Editing Plains, Montana

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Plains, Montana
| settlement_type                 = [[Town]]
| nickname                        = 
| motto                           = 
<!-- Images -->
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| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = 
| image_flag                      = 
| image_seal                      = 
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| image_map                       = Sanders_County_Montana_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Plains_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location of Plains, Montana
| image_map1                      = 
| mapsize1                        = 
| map_caption1                    = 
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = United States
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Montana]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Montana|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Sanders County, Montana|Sanders]]
| government_footnotes            = 
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = 
| leader_name                     = 
| leader_title1                   = 
| leader_name1                    = 
| established_title               = 
| established_date                = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 5, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 1.59
| area_land_km2                   = 1.59
| area_water_km2                  = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi                = 0.61
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 0.61
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est                  = 
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
| pop_est_footnotes               = 
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 1106
| population_density_km2          = 694.82
| population_density_sq_mi        = 1798.37

<!-- General information -->
| timezone                        = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
| utc_offset                      = −7
| timezone_DST                    = MDT
| utc_offset_DST                  = −6
| elevation_footnotes             = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft                    = 2471
| coordinates                     = {{coord|47|27|31|N|114|53|6|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code                     = 59859
| area_code                       = [[Area code 406|406]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 30-58150
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 0788983<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|788983}}</ref>
| website                         = http://www.plainsmontana.com/
| footnotes                       = 
| name                            = 
}}

'''Plains''' ([[Montana Salish|Salish]]: '''ncc̓kʷi'''<ref name = "tachinipete1">{{Cite book|publisher=Bilingual Education Department, [[Salish Kootenai College]]|last=Tachini|first=Pete|author2=Louie Adams, Sophie Mays, Mary Lucy Parker, Johnny Arlee, Frances Vanderburg, Lucy Vanderburg, Diana Christopher-Cote|title=nyoʻnuntn q̓éymin, Flathead Nation Salish dictionary|location=[[Pablo, Montana]]|page=104|year=1998}}</ref>) is a town in [[Sanders County, Montana|Sanders County]], [[Montana]], United States. The population was 1,106 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 2, 2021}}</ref>  It was founded as ''Horse Plains'' and sometimes called ''Wild Horse Plains'', as the local Native Americans would winter their horses here to feed on the grasses in the valley. The name was later shortened to Plains when the US Postal Service established a presence in 1905.<ref>{{cite web|title=Plains/Paradise history|url=https://plainsmtchamber.org/History.html|publisher=Plains Chamber of Commerce|access-date=June 6, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130620010239/https://plainsmtchamber.org/History.html|archive-date=June 20, 2013}}</ref>

The town was established in 1883 as a [[Northern Pacific Railroad]] station.<ref name="mhs">{{cite web |title=Plains|url=http://mtplacenames.org/ |website=Montana Place Names Companion |publisher=Montana Historical Society |access-date=April 8, 2021}}</ref>

==Geography==
Plains is located at {{coord|47|27|31|N|114|53|6|W|type:city}} (47.458504, −114.885024).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>  The town straddles the [[Clark Fork River]] with the fairgrounds on one shore and the town proper on the other.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.60|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 18, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 25, 2012}}</ref>

===Climate===
This [[climate|climatic]] region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Plains has a [[humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Plains, Montana Climate Classification |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=463642&cityname=Plains%252C+Montana%252C+United+States+of+America&units= |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Weatherbase}}</ref>

<div style="width:75%;">
{{Weather box
|location = Plains, Montana
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F =  61
|Feb record high F =  67
|Mar record high F =  77
|Apr record high F =  90
|May record high F =  96
|Jun record high F = 99
|Jul record high F = 103
|Aug record high F = 108
|Sep record high F =  100
|Oct record high F =  89
|Nov record high F =  72
|Dec record high F =  53
|year record high F= 108
|Jan high F = 35
|Feb high F = 41
|Mar high F = 51
|Apr high F = 60
|May high F = 69
|Jun high F = 77
|Jul high F = 86
|Aug high F = 86
|Sep high F = 74
|Oct high F = 59
|Nov high F = 42
|Dec high F = 33
|year high F=
|Jan low F = 21
|Feb low F = 22
|Mar low F = 27
|Apr low F = 32
|May low F = 37
|Jun low F = 44
|Jul low F = 47
|Aug low F = 45
|Sep low F = 38
|Oct low F = 31
|Nov low F = 27
|Dec low F = 19
|year low F=
|Jan record low F = −32
|Feb record low F = −26
|Mar record low F = −11
|Apr record low F =  10
|May record low F =  20
|Jun record low F =  24
|Jul record low F =  27
|Aug record low F =  16
|Sep record low F =  17
|Oct record low F =  -6
|Nov record low F = −12
|Dec record low F = −34
|year record low F= −34
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.6
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.6
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.0
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.4
|May precipitation inch = 2.0
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.7
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.0
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.1
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.3
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.7
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.2
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.1
|year precipitation inch= 
|Jan snow inch =  
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|source 1 = The Weather Channel<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/USMT0258:1:US |title= Monthly Weather for Plains, Montana | publisher=Weather.com
|year=2016 |access-date=April 20, 2016}}</ref>
|date=April 2016
}}
</div>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 481
|1920= 452
|1930= 522
|1940= 624
|1950= 714
|1960= 769
|1970= 1046
|1980= 1116
|1990= 992
|2000= 1126
|2010= 1048
|2020= 1106
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="2010 Census">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,048 people, 502 households, and 256 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1746.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 593 housing units at an average density of {{convert|988.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the town was 94.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.0% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.4% of the population.

There were 502 households, of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 49.0% were non-families. Of all households 43.8% were made up of individuals, and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.99 and the average family size was 2.78.

The median age in the town was 47.2 years. Of residents 21.1% were under the age of 18; 6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.8% were from 25 to 44; 28.2% were from 45 to 64; and 24% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,126 people, 472 households, and 297 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|2,005.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 532 housing units at an average density of {{convert|947.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.91% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.09% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.24% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.36% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.36% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.04% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.93% of the population.

There were 472 households, out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. Of all households 32.4% were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $26,331, and the median income for a family was $30,893. Males had a median income of $26,875 versus $16,058 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $13,010. About 16.7% of families and 20.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Infrastructure==
[[Plains Airport]] is a county-owned public-use airport located {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} northwest of town.

==Education==
[[File:HISTORIC SCHOOLHOUSE, PLAINS, SANDERS COUNTY.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The old Wild Horse Plains Schoolhouse]]
Plains Public Schools educates students from kindergarten through 12th grade.<ref>{{cite web |title=Plains Public Schools |url=https://www.plainsschools.net/ |publisher=Plains Public Schools |access-date=April 13, 2021}}</ref> [[Plains High School (Montana)|Plains High School]], a Class C school, serves local teenagers. They are known as the Horsemen/Trotters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Member Schools |url=https://www.mhsa.org/memberschools |publisher=Montana High School Association |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> Its students can participate in sports and extracurricular activities. There are also numerous community youth organizations and clubs including soccer, baseball, softball, drama, and art.

Plains Public Library serves the area.<ref>{{cite web |title=Plains Public Library |url=http://www.plainslibrary.org/ |publisher=Plains Public Library |access-date=April 13, 2021}}</ref>

==Churches==
* Assembly of God
* Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
* Clarkfork Baptist Church is an Independent Baptist Church. The pastor is Kim Ray Earhart; established in 1993.
* First Lutheran Church (ELCA) is located within the town limits.
* Harvest Community Church. The pastor is Todd Brouillette and the associate pastor is Jeff Burrows.
* Plains Alliance Church
* Plains Bible Chapel
* Plains United Methodist Church
* St. James Catholic Church

==Media==
The ''[[Sanders County Ledger]]'' is a local newspaper <ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=https://www.scledger.net/about |publisher=Sanders County Ledger |access-date=January 3, 2024}}</ref> along with the ''[[Clark Fork Valley Press]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Latest News |url=http://clarkforkvalleypress.mt.newsmemory.com/landing.php |publisher=Clark Fork Valley Press/Mineral Independent |access-date=August 31, 2023}}</ref> Both are printed weekly and also available online.

The radio station [[KPLG]] is licensed in Plains.<ref>{{cite web |title=KPLG |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=85426 |publisher=FCC |access-date=August 31, 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Sanders County, Montana}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Sanders County, Montana]]