:Saco, Montana
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Saco, Montana
|native_name =
|settlement_type = Town
|nickname =
|motto =
|image_skyline = Saco Montana Panorama 2.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Downtown Saco
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
|image_map = Phillips_County_Montana_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Saco_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize = 250px
|map_caption = Location of Saco, Montana
|image_map1 =
|mapsize1 =
|map_caption1 =
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Montana
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Phillips
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|leader_title1 =
|leader_name1 =
|established_title =
|established_date =
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 0.79
|area_land_km2 = 0.79
|area_water_km2 = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi = 0.30
|area_land_sq_mi = 0.30
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_est =
|pop_est_as_of =
|population_footnotes =
|population_total = 159
|population_density_km2 = 201.97
|population_density_sq_mi = 523.03
|timezone = Mountain (MST)
|utc_offset = -7
|timezone_DST = MDT
|utc_offset_DST = -6
|elevation_ft = 2182
|coordinates = {{coord|48|27|25|N|107|20|29|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = ZIP code
|postal_code = 59261
|area_code = 406
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = 30-65050
|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank1_info = 2412590{{GNIS|2412590}}
|website = {{URL|http://www.sacomontana.net}}
|footnotes =
|pop_est_footnotes =
}}
Saco is a town in Phillips County, Montana, United States. The population was 159 at the 2020 census.{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 2, 2021}}
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|0.33|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.{{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|accessdate=December 18, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archivedate=July 2, 2012|df=}}
=Climate=
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Saco has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.{{Cite web |title=Saco, Montana Climate Classification |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=562742&cityname=Saco%252C+Montana%252C+United+States+of+America&units= |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Weatherbase}}
{{Weather box
|location = Saco, Montana, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1966–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = yes
|Jan record high F = 62
|Feb record high F = 72
|Mar record high F = 79
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 100
|Jun record high F = 104
|Jul record high F = 104
|Aug record high F = 105
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F = 89
|Nov record high F = 78
|Dec record high F = 67
|Jan avg record high F = 48.5
|Feb avg record high F = 51.2
|Mar avg record high F = 66.0
|Apr avg record high F = 79.6
|May avg record high F = 85.6
|Jun avg record high F = 91.3
|Jul avg record high F = 95.5
|Aug avg record high F = 96.2
|Sep avg record high F = 91.1
|Oct avg record high F = 80.3
|Nov avg record high F = 64.1
|Dec avg record high F = 48.9
|year avg record high F = 98.1
|Jan high F = 25.6
|Feb high F = 30.1
|Mar high F = 42.8
|Apr high F = 57.3
|May high F = 67.5
|Jun high F = 74.3
|Jul high F = 82.8
|Aug high F = 82.1
|Sep high F = 71.5
|Oct high F = 57.2
|Nov high F = 40.8
|Dec high F = 29.0
|year high F =
|Jan mean F = 13.6
|Feb mean F = 17.8
|Mar mean F = 30.1
|Apr mean F = 43.2
|May mean F = 53.7
|Jun mean F = 62.3
|Jul mean F = 69.0
|Aug mean F = 67.6
|Sep mean F = 56.9
|Oct mean F = 43.4
|Nov mean F = 28.7
|Dec mean F = 17.4
|year mean F =
|Jan low F = 1.5
|Feb low F = 5.5
|Mar low F = 17.4
|Apr low F = 29.1
|May low F = 39.9
|Jun low F = 50.4
|Jul low F = 55.2
|Aug low F = 53.1
|Sep low F = 42.3
|Oct low F = 29.7
|Nov low F = 16.6
|Dec low F = 5.9
|year low F =
|Jan avg record low F = -27.4
|Feb avg record low F = -19.5
|Mar avg record low F = -6.3
|Apr avg record low F = 14.1
|May avg record low F = 25.8
|Jun avg record low F = 39.6
|Jul avg record low F = 45.6
|Aug avg record low F = 41.1
|Sep avg record low F = 28.7
|Oct avg record low F = 13.7
|Nov avg record low F = -5.7
|Dec avg record low F = -19.4
|year avg record low F = -33.3
|Jan record low F = -51
|Feb record low F = -45
|Mar record low F = -34
|Apr record low F = -5
|May record low F = 14
|Jun record low F = 28
|Jul record low F = 34
|Aug record low F = 31
|Sep record low F = 17
|Oct record low F = -9
|Nov record low F = -37
|Dec record low F = -48
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.26
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.33
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.53
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.05
|May precipitation inch = 1.77
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.01
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.69
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.35
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.35
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.05
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.54
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.43
|year precipitation inch =
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 3.7
|Feb precipitation days = 3.2
|Mar precipitation days = 3.5
|Apr precipitation days = 5.4
|May precipitation days = 7.1
|Jun precipitation days = 9.6
|Jul precipitation days = 6.6
|Aug precipitation days = 5.0
|Sep precipitation days = 5.1
|Oct precipitation days = 3.9
|Nov precipitation days = 3.4
|Dec precipitation days = 3.8
|Jan snow inch = 4.3
|Feb snow inch = 4.9
|Mar snow inch = 7.0
|Apr snow inch = 2.3
|May snow inch = 0.4
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.5
|Dec snow inch = 2.3
|year snow inch = 4.9
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 3.2
|Feb snow days = 3.6
|Mar snow days = 1.2
|Apr snow days = 0.3
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.2
|Nov snow days = 1.2
|Dec snow days = 3.2
|Jan snow depth inch = 6.6
|Feb snow depth inch = 6.5
|Mar snow depth inch = 4.5
|Apr snow depth inch = 1.8
|May snow depth inch = 0.6
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.0
|Oct snow depth inch = 1.0
|Nov snow depth inch = 2.8
|Dec snow depth inch = 5.7
|year snow depth inch = 9.0
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00247265&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Saco 1NNW, MT
|access-date = December 29, 2022
}}
|source 2 = National Weather Service
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=ggw
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Glasgow
|access-date = December 29, 2022
}}
}}
History
Faced with the task of naming hundreds of station stops along the High Line, Great Northern Railway officials resorted to "globe trotting." According to one story, an official spun a globe and put his finger on Saco, Maine, thus giving the town its name.{{cite web |title=Saco|url=http://mtplacenames.org/ |website=Montana Place Names Companion |publisher=Montana Historical Society |access-date=April 9, 2021}} Another story tells that the name is a contraction of "Sacajawea." For two years, Saco boasted the Guinness world record for making the world's largest hamburger, building the 6,040-pound burger from the beef of 17 cattle in 1999.Aarstad, Rich, Ellie Arguimbau, Ellen Baumler, Charlene Porsild, and Brian Shovers. [http://mhs.mt.gov/pub/press/reference.asp#PlaceNames Montana Place Names from Alzada to Zortman] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008060633/http://mhs.mt.gov/pub/press/reference.asp |date=October 8, 2009 }}. Montana Historical Society Press.
Demographics
{{US Census population
|1920= 425
|1930= 506
|1940= 452
|1950= 539
|1960= 490
|1970= 356
|1980= 252
|1990= 261
|2000= 224
|2010= 197
|2020= 159
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}
}}
=2010 census=
As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=December 18, 2012}} of 2010, there were 197 people, 102 households, and 47 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|597.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 127 housing units at an average density of {{convert|384.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 94.4% White, 1.0% Asian, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.5% of the population.
There were 102 households, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 53.9% were non-families. 47.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.93 and the average family size was 2.83.
The median age in the town was 48.1 years. 21.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 2.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 33% were from 45 to 64; and 21.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.
=2000 census=
As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 224 people, 109 households, and 57 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|683.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 135 housing units at an average density of {{convert|412.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 96.43% White, 1.79% Native American, and 1.79% from two or more races.
There were 109 households, out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.8% were non-families. 44.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.9% 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 2.84.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $23,125, and the median income for a family was $26,667. Males had a median income of $23,125 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,421. About 14.3% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under the age of eighteen and 13.2% of those 65 or over.
Education
Saco School District educates students from kindergarten through 12th grade.{{cite web |title=Saco School District |url=http://sacoschools.k12.mt.us/ |publisher=Saco School District |access-date=April 13, 2021}} Saco High School's team name is the Panthers.{{cite web |title=Member Schools |url=https://www.mhsa.org/memberschools |publisher=Montana High School Association |access-date=April 19, 2021}}
Phillips County Library has a branch location in Saco.{{cite web |title=Phillips County Library |url=https://mslservices.mt.gov/ASPeN/Organizations/Organization_Detail?Organization_ID=1019 |publisher=Montana State Library |access-date=April 13, 2021}}
Media
The Phillips County News is a weekly local newspaper.{{cite web |title=News |url=https://www.phillipscountynews.com/section/news |publisher=Phillips County News |access-date=January 2, 2024}} They provide a printed paper as well as news online.
Transportation
Amtrak’s Empire Builder, which operates between Seattle/Portland and Chicago, passes through the town on BNSF tracks, but makes no stop. The nearest station is located in Malta, {{convert|28|mi}} to the west.
Notable people
Images
File:Saco Mercantile (2013) - Phillips County, Montana.png|Saco Mercantile
File:Saco Montana Panorama 1.jpg|Church and water tower in Saco
File:Saco Montana Park.jpg|Park
File:Chet Huntley School Saco Montana.jpg|Chet Huntley School in Saco
File:Saco Montana Downtown and Water Tower.jpg|Water Tower overlooks downtown Saco
File:Saco Montana Sign Looking East US2.jpg|The sign for Saco looking east at U.S. Route 2
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Saco, Montana}}
- [http://www.sacomontana.net Saco, Montana website]
{{Phillips County, Montana}}
{{Authority control}}