the Greasy Grass." The Sioux people also called the Little Horn River "Greasy Grass Creek."
A Mistake in Translation
The Crow words for "greasy" and "lodge" sound very much alike. The Crow word for "greasy" is Tah-shay. The word for "lodge" is Ah-shay.
An early interpreter heard the name "Greasy Grass" but mistakenly thought it was "Lodge Grass." This misunderstood name stuck. That is how the creek, and later the town, became known as Lodge Grass.
Where is Lodge Grass Located?
Interstate 90 is a major highway that passes near Lodge Grass. You can get to the town from Exit 530. Another nearby stream is Grey Blanket Creek.
The town covers a total area of about 0.67 square kilometers (0.26 square miles). All of this area is land. A traditional camping spot near the town is called Iishipia in the Crow language.
What is the Weather Like?
Lodge Grass has a semi-arid climate. This means it is usually dry, but it gets some rain. It is often sunny with warm summers and cold winters.
| Climate data for Lodge Grass, Montana | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 3 (38) |
7 (44) |
11 (51) |
16 (61) |
22 (71) |
27 (80) |
32 (90) |
32 (89) |
26 (78) |
18 (64) |
9 (49) |
4 (40) |
17 (63) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −8 (17) |
−6 (22) |
−3 (27) |
2 (36) |
7 (45) |
11 (52) |
14 (58) |
14 (57) |
9 (48) |
4 (39) |
−2 (28) |
−7 (20) |
3 (37) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 23 (0.9) |
18 (0.7) |
33 (1.3) |
53 (2.1) |
74 (2.9) |
66 (2.6) |
33 (1.3) |
25 (1) |
46 (1.8) |
43 (1.7) |
23 (0.9) |
20 (0.8) |
450 (17.8) |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in Lodge Grass?
The population of Lodge Grass has changed over the years. Here's how many people have lived there during different census counts:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 373 | — | |
| 1940 | 839 | 124.9% | |
| 1950 | 536 | −36.1% | |
| 1960 | 687 | 28.2% | |
| 1970 | 806 | 17.3% | |
| 1980 | 499 | −38.1% | |
| 1990 | 517 | 3.6% | |
| 2000 | 510 | −1.4% | |
| 2010 | 428 | −16.1% | |
| 2020 | 441 | 3.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
People in 2010
In 2010, there were 428 people living in Lodge Grass. Most of the people were Native American (86.7%). About 9.6% were White. A small number were Asian or from other backgrounds.
There were 114 households in the town. Many households (59.6%) had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 3.75 people. The average family had about 4.05 people.
The median age in Lodge Grass was 24.7 years old. This means half the people were younger than 24.7 and half were older. A large part of the population (39.7%) was under 18 years old.
Education in Lodge Grass
Lodge Grass has its own public school system, called Lodge Grass Schools. It has been around since 1908. The school mascot is the Indians and Lady Indians.
Lodge Grass High School is well-known for its boys' basketball team. They won five state championships in Class B between 1980 and 1990. This was under the coaching of Gordon Real Bird.
Famous People from Lodge Grass
Many notable people have connections to Lodge Grass:
- Hairy Moccasin (1854–1922) – A scout for the Seventh Cavalry.
- Tuff Harris (born 1983) – Played in the National Football League and Canadian Football League.
- Joe Medicine Crow (1913–2016) – A famous author and historian of the Crow Tribe.
- Clara Nomee (1938–2012) – She was the chairwoman of the Crow Tribe for five terms.
- Kevin Red Star (born 1943) – A well-known Native American artist.
- Pauline Small (1924–2005) – The first woman ever elected to an office in the Crow Tribe.
- White Man Runs Him (around 1858–1929) – A scout who shared important history about the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
- Thomas Yellowtail (1903–1993) – A respected medicine man and chief of the Crow Tribe, born in Lodge Grass.
See also
In Spanish: Lodge Grass (Montana) para niños
