Sidney, Montana
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Sidney is a city located in Richland County, Montana, less than 15.5 km (10 m) away from the eastern border of the state. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 4,774. It is the county seat of Richland CountyTemplate:GR. The city lies next to the Yellowstone River and is in close proximity to the badlands of the Dakotas.
The city has a community newspaper, The Sidney Herald (http://www.sidneyherald.com).
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Geography
MTMap-doton-Sidney.PNG
Location of Sidney, Montana
Sidney is in the northeastern part of the state, located at 47°42'45" North, 104°9'41" West (47.712519, -104.161486)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.8 km² (2.2 mi²). 5.8 km² (2.2 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Sidney is 432 km (270 mi) northeast of Billings, Montana, and 304 km (190 mi) south of Regina, Saskatchewan.
History
Settlers began arriving in the area in the 1870s, and a post office was established in 1888, after the name of Sidney was decided upon. The following year, Montana officially became a state. Sidney was incorporated in 1911, according to the Sidney Chamber of Commerce (http://www.sidneymt.com/history.htm). The town was originally part of Dawson County, Montana, but became county seat of Richland County at its inception in 1914.
Agriculture became an important part of the region after the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project (http://www.esidney.com/sugardays/lyipsmmry.html) was completed in 1909. A dam was built on the river south of Glendive, which diverted water from the river into a 115.2 km (72 mi) main canal, which runs north-south, parallel to the Yellowstone, irrigating land from Glendive north up to Fairview, where it dumps into the Missouri River. This project irrigates 51,429 acres and serves water to 450 farms, according to the manager of the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Districts (http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/archives/106cong/water/99oct07/nypen.htm).
The area experienced an oil boom and bust in the late 1970s and 1980s, bringing an influx of people to the town for a short period of time.
Economy
Sidney relies heavily on farming and ranching for economic stability. The area's main cash crop are sugar beets, and Sidney is home to a sugar beet factory, built in 1925. The factory is the largest employer in the city, next to the Sidney Health Center (http://www.sidneyhealth.org) and Sidney Public Schools (http://www.sidneyps.com/).
Education
Sidney has three public schools; one K-6 elementary school, a 7-8 junior high school, and a 9-12 senior high school. There are no institutions of higher education located within the city, however, Dawson Community College (http://www.dawson.cc.mt.us/) has a Sidney campus, and Williston State College is within commuting distance. MSU-Billings (http://www.msubillings.edu/) offers courses through telecommunication, and Sidney High School has a variety of adult education classes each year.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 4,774 people, 2,006 households, and 1,271 families residing in the city. The population density is 819.2/km² (2,125.3/mi²). There are 2,393 housing units at an average density of 410.6/km² (1,065.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 95.81% White, 0.10% African American, 1.89% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 2.43% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,006 households out of which 31.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% are married couples living together, 9.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% are non-families. 33.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.33 and the average family size is 2.98.
In the city the population is spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $32,109, and the median income for a family is $38,992. Males have a median income of $30,347 versus $18,517 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,911. 12.7% of the population and 8.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 17.1% of those under the age of 18 and 8.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
| Regions of Montana | 
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|---|---|
| Eastern Montana - Western Montana - Inland Empire | |
| Largest cities | |
| Anaconda | Belgrade | Billings | Bozeman | Butte | Evergreen | Glendive | Great Falls | Havre | Helena | Kalispell | Laurel | Lewistown | Livingston | Miles City | Missoula | Sidney | Whitefish | |
| Counties | |
| Beaverhead - Big Horn - Blaine - Broadwater - Carbon - Carter - Cascade - Chouteau - Custer - Daniels - Dawson - Deer Lodge - Fallon - Fergus - Flathead - Gallatin - Garfield - Glacier - Golden Valley - Granite - Hill - Jefferson - Judith - Lake - Lewis and Clark - Liberty - Lincoln - Madison - McCone - Meagher - Mineral - Missoula - Musselshell - Park - Petroleum - Phillips - Pondera - Powder River - Powell - Prairie - Ravalli - Richland - Roosevelt - Rosebud - Sanders - Sheridan - Silver Bow - Stillwater - Sweet Grass - Teton - Toole - Treasure - Valley - Wheatland - Wibaux - Yellowstone |