Plains, Montana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Plains, Montana
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Location of Plains, Montana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| County | Sanders |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.61 sq mi (1.59 km2) |
| • Land | 0.61 sq mi (1.59 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,471 ft (753 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,106 |
| • Density | 1,798.37/sq mi (694.82/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| ZIP Code |
59859
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| Area code(s) | 406 |
| FIPS code | 30-58150 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0788983 |
| Website | http://www.plainsmontana.com/ |
Plains is a town in Sanders County, Montana, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,106 people lived there. The town got its name because Native Americans used to bring their horses to this area in winter. The horses would eat the rich grasses in the valley.
The town was first called Horse Plains or Wild Horse Plains. Later, in 1905, the US Postal Service shortened the name to Plains. The town itself was started in 1883 as a stop for the Northern Pacific Railroad.
Contents
Exploring Plains: Location and Climate
Plains is located at 47°27′31″N 114°53′6″W / 47.45861°N 114.88500°W. It sits right next to the Clark Fork River. The town's main area is on one side of the river, and the fairgrounds are on the other.
The town covers about 0.60 square miles (1.59 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the town limits.
Plains' Weather: A Look at the Climate
Plains has a type of weather called a humid continental climate. This means it has big changes in temperature throughout the year. Summers are usually warm to hot, and sometimes humid. Winters are cold, and can even be very cold.
You can see more details about the weather in Plains in the box below:
| Climate data for Plains, Montana | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 61 (16) |
67 (19) |
77 (25) |
90 (32) |
96 (36) |
99 (37) |
103 (39) |
108 (42) |
100 (38) |
89 (32) |
72 (22) |
53 (12) |
108 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 35 (2) |
41 (5) |
51 (11) |
60 (16) |
69 (21) |
77 (25) |
86 (30) |
86 (30) |
74 (23) |
59 (15) |
42 (6) |
33 (1) |
59 (15) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21 (−6) |
22 (−6) |
27 (−3) |
32 (0) |
37 (3) |
44 (7) |
47 (8) |
45 (7) |
38 (3) |
31 (−1) |
27 (−3) |
19 (−7) |
33 (0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −32 (−36) |
−26 (−32) |
−11 (−24) |
10 (−12) |
20 (−7) |
24 (−4) |
27 (−3) |
16 (−9) |
17 (−8) |
−6 (−21) |
−12 (−24) |
−34 (−37) |
−34 (−37) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.6 (41) |
1.6 (41) |
1.0 (25) |
1.4 (36) |
2.0 (51) |
1.7 (43) |
1.0 (25) |
1.1 (28) |
1.3 (33) |
1.7 (43) |
2.2 (56) |
2.1 (53) |
18.7 (475) |
| Source: The Weather Channel | |||||||||||||
People of Plains: Population Facts
The population of Plains has changed over the years. Here's how many people have lived there during different census counts:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 481 | — | |
| 1920 | 452 | −6.0% | |
| 1930 | 522 | 15.5% | |
| 1940 | 624 | 19.5% | |
| 1950 | 714 | 14.4% | |
| 1960 | 769 | 7.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,046 | 36.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,116 | 6.7% | |
| 1990 | 992 | −11.1% | |
| 2000 | 1,126 | 13.5% | |
| 2010 | 1,048 | −6.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,106 | 5.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Plains Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 1,048 people living in Plains. These people lived in 502 households. About half of these households were families.
Most of the people living in Plains were White (94.7%). There were also smaller groups of Native American, Asian, and African American residents. About 2.4% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino background.
The average age in Plains was about 47 years old. About 21% of the residents were under 18 years old. About 24% were 65 years old or older.
Getting Around: Transportation in Plains
Plains Airport is a public airport that serves the town. It is owned by the county and is located about 1 mile (1.6 km) northwest of Plains.
Learning and Growing: Education in Plains
Plains Public Schools teach students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. Plains High School is where teenagers go to school. They are known as the Horsemen and Trotters.
Students at Plains High School can join different sports teams and other activities. There are also many community groups and clubs for young people. These include soccer, baseball, softball, drama, and art.
The Plains Public Library is also available for everyone in the area to use.
Community and Faith: Churches in Plains
Plains has several churches that serve the community. These include:
- Assembly of God
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
- Clarkfork Baptist Church
- First Lutheran Church (ELCA)
- Harvest Community Church
- Plains Alliance Church
- Plains Bible Chapel
- Plains United Methodist Church
- St. James Catholic Church
News and Information: Media in Plains
The local newspapers for Plains are the Sanders County Ledger and the Clark Fork Valley Press. Both newspapers are printed every week and can also be found online.
There is also a radio station called KPLG that is licensed in Plains.
See also
In Spanish: Plains (Montana) para niños
