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Livingston, Montana

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Livingston, Montana
Downtown Livingston
Downtown Livingston
Location of Livingston, Montana
Location of Livingston, Montana
CountryUnited States
StateMontana
CountyPark
Area
 • Total
6.03 sq mi (15.62 km2)
 • Land6.02 sq mi (15.59 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
4,501 ft (1,372 m)
Population
 • Total
7,044
 • Estimate 
(2012[3])
7,053
 • Density1,170.1/sq mi (451.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
59047
Area code406
FIPS code30-43975
GNIS feature ID0773511
Websitewww.livingstonmontana.org

Livingston is a city in and the county seat of Park County, Montana, United States.[4] Livingston is located in southwestern Montana, on the Yellowstone River, north of Yellowstone National Park. The population was 7,044 at the 2010 census.

History

Livingston evolved from a trading post on the Yellowstone River called Benson’s Landing which was approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) downstream from present day Livingston. In July 1882, when Northern Pacific Railway (NPR) contractors arrived, the trading post was renamed Clark City for contractor Heman Clark. The railroad officially reached Clark City on November 22, 1882. At that time, the community moved to its present location upstream from the trading post and was renamed Livingston in honor of a Northern Pacific Railway stockholder and director, Johnston Livingston (1875–81 and 1884–87).[5] Livingston became the first gateway town to Yellowstone National Park, which the NPR began promoting heavily to visitors from the East. The NPR operated a branch line running some sixty miles south to first the Cinnabar station and later Gardiner, Montana. Livingston was also headquarters for the NPR's Central Division and location for railroad shops to service NPR steam trains before their ascent over the Bozeman Pass, the highest point on the line 5,702 feet (1,738 m).[6]

Livingston is situated on the Yellowstone River where it bends from north to east towards Billings and in proximity to Interstate 90. In July 1806 Captain William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped on the city's present outskirts on the return trip east preparing to descend the Yellowstone River. Clark's party rejoined the Lewis party at the confluence with the Missouri River, near Williston, North Dakota.

Though a small city, Livingston is home to a number of popular tourist points. The Livingston Depot, built in 1902 after two predecessors, is a restored rail station that today houses a railroad museum open from May through September. The Yellowstone Gateway Museum documents regional history from one of the oldest North American archaeological sites to Wild Western and Yellowstone history. The International Fly Fishing Federation's museum is an extensive introduction to a popular game sport and hosts annual enthusiasts meetings. The city was inhabited for two decades by Calamity Jane and visited by adventurous traveling members of European royalty. Today it is a small art haven, filming location (A River Runs Through It, The Horse Whisperer, Rancho Deluxe, and others), fishing destination, railroad town, and writers' and actors' colony. In 1938, Dan Bailey, an eastern fly-fisherman, established his Dan Bailey's Fly Shop and mail order fly tying business on Park Street where it still resides today.[7] Livingston is also the home of the Fly Fishing Discovery Center, a museum operated by the Federation of Fly Fishers.[8] Actors Peter Fonda, Margot Kidder, as well as Saturday Night Live alumnus Rich Hall, musician Ron Strykert, novelist Walter Kirn, and poet Jim Harrison live in the city. Jimmy Buffett mentions Livingston in multiple songs.

Like many rural areas, its economy is flat but steady, and like the rest of the state, the unemployment rate is below the national average. A significant proportion of its workforce, approaching half, commutes to Bozeman,[citation needed] as well as the destination resort Chico Hot Springs some twenty-five miles south, and various campsites and ranches in the high-value area of Paradise Valley. Recently, the city has invested much time and money into creating attractions and accommodations for tourists visiting during the Lewis and Clark bicentennial years. It has a sister-city relationship with Naganohara, Japan.

Geography

Panoramic view, Livingston, 1922

Livingston is located at 45°39′32″N 110°33′49″W / 45.65889°N 110.56361°W / 45.65889; -110.56361 (45.658840, -110.563718),[9] at an altitude of 4,501 feet (1372 m).[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.03 square miles (15.62 km2), of which, 6.02 square miles (15.59 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[1]

Climate

Climate data for Livingston, Montana
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 67
(19)
70
(21)
75
(24)
86
(30)
93
(34)
99
(37)
104
(40)
105
(41)
99
(37)
88
(31)
77
(25)
62
(17)
105
(41)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 35
(2)
41
(5)
47
(8)
55
(13)
65
(18)
75
(24)
85
(29)
85
(29)
73
(23)
60
(16)
44
(7)
36
(2)
58
(15)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 16
(−9)
20
(−7)
25
(−4)
31
(−1)
38
(3)
46
(8)
50
(10)
48
(9)
40
(4)
33
(1)
24
(−4)
18
(−8)
32
(0)
Record low °F (°C) −32
(−36)
−33
(−36)
−21
(−29)
−2
(−19)
11
(−12)
27
(−3)
35
(2)
28
(−2)
10
(−12)
−11
(−24)
−31
(−35)
−41
(−41)
−41
(−41)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.64
(16)
0.48
(12)
0.85
(22)
1.58
(40)
2.83
(72)
2.46
(62)
1.54
(39)
1.37
(35)
1.48
(38)
1.20
(30)
0.74
(19)
0.56
(14)
15.73
(399)
Source: [11]

Livingston, Montana has some of the warmest winters in the state, but the temperature can feel cold because Livingston is also one of the windiest places in the USA, having the 2nd highest average wind speed among airport/AMOS stations from 2000 to 2010.[12]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18902,850
19002,778−2.5%
19105,35992.9%
19206,31117.8%
19306,3911.3%
19406,6423.9%
19507,68315.7%
19608,2297.1%
19706,883−16.4%
19806,9941.6%
19906,701−4.2%
20006,8512.2%
20107,0442.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
Montana Cities/Towns: 1890-2000[14]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 7,044 people, 3,356 households, and 1,744 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,170.1 inhabitants per square mile (451.8/km2). There were 3,779 housing units at an average density of 627.7 per square mile (242.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.2% White, 0.1% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 3,356 households of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 48.0% were non-families. 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.81.

The median age in the city was 41.1 years. 21% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.3% were from 25 to 44; 28.9% were from 45 to 64; and 16.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census,[15] there were 6,851 people, 3,084 households and 1,751 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,601.3 per square mile (1,005.8/km²). There were 3,360 housing units at an average density of 1,275.8 per square mile (493.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.39% White, 0.31% African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.60% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.16% of the population.

There were 3,084 households of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 37.5% 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 2.16 and the average family size was 2.86.

Age distribution was 22.7% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.

The median household income was $28,980, and the median family income was $40,505. Males had a median income of $26,619 versus $18,684 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,636. About 5.6% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Historically a railroad city until the mid 80s, the city today depends significantly on tourism. The Federation of Fly Fishers is based in Livingston.

Top employers

According to Livingston's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[16] the top private employers in the area (the city's website refers to approximately a hundred public employees) are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Livingston HealthCare 250-499
2 Chico Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa 100-249
3 PrintingForLess 100-249
4 Albertsons 50-99
5 Best Western Mammoth Hot Springs 50-99
6 Church Universal and Triumphant 50-99
7 Community Health Partners 50-99
8 Livingston Health and Rehabilitation Center 50-99
9 Town & Country Foods 50-99
10 The Livingston Enterprise 20-49

Media

Empire Theater downtown

Newspapers

Livingston Enterprise is a local daily newspaper, and the Livingston Current (preceded by the Park County Press and Park County Weekly) is a weekly newspaper. The monthly Montana Pioneer and bimonthly Atlantis Rising are also Livingston-based.

AM radio

FM radio

Television

Bozeman Market

Billings Market

Notable natives and residents

References

  1. ^ a b "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  2. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  3. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. ^ Aarstad, Rich; Arguimbau, Ellie; Baumler, Ellen; Porsild, Charlene; Shovers, Brian (2009). Montana Place Names. Helena, Montana: Montana Historical Society Press. p. 157. ISBN 0-9759196-1-X.
  6. ^ "Bozeman Pass". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  7. ^ Berryman, Jack W. (2006). Fly-Fishing Pioneers and Legends of the Northwest. Seattle, WA: Northwest Fly Fishing LLC. pp. 101–107. ISBN 978-0-9779454-0-5.
  8. ^ Fly Fishing Discovery Center website
  9. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  10. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Livingston, Montana
  11. ^ "Average Weather for Livingston, MT - Temperature and Precipitation". Weather.com. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  12. ^ http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/htmlfiles/state.extremes.html
  13. ^ U.S. Decennial Census
  14. ^ POPULATION OF INCORPORATED PLACES* (CITIES/TOWNS) IN MONTANA, 1890 TO 2000
  15. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  16. ^ City of Livingston CAFR
  17. ^ "Arthur Blank's Spirit of Giving Knows No Season-Paradise Valley Pop Stand Owner and Home Depot Co-Founder Makes More to Give More". The Montana Pioneer. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  18. ^ Whithorn, Doris; Bill Whithorn (1979). Calamity's In Town-The Town Was Livingston, Montana. Pray, Montana: Wan-I-Gan.
  19. ^ Cohen, Stan (2004). "The Murray Hotel". Montana's Grandest-Historic Hotels and Resorts of the Treasure State. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company. pp. 77–80. ISBN 1-57510-111-4.

Livingston travel guide from Wikivoyage