Three Forks, Montana

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Coordinates: 45°53′29″N 111°33′6″W / 45.89139, -111.55167
Three Forks, Montana
Image:Threeforks.jpg
Location of Three Forks, Montana
Country	United States
State	Montana
County	Gallatin
Area
- Total	1.3 sq mi (3.4 km²)
- Land	1.3 sq mi (3.3 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.1 km²)
Elevation	4,075 ft (1,242 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	1,728
- Density	1,360.7/sq mi (525.4/km²)
Time zone	Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
- Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code	59752
Area code(s)	406
FIPS code	30-73975
GNIS feature ID	0777603

Three Forks is a city in Gallatin County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,728 at the 2000 census. Three Forks is named because it lies near the point, in Missouri Headwaters State Park, where the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin Rivers converge to form the Missouri River.

The three rivers, west to east, were named by Meriwether Lewis in late July 1805 for President Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State James Madison, and Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin.

Honored in Three Forks, the Indian woman Sacagawea is best known as the interpreter and guide for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In 1800, she was captured by the Mennetaree tribe near the present site of Three Forks. She later returned to this area with Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. A statue of Sacagawea now sits in a park off Main Street.

The Three Forks school mascot is the Wolves.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 References
4 External links
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Geography

Three Forks is located at 45°53′29″N, 111°33′6″W (45.891334, -111.551532)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), of which, 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (3.05%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 1,728 people, 686 households, and 469 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,360.7 people per square mile (525.3/km²). There were 726 housing units at an average density of 571.7/sq mi (220.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.57% White, 1.10% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.

There were 686 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,212, and the median income for a family was $39,938. Males had a median income of $30,086 versus $19,196 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,362. About 5.5% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

In recent years Three Forks has increased in size exponentially due to the booming economy of the nearby city of Bozeman. Many major subdivisions such as Rolling Glenn Subdivision are expected to increase the city's population three fold putting a burden on area schools, and law enforcment.

Area attractions such as Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park have made Three Forks and the surrounding area a hub for tourism. Being at the cross-roads of Interstate 90 and US Highway 287, Three Forks is a stopping point for many travelers.

Also adding to the prosperity of Three Forks are flourishing businesses.