Culbertson, Montana

Culbertson was created in June 1887 following the arrival of the Great Northern Railway, then known as the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway. The town was named after Major Alexander Culbertson, former head of the American Fur Company's Fort Union, {{convert|23|mi|km}} to the east.{{cite web|title=Montana Place Names Companion|url=http://mtplacenames.org/|work=Montana Place Names From Alzada to Zortman|publisher=Montana Historical Society Research Center|accessdate=May 9, 2011}}

The settlement of Culbertson followed hard on the heels of the 1886-87 watershed years for the early cattle industry. As a result, the first settlers in the area raised horses for the US Cavalry’s various Montana and Dakota posts. As cattle prices slowly rebounded, the range was once again stocked with cattle, though the second wave of cattlemen utilized hardy English breeds instead of the Texas longhorns of the earlier outfits.{{cite book |title=Montana, A History of Two Centuries |last=Malone |first=Michael P. |author2=Richard B. Roeder |author3=William L. Lang |year=1991 |publisher=University of Washington Press |location=Seattle and London}}

With the passage of new homestead laws in 1909 enabling homesteaders to take out larger acreages, the area saw an influx of dryland farmers. With its railroad connection, Culbertson became the center of the area’s agricultural trade. When the agricultural boom went bust after World War II and never resumed its former glory, Culbertson saw a gradual decline in businesses and population. This was somewhat ameliorated by a heavy railroad presence in the community.

Culbertson also became a surviving center as smaller adjacent communities dried up in the agricultural depression of the 1920s and 1930s. With better automobiles and better roads, farmers and ranchers could live farther from centers of trade.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|0.60|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/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=January 25, 2012 }}

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Culbertson has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=221242&cityname=Culbertson%2C+Montana%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Culbertson, Montana]

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| collapsed = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Culbertson, Montana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1900–1914, 1923–present)

| Jan record high F = 61

| Feb record high F = 69

| Mar record high F = 81

| Apr record high F = 94

| May record high F = 103

| Jun record high F = 109

| Jul record high F = 113

| Aug record high F = 109

| Sep record high F = 105

| Oct record high F = 96

| Nov record high F = 80

| Dec record high F = 66

| year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 46.6

|Feb avg record high F = 49.6

|Mar avg record high F = 67.2

|Apr avg record high F = 79.9

|May avg record high F = 87.5

|Jun avg record high F = 93.3

|Jul avg record high F = 98.0

|Aug avg record high F = 98.5

|Sep avg record high F = 94.3

|Oct avg record high F = 81.5

|Nov avg record high F = 63.9

|Dec avg record high F = 48.0

|year avg record high F = 100.4

| Jan high F = 24.4

| Feb high F = 29.8

| Mar high F = 43.5

| Apr high F = 59.4

| May high F = 70.7

| Jun high F = 79.0

| Jul high F = 86.5

| Aug high F = 86.5

| Sep high F = 75.7

| Oct high F = 58.9

| Nov high F = 40.5

| Dec high F = 27.9

| year high F = 56.9

| Jan mean F = 13.3

| Feb mean F = 18.3

| Mar mean F = 31.0

| Apr mean F = 44.7

| May mean F = 55.5

| Jun mean F = 64.6

| Jul mean F = 71.1

| Aug mean F = 70.0

| Sep mean F = 59.6

| Oct mean F = 45.0

| Nov mean F = 29.0

| Dec mean F = 17.2

| year mean F = 43.3

| Jan low F = 2.1

| Feb low F = 6.9

| Mar low F = 18.4

| Apr low F = 29.9

| May low F = 40.4

| Jun low F = 50.2

| Jul low F = 55.7

| Aug low F = 53.5

| Sep low F = 43.5

| Oct low F = 31.1

| Nov low F = 17.5

| Dec low F = 6.5

| year low F = 29.6

|Jan avg record low F = -26.9

|Feb avg record low F = -20.4

|Mar avg record low F = -8.3

|Apr avg record low F = 12.6

|May avg record low F = 23.5

|Jun avg record low F = 36.5

|Jul avg record low F = 43.7

|Aug avg record low F = 39.1

|Sep avg record low F = 26.5

|Oct avg record low F = 11.6

|Nov avg record low F = -6.4

|Dec avg record low F = -20.5

|year avg record low F = -31.7

| Jan record low F = -50

| Feb record low F = -57

| Mar record low F = -34

| Apr record low F = -12

| May record low F = 11

| Jun record low F = 26

| Jul record low F = 33

| Aug record low F = 25

| Sep record low F = 11

| Oct record low F = -8

| Nov record low F = -31

| Dec record low F = -48

| year record low F =

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 0.36

| Feb precipitation inch = 0.31

| Mar precipitation inch = 0.49

| Apr precipitation inch = 0.94

| May precipitation inch = 2.25

| Jun precipitation inch = 2.88

| Jul precipitation inch = 2.73

| Aug precipitation inch = 1.40

| Sep precipitation inch = 1.33

| Oct precipitation inch = 0.91

| Nov precipitation inch = 0.49

| Dec precipitation inch = 0.43

| year precipitation inch = 14.52

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 4.4

| Feb precipitation days = 3.5

| Mar precipitation days = 4.5

| Apr precipitation days = 5.2

| May precipitation days = 8.8

| Jun precipitation days = 11.3

| Jul precipitation days = 8.8

| Aug precipitation days = 6.4

| Sep precipitation days = 6.2

| Oct precipitation days = 5.4

| Nov precipitation days = 4.5

| Dec precipitation days = 4.6

| year precipitation days = 73.6

| source = NOAA{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=ggw

|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = December 15, 2023}}{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00242122&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = December 15, 2023}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1910= 528

|1920= 547

|1930= 536

|1940= 585

|1950= 779

|1960= 919

|1970= 821

|1980= 887

|1990= 796

|2000= 716

|2010= 714

|2020= 753

|align-fn=center

|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=July 19, 2016}}

}}

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 714 people, 296 households, and 191 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1190.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 336 housing units at an average density of {{convert|560.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 88.9% White, 0.3% African American, 6.3% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.

There were 296 households, of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.5% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the town was 43 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.7% were from 25 to 44; 29% were from 45 to 64; and 18.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.1% male and 48.9% female.

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 716 people, 295 households, and 192 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,213.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 356 housing units at an average density of {{convert|603.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 89.53% White, 0.28% African American, 6.01% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.84% from other races, and 3.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.

There were 295 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,000, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $26,771 versus $14,643 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,393. About 11.2% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.

Culbertson School serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade.{{cite web |title=Culbertson School |url=https://www.culbertsonschool.com/ |publisher=Culbertson School |access-date=April 12, 2021}} Culbertson High School's team name is the Cowboys/Cowgirls.{{cite web |title=Member Schools |url=https://www.mhsa.org/memberschools |publisher=Montana High School Association |access-date=April 19, 2021}}

Roosevelt County Library, headquartered in Wolf Point, has a branch location in Culbertson.{{cite web |title=Roosevelt County Library |url=https://rooseveltcountylibrary.org/ |publisher=Roosevelt County Library |access-date=April 12, 2021}}

The Community News is a weekly local newspaper.{{cite web |title=Community News |date=February 5, 2020 |url=https://www.northernplainsindependent.com/contact-us/ |publisher=Northern Plains Independent |access-date=September 2, 2023}} It is a sister paper to the Northern Plains Independent of Wolf Point.

The Theodore Roosevelt Expressway intersects the town from the north. U.S. Route 2 passes through from east to west.

Big Sky Field Airport is a public use airport located 1 mile northeast of town.{{cite web |title=S85 Big Sky Fld |url=https://nfdc.faa.gov/nfdcApps/services/ajv5/airportDisplay.jsp?airportId=s85 |publisher=FAA |access-date=September 2, 2023}}

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 Williston, {{convert|43|mi}} to the east.

• Lane Chandler, western film actor; lived here as a child
• Terry Falcon, former NFL player for the New England Patriots and New York Giants; grew up here
• Austin Knudsen, attorney who served as a member and Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives
• Rhonda Knudsen, retired civil engineer and member of the Montana House of Representatives

{{reflist|1}}

{{Official website|https://culbertsonmt.com/}}

{{Roosevelt County, Montana}}

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Category:Towns in Roosevelt County, Montana

Category:Montana populated places on the Missouri River

Category:Populated places established in 1887

Category:1887 establishments in Montana Territory