Libby, Montana

For the film, see Libby, Montana (film).
Libby, Montana
City

Downtown Libby

Location of Libby, Montana
Coordinates: 48°23′17″N 115°33′13″W / 48.38806°N 115.55361°WCoordinates: 48°23′17″N 115°33′13″W / 48.38806°N 115.55361°W
Country United States
State Montana
County Lincoln
Area[1]
 • Total 1.95 sq mi (5.05 km2)
 • Land 1.91 sq mi (4.95 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)
Elevation 2,096 ft (639 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 2,628
 • Estimate (2012[3]) 2,688
 • Density 1,375.9/sq mi (531.2/km2)
Time zone Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
 • Summer (DST) MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code 59923
Area code(s) 406
FIPS code 30-43450
GNIS feature ID 0786083
Website Official website

Libby (Ktunaxa: ʔaqswaq[4]) is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Montana.[5] The population was 2,628 at the 2010 census.

Geography

Libby is located along U.S. Route 2.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.95 square miles (5.05 km2), of which 1.91 square miles (4.95 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) is water.[1] Located in the Kootenai National Forest, between the Cabinet Mountains to the south and the Purcell Mountains to the north, the town lies in the heart of the Kootenai Valley along the Kootenai River, and downstream from the Libby Dam. Libby is at an elevation of 2,096 feet (639 m).

Libby experiences a continental climate (Köppen Dfb).

Climate data for Libby, Montana
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 56
(13)		 65
(18)		 75
(24)		 90
(32)		 102
(39)		 106
(41)		 110
(43)		 109
(43)		 105
(41)		 89
(32)		 73
(23)		 65
(18)		 110
(43)
Average high °F (°C) 33.5
(0.8)		 41.3
(5.2)		 52.0
(11.1)		 62.5
(16.9)		 71.6
(22)		 78.9
(26.1)		 86.3
(30.2)		 86.8
(30.4)		 75.2
(24)		 59.0
(15)		 41.0
(5)		 33.0
(0.6)		 60.09
(15.61)
Daily mean °F (°C) 25.9
(−3.4)		 31.8
(−0.1)		 39.4
(4.1)		 47.0
(8.3)		 55.1
(12.8)		 61.8
(16.6)		 67.2
(19.6)		 67.0
(19.4)		 57.4
(14.1)		 46.0
(7.8)		 34.3
(1.3)		 26.9
(−2.8)		 46.65
(8.14)
Average low °F (°C) 18.2
(−7.7)		 22.2
(−5.4)		 26.7
(−2.9)		 31.4
(−0.3)		 38.5
(3.6)		 44.7
(7.1)		 48.1
(8.9)		 47.1
(8.4)		 39.6
(4.2)		 32.9
(0.5)		 27.6
(−2.4)		 20.8
(−6.2)		 33.15
(0.65)
Record low °F (°C) −46
(−43)		 −37
(−38)		 −20
(−29)		 −5
(−21)		 12
(−11)		 24
(−4)		 30
(−1)		 26
(−3)		 13
(−11)		 −7
(−22)		 −27
(−33)		 −39
(−39)		 −46
(−43)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.95
(49.5)		 1.47
(37.3)		 1.31
(33.3)		 1.05
(26.7)		 1.63
(41.4)		 1.68
(42.7)		 1.30
(33)		 1.01
(25.7)		 1.02
(25.9)		 1.37
(34.8)		 2.40
(61)		 2.21
(56.1)		 18.4
(467.4)
Source #1: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000)[6]
Source #2: The Weather Channel (Records)[7]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1890260—
190029613.8%
1910630112.8%
19201,522141.6%
19301,75215.1%
19401,8374.9%
19502,40130.7%
19602,82817.8%
19703,28616.2%
19802,748−16.4%
19902,532−7.9%
20002,6263.7%
20102,6280.1%
source:[8][9]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 2,628 people, 1,252 households, and 647 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,375.9 inhabitants per square mile (531.2/km2). There were 1,416 housing units at an average density of 741.4 per square mile (286.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.9% White, 0.1% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 1,252 households of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 48.3% were non-families. 41.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.71.

The median age in the city was 45.8 years. 19.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.4% were from 25 to 44; 28.6% were from 45 to 64; and 22.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

Economy

Libby's economy had been largely supported in the past by the use of natural resources such as logging and mining. Mining and timber mills have since closed down. Tourism is playing an increasing role in the local economy. 17 miles (27 km) upstream from Libby is the site of the Libby Dam, one of the Columbia River Treaty Dams, finished in 1975. Libby is also known as the "City of Eagles". Several eagle sculptures can be found all around town, including a 60-foot (18 m) eagle on the edge of town.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been overseeing the removal of asbestos-contaminated soils and other suspect materials in and near Libby since May 2000,[10] and has spent $425 million in Superfund money on cleanup.[11][12][13]

On June 17, 2009, the EPA declared its first public health emergency. This emergency covers Libby and nearby Troy. It will provide an additional $130 million in cleanup and medical assistance.[10] The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act includes a provision which provided Medicare coverage to individuals of such public health emergencies.[14][15]

Media

Radio
Newspaper

Education

Public schools

Libby is served by the Libby School District.[16]

Private schools

Transportation

Amtrak serves Libby through a local station.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  4. ↑ "FirstVoices: Nature / Environment - place names: words. Ktunaxa.". Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  6. ↑ "Climatography of the United States NO.81". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Monthly Averages for Libby, MT". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  8. ↑ Moffatt, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850-1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 132.
  9. ↑ "Subcounty population estimates: Montana 2000-2007" (CSV). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. March 18, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Asbestos cleanup 'emergency' declared in Montana town". CNN. June 17, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Libby, Montana: Health Risk Remains In Asbestos-Plagued Town". Huffington Post. May 3, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Libby Asbestos". Huffington Post. May 4, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Petition For Writ of Certiorari, W.R. Grace & Co., Kootenai Development Company, and W.R. Grace & Co.- Conn, petitioners" (PDF). April 27, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  14. ↑ Pear, Robert (December 20, 2009). "Deep in Health Bill, Very Specific Beneficiaries". The New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  15. ↑ Werner, Erica (December 21, 2009). "Libby is big winner in Senate's mammoth health care bill". Associated Press. The Missoulian. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  16. ↑ Libby School District
  17. ↑ Libby High School
  18. ↑ Libby Middle School
  19. ↑ Libby Adventist Christian School
  20. ↑ Kootenai Valley Christian School

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Libby, Montana.