West Yellowstone, Montana

West Yellowstone is a town in Gallatin County, Montana, United States, adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. The population was 1,272 at the 2020 census.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">Template:Cite web</ref> West Yellowstone is served by Yellowstone Airport. It is part of the Bozeman, MT Micropolitan Statistical Area.

West Yellowstone offers lodging, gift shops, and other services to travelers visiting nearby Yellowstone National Park.

History

Founded in June 1908 when the Oregon Short Line Railroad was completed, the town's name changed several times until West Yellowstone was settled upon in 1920.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Train service to West Yellowstone ended in 1960. The town was incorporated in 1966.<ref name="mhs">Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of Template:Convert, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>

Climate

At Template:Convert above sea level and nearly halfway between the equator and the North Pole, West Yellowstone experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc), with cold — sometimes bitterly cold — winters and brief but generally warm summers. West Yellowstone is snow-covered from the beginning of November until the beginning of May. At the peak of the snowpack, which typically occurs in early March, there is 3.5 – 4 feet of snow on the ground. In 2007–2008, West Yellowstone had snow on the ground from late October until mid May, with 4.5 feet of snow by late March. During the summer, the average low is Template:Convert, and the average high is Template:Convert. During the coldest month, January, the average low is Template:Convert, and the average high is Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

West Yellowstone holds the all-time lowest recorded temperature for any residential community in the contiguous United States at Template:Convert, although a lower temperature was once recorded at Rogers Pass, Montana, at Template:Convert. Template:Weather box

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census<ref name ="2010 Census">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2010, there were 1,271 people, 617 households, and 298 families residing in the town. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 969 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the town was 86.6% White, 0.4% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 7.5% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 17.9% of the population.

There were 617 households, of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 51.7% were non-families. 42.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06, and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the town was 39.4 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.1% were from 25 to 44; 34.2% were from 45 to 64; and 8.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 53.1% male and 46.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Clarify of 2000, there were 1,177 people, 518 households, and 289 families residing in the town. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 806 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the town was 91.93% White, 0.34% African American, 0.85% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 4.84% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.73% of the population.

There were 518 households, out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 5.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 123.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 121.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,703, and the median income for a family was $37,250. Males had a median income of $24,297 versus $20,909 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,136. About 9.1% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.2% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

File:West Yellowstone, MT.jpg

Eagle's store in West Yellowstone, 1939

Tourism

Because of its proximity to Yellowstone National Park, the town receives a large amount of tourism, especially from China. To cater to these tourists, the town has commercial signage in Mandarin as well as six Chinese restaurants. It is estimated to receive more than half its annual business from Chinese tourists.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Education

The CDP is in the West Yellowstone K-12 school district.<ref name="Schooldistrictlist2020">Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

The town has one school, the West Yellowstone School, serving kindergarten through 12th grade.<ref> Template:Cite web</ref> West Yellowstone High School is a class C school<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (fewer than 108 students) which helps determine athletic competitions. They are known as the Wolverines.

West Yellowstone Public Library serves the area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Media

Three radio stations are licensed in West Yellowstone. KWYS (AM),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> broadcasting at 920 kHz and locally owned by Radio West, LLC, plays an oldies format. The FM station KEZQ<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> plays soft adult contemporary music. KPWY<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is a religious radio station.

Infrastructure

Layout

The D Parkway road roughly separates the town into residential and commercial areas. South of D Parkway is mainly a business/commercial area, while northward is a residential area of homes and apartments. The area north of D Parkway is known to locals as the "Madison Addition".Template:Citation needed

Transportation

The West Yellowstone Airport, a mainly summer-operating airport, is to the north of town.

U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 191 pass through the town.

The Union Pacific Railroad historically operated the Butte Special (29/30), which linked with a coordinated train, the Yellowstone Special (35/36), which ran from Pocatello, Idaho to West Yellowstone. The two trains ran linked from Pocatello to Idaho Falls, where the latter train split off for West Yellowstone.<ref>Union Pacific 1951 timetable http://streamlinermemories.info/UP/UP9-51TT.pdf</ref> Service ended in 1971.

See also

• Angling in Yellowstone National Park

External links

• Town of West Yellowstone
• West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Information Center