St. Marie, Montana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
St. Marie, Montana
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Location of St. Marie, Montana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| County | Valley |
| Area | |
| • Total | 22.90 sq mi (59.31 km2) |
| • Land | 22.90 sq mi (59.31 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,730 ft (830 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 489 |
| • Density | 21.36/sq mi (8.25/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
59231
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| Area code(s) | 406 |
| FIPS code | 30-65400 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409228 |
St. Marie or Saint Marie is a small community in Valley County, Montana, United States. It is called a census-designated place (CDP) because it's a special area defined by the government for counting people. In 2020, about 489 people lived there. St. Marie is built on the land that used to be the Glasgow Air Force Base.
Contents
History of St. Marie
St. Marie was once a busy place, home to the Glasgow Air Force Base. Thousands of military members and their families lived here. When the Air Force base closed down, the houses on the base were sold to private buyers. Many people hoped the community would stay alive.
From Base Housing to Empty Homes
After the base closed, the homes were offered for sale. Some people thought they could turn them into apartments for older people. But most of the houses are now empty and abandoned. Only a few hundred people still live in St. Marie, making it a bit like a ghost town.
Airport and Nearby Towns
The old runway from the Air Force base is still used today. It is now called Glasgow Industrial Airport (FAA LID: 07MT). This airport is a test site for large Boeing aircraft. The nearby city of Glasgow, Montana also saw its population drop by half after the base closed.
Community Challenges
Around 2012, the community faced some challenges. A group tried to take over many empty properties in St. Marie. This caused legal problems for some property owners. The community worked together to deal with these issues.
St. Marie Today
Today, the post office and town hall in St. Marie are still open. There are also a few small local businesses. However, the school and most other businesses have closed down. St. Marie has become interesting to people who like to explore ghost towns. It has a unique "Atomic Age" look because its buildings are more modern than most abandoned places.
Geography of St. Marie
St. Marie is located in Montana. According to the United States Census Bureau, the community covers about 22.9 square miles (59.3 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land, with only a very small part being water.
Climate and Weather
St. Marie has a cold semi-arid climate. This means it has dry weather, but it can get very cold. The hottest temperature ever recorded in St. Marie was 103°F (39°C) in July 2007. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -39°F (-39°C) in January 2024.
| Climate data for St. Marie, Montana, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1959–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 56 (13) |
62 (17) |
73 (23) |
85 (29) |
90 (32) |
96 (36) |
103 (39) |
102 (39) |
100 (38) |
88 (31) |
75 (24) |
62 (17) |
103 (39) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 45.7 (7.6) |
45.8 (7.7) |
60.3 (15.7) |
75.1 (23.9) |
81.5 (27.5) |
90.0 (32.2) |
96.5 (35.8) |
95.6 (35.3) |
89.3 (31.8) |
76.8 (24.9) |
62.0 (16.7) |
46.2 (7.9) |
98.3 (36.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 24.3 (−4.3) |
27.9 (−2.3) |
41.4 (5.2) |
56.1 (13.4) |
66.5 (19.2) |
74.7 (23.7) |
84.5 (29.2) |
83.9 (28.8) |
72.8 (22.7) |
56.5 (13.6) |
39.3 (4.1) |
27.2 (−2.7) |
54.6 (12.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 15.0 (−9.4) |
18.3 (−7.6) |
30.6 (−0.8) |
43.5 (6.4) |
53.8 (12.1) |
62.7 (17.1) |
70.6 (21.4) |
69.8 (21.0) |
59.3 (15.2) |
44.8 (7.1) |
29.8 (−1.2) |
18.3 (−7.6) |
43.0 (6.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 5.7 (−14.6) |
8.7 (−12.9) |
19.7 (−6.8) |
30.8 (−0.7) |
41.1 (5.1) |
50.7 (10.4) |
56.8 (13.8) |
55.7 (13.2) |
45.9 (7.7) |
33.0 (0.6) |
20.3 (−6.5) |
9.4 (−12.6) |
31.5 (−0.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −21.0 (−29.4) |
−13.6 (−25.3) |
−5.7 (−20.9) |
14.4 (−9.8) |
27.3 (−2.6) |
40.1 (4.5) |
47.9 (8.8) |
43.8 (6.6) |
30.7 (−0.7) |
15.0 (−9.4) |
−2.0 (−18.9) |
−14.4 (−25.8) |
−25.6 (−32.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −39 (−39) |
−37 (−38) |
−25 (−32) |
−4 (−20) |
18 (−8) |
32 (0) |
40 (4) |
37 (3) |
19 (−7) |
−1 (−18) |
−20 (−29) |
−34 (−37) |
−39 (−39) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.25 (6.4) |
0.20 (5.1) |
0.23 (5.8) |
0.82 (21) |
1.94 (49) |
3.08 (78) |
1.57 (40) |
1.32 (34) |
0.99 (25) |
0.95 (24) |
0.26 (6.6) |
0.16 (4.1) |
11.77 (299) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 3.4 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 5.5 | 8.8 | 11.4 | 7.4 | 6.3 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 66.8 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Population and Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 489 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 183 people living in St. Marie. These people lived in 92 households, and 59 of those were families. The population density was about 8 people per square mile.
Diversity in St. Marie
The people living in St. Marie in 2000 came from different backgrounds:
- About 63% were White.
- About 2% were African American.
- About 3% were Native American.
- About 20% were Asian.
- About 1% were from two or more races.
- About 10% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Household Information
In 2000, about 14% of households had children under 18. Most households (57.6%) were married couples. About 32.6% of households were single people living alone. The average household had about 2 people.
Age Distribution
The population in St. Marie in 2000 had people of all ages:
- About 14.8% were under 18 years old.
- About 2.7% were 18 to 24 years old.
- About 12.0% were 25 to 44 years old.
- About 35.5% were 45 to 64 years old.
- About 35.0% were 65 years or older.
The average age in St. Marie was 60 years old.
Income Levels
In 2000, the average income for a household in St. Marie was $33,750. For families, the average income was $34,792. The income per person was $16,314. A very small number of families and people lived below the poverty line.
Past Population Peak
At its busiest time, St. Marie was home to over 7,000 people. It was designed to house nearly 10,000 people.
See also
In Spanish: St. Marie (Montana) para niños
