Settlers began arriving in the area in the 1870s, and a post office was established in 1888.[4] Six-year-old Sidney Walters and his parents were staying with Hiram Otis, the local justice of the peace, and Otis decided that Sidney was a good name for the town. The following year, Montana became a state and Sidney was incorporated in 1911.[5]
Sidney was originally part of Dawson County, but became the county seat of Richland County at its inception in 1914.[6]
Agriculture became an important part of the region after the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project[7] was completed in 1909. A dam was built on the river south of Glendive, which diverted water from the river into a 115.2 km (71.6 mi) main canal, which runs north–south, parallel to the Yellowstone, irrigating land from Glendive north up to Fairview, where it dumps into the Missouri River. This project irrigates 51,429 acres (208.13 km2) and serves water to 450 farms, according to the manager of the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Districts.[8]
The town received a boost in 1924 when the Holly Sugar Company opened up a sugar refinery in Sidney to process locally grown sugar beets.[4]
The area experienced an oil boom and bust in the late 1970s and early 1980s, bringing an influx of people to the town for a short period of time. Around the start of the 21st century, the town experienced another surge in oil exploration activity.[10]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.68 square miles (6.94 km2), of which 2.66 square miles (6.89 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[13]
Sidney is 270 miles (430 km) northeast of Billings, and 190 miles (310 km) south of Regina, Saskatchewan.
Climate
Sidney experiences a semi-arid climate (KöppenBSk) with long, cold, dry winters and hot, more humid summers.
Climate data for Sidney, Montana, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1910–present
Sidney relies heavily on farming, ranching, and oil production for economic stability. The surrounding countryside is populated with many farms and cattle ranches, plus oil exploration activity. The area's main cash crop are sugar beets, and Sidney is home to a sugar beet factory, built in 1925. The factory is the largest employer in the city, next to the Sidney Health Center[16] and Sidney Public Schools.[17]
The town's museum, the MonDak Heritage Center,[19] was founded in 1967. The museum houses artifacts and archives that detail the history of life in eastern Montana and western North Dakota since the first pioneers arrived in the late 19th century.
The town is served by Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport, located one mile (1.6 km) west of the central business district.[28] It has scheduled passenger commuter airline flights through Cape Air.[29]
As of the census[32] of 2010, there were 5,191 people, 2,304 households, and 1,378 families living in the city. The population density was 1,951.5 inhabitants per square mile (753.5/km2). There were 2,467 housing units at an average density of 927.4 per square mile (358.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% White, 0.1% African American, 1.8% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.
There were 2,304 households, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.2% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.85.
The median age in the city was 39.3 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 29% were from 45 to 64; and 14.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.6% male and 49.4% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,774 people, 2,006 households, and 1,271 families living in the city. The population density was 2,125.3 inhabitants per square mile (820.6/km2). There were 2,393 housing units at an average density of 1,065.3 per square mile (411.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.81% White, 0.10% African American, 1.89% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 1.01% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.43% of the population.
There were 2,006 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% 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 2.98.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,109, and the median income for a family was $38,992. Males had a median income of $30,347 versus $18,517 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,911. About 8.5% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
Clyde Lamb, gag cartoonist and syndicated comic strip artist, born in Sidney.
^Smith, Jeffrey J (2003). The Montana book of days: the short course in Montana history. Missoula, Montana: Historic Montana Publishing. p. 93. ISBN9780966335569.
