Westby, Montana

Westby, Montana
—  Town  —
Montana State Sign in Westby
Location of Westby, Montana
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Montana
County Sheridan
Area
 • Total 0.5 sq mi (1.4 km2)
 • Land 0.5 sq mi (1.4 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 2,103 ft (641 m)
Population (2010)[1]
 • Total 168
 • Density 317.2/sq mi (122.5/km2)
Time zone Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
 • Summer (DST) MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code 59275
Area code(s) 406
FIPS code 30-78925
GNIS feature ID 0778319

Westby is a town in Sheridan County, Montana, United States. The population was 168 at the 2010 census.[1] Westby was founded in 1910 as a North Dakota city in what is today Divide County. Danish settlers came up with the name by combining the word west, which noted the town's location in extreme western North Dakota, with the word by, Danish for city. The town remained in North Dakota until 1914, when it was moved slightly across the border so as to be next to a newly-built branch line of the Soo Line Railroad and in a state that permitted the sale of alcohol.[2][3]

Geography

Westby is located at (48.869847, -104.051950)[4].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2), all of it land.

Westby is located on the state border with North Dakota, and near the international boundary with Saskatchewan. Montana Highway 5 passes through the town.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1920 253
1930 287 13.4%
1940 369 28.6%
1950 396 7.3%
1960 309 −22.0%
1970 287 −7.1%
1980 291 1.4%
1990 253 −13.1%
2000 172 −32.0%
2010 168 −2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 172 people, 88 households, and 52 families residing in the town. The population density was 317.2 people per square mile (123.0/km²). There were 121 housing units at an average density of 223.1 per square mile (86.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.26% White, 1.16% Native American, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.74% of the population.

There were 88 households out of which 14.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.95 and the average family size was 2.47.

In the town the population was spread out with 15.1% under the age of 18, 2.9% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 34.3% from 45 to 64, and 25.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 109.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,875, and the median income for a family was $44,583. Males had a median income of $35,625 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,438. About 4.7% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 20.0% of those sixty five or over.

References