City in Montana, United States
City in Montana, United States
White Sulphur Springs is a city in and the county seat of Meagher County, Montana, United States.[3] The population was 955 at the 2020 census.[4]
The center of population of Montana is located in White Sulphur Springs.[5]
White Sulphur Springs was originally called Brewers Springs, after James Scott Brewer, who laid claim to the thermal springs in 1866.[6] In 1876 the town name changed.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.01 square miles (2.62 km2), all land.[7]
Hot Springs Creek enters town from the south. It ends at a local hotel, which offers soaking in the mineralized hot springs. The North Fork Smith River crosses the northwest part of town.
The Castle Mountains are east of town. Newlan Creek Reservoir[8] and Lake Sutherlin[9] are both within 20 miles. They provide recreational water activities, including fishing for trout, burbot, and kokanee salmon.
White Sulphur is an anchor for the Kings Hill Scenic Byway, a 71 miles (114 km) drive which passes through the Little Belt Mountains in the Lewis and Clark National Forest.[10]
Climate
| Climate data for White Sulphur Springs, Montana, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present
|
| Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Year
|
| Record high °F (°C)
|
60
(16)
|
78
(26)
|
85
(29)
|
89
(32)
|
96
(36)
|
98
(37)
|
103
(39)
|
100
(38)
|
96
(36)
|
87
(31)
|
70
(21)
|
63
(17)
|
103
(39)
|
| Mean maximum °F (°C)
|
49.8
(9.9)
|
50.9
(10.5)
|
60.7
(15.9)
|
71.1
(21.7)
|
78.7
(25.9)
|
86.1
(30.1)
|
91.8
(33.2)
|
91.8
(33.2)
|
86.6
(30.3)
|
75.8
(24.3)
|
60.9
(16.1)
|
49.4
(9.7)
|
93.6
(34.2)
|
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C)
|
33.4
(0.8)
|
34.6
(1.4)
|
44.6
(7.0)
|
52.9
(11.6)
|
62.7
(17.1)
|
71.3
(21.8)
|
81.6
(27.6)
|
81.4
(27.4)
|
70.6
(21.4)
|
56.3
(13.5)
|
41.7
(5.4)
|
32.6
(0.3)
|
55.3
(12.9)
|
| Daily mean °F (°C)
|
23.4
(−4.8)
|
23.7
(−4.6)
|
32.7
(0.4)
|
39.7
(4.3)
|
48.7
(9.3)
|
56.7
(13.7)
|
64.8
(18.2)
|
64.0
(17.8)
|
54.7
(12.6)
|
42.8
(6.0)
|
31.1
(−0.5)
|
23.0
(−5.0)
|
42.1
(5.6)
|
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C)
|
13.4
(−10.3)
|
12.9
(−10.6)
|
20.8
(−6.2)
|
26.6
(−3.0)
|
34.7
(1.5)
|
42.1
(5.6)
|
48.1
(8.9)
|
46.5
(8.1)
|
38.7
(3.7)
|
29.3
(−1.5)
|
20.4
(−6.4)
|
13.4
(−10.3)
|
28.9
(−1.7)
|
| Mean minimum °F (°C)
|
−12.5
(−24.7)
|
−9.7
(−23.2)
|
1.2
(−17.1)
|
13.3
(−10.4)
|
23.7
(−4.6)
|
33.0
(0.6)
|
39.7
(4.3)
|
36.7
(2.6)
|
27.1
(−2.7)
|
11.2
(−11.6)
|
−1.2
(−18.4)
|
−9.4
(−23.0)
|
−22.3
(−30.2)
|
| Record low °F (°C)
|
−42
(−41)
|
−43
(−42)
|
−33
(−36)
|
−7
(−22)
|
8
(−13)
|
22
(−6)
|
28
(−2)
|
23
(−5)
|
12
(−11)
|
−23
(−31)
|
−39
(−39)
|
−46
(−43)
|
−46
(−43)
|
| Average precipitation inches (mm)
|
0.51
(13)
|
0.34
(8.6)
|
0.71
(18)
|
1.44
(37)
|
2.08
(53)
|
2.52
(64)
|
1.36
(35)
|
1.21
(31)
|
1.04
(26)
|
0.86
(22)
|
0.44
(11)
|
0.53
(13)
|
13.04
(331.6)
|
| Average snowfall inches (cm)
|
7.9
(20)
|
6.6
(17)
|
10.1
(26)
|
3.9
(9.9)
|
1.1
(2.8)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
1.2
(3.0)
|
3.4
(8.6)
|
4.4
(11)
|
7.5
(19)
|
46.1
(117.3)
|
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm)
|
5.4
(14)
|
4.1
(10)
|
4.8
(12)
|
2.6
(6.6)
|
0.4
(1.0)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.6
(1.5)
|
1.5
(3.8)
|
3.6
(9.1)
|
5.0
(13)
|
8.3
(21)
|
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)
|
4.9
|
3.9
|
5.7
|
8.1
|
10.7
|
12.2
|
7.9
|
7.8
|
6.6
|
6.9
|
5.3
|
4.5
|
84.5
|
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)
|
4.2
|
3.3
|
3.6
|
1.4
|
0.1
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.3
|
1.0
|
2.7
|
4.2
|
20.8
|
| Source 1: NOAA[11][12]
|
| Source 2: National Weather Service (snow/snow days/snow depth 1981–2010)[13]
|
Demographics
2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 939 people in 433 households, including 255 families, in the city. The population density was 929.7 inhabitants per square mile (359.0/km2). There were 563 housing units at an average density of 557.4 per square mile (215.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.2% White, 0.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4%.[15]
Of the 433 households 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.1% were non-families. 37.4% of households were one person and 19.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.75.
The median age was 51.2 years. 19% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18% were from 25 to 44; 31.4% were from 45 to 64; and 26.3% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.
2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 984 people in 443 households, including 265 families, in the city. The population density was 1,069.1 inhabitants per square mile (412.8/km2). There were 567 housing units at an average density of 616.0 per square mile (237.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.24% White, 1.42% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.93%.[16]
Of the 443 households 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 37.0% of households were one person and 17.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.84.
The age distribution was 22.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.
The median household income was $28,229 and the median family income was $34,342. Males had a median income of $23,403 versus $13,929 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,836. About 11.6% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
The Castle Museum and Carriage House is a combination of a mansion tour and the Meagher County Museum.[17] The Victorian style mansion has been decorated with period style artifacts. The carriage house was built in the 1990s to display a variety of carriages, sleds, a stagecoach, and other mementos.[17]
The Charles M. Bair Family Museum, 35 miles (56 km) away, is the former home of Bair, one of the largest sheep ranchers in the United States in the early 1900s.[18] The 11,000 sq ft home is filled with artifacts from the family. Additionally the museum covers 7,300 sq ft with art galleries and additional artifacts from the family's collections.[19]
Meagher County City Library serves the area.[20]
The Red Ants Pants Music Festival is held the last weekend in July.[21] Internationally famous musicians have performed at the festival such as Merle Haggard,[22] Lucinda Williams,[23] and Brandi Carlile.[24]
Education
White Sulphur Springs Schools educate students from kindergarten through 12th grade.[25] White Sulphur Springs High School's team name is the Hornets.[26]
Infrastructure
U.S. Route 89 enters through town in the east and exits through the south.
White Sulphur Springs Airport is a public use airport located 3 miles south of town.[30]
