Big Timber, Montana
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Big Timber is a city in and the county seat of Sweet Grass County, Montana, United States.[1] The population was 1,650 at the 2020 census.[2]
Big Timber takes its name from Big Timber Creek, which was named by William Clark because of the large cottonwood trees.[3] The post office was established in 1880, closed, then reopened in 1882 with Ella Burns as postmaster.[4] In 1881 Charles McDonnell became the first person to drive sheep into Sweet Grass County and Big Timber. As a stop on the Northern Pacific Railroad, Big Timber became a major wool-shipping depot. It became the county seat in 1895.[5] In 1902, rancher John F. Asbury was elected the first mayor of Big Timber. A fire in 1908 destroyed half the commercial buildings and a third of the residential homes.[5]
Geography
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Climate
Big Timber has a cool semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) bordering on a humid continental climate (Dfb). Although winters can be frigid, frequent chinook winds will raise temperatures above Script error: No such module "convert". on an average twenty days between December and February, and have raised them to or above Script error: No such module "convert". on ten occasions during these months since 1894.[7] The chinooks mean Big Timber's 31.3 days per year failing to top freezing is among the fewest in Montana, with the average window for such maxima being from November 11 to March 18.[7] In the absence of chinooks, temperatures fall to Script error: No such module "convert". on seventeen mornings during an average winter, although such temperatures were reached just once in 1999/2000 but as many as thirty-four times during the very cold winters of 1935/1936 and 1978/1979. The average window for zero temperatures is from December 4 to February 25. The coldest temperature in Big Timber has been Script error: No such module "convert". during the notorious 1936 cold wave on February 15, while February 1936 was also the coldest month on record at Script error: No such module "convert"., shading January 1916 which averaged Script error: No such module "convert"..
Spring is typically windy with temperatures nearly as variable as in winter: the last frost typically arrives on May 19, but temperatures have reached Script error: No such module "convert". as early as March 22, 1928, and have fallen to Script error: No such module "convert". as late as April 13, 1928, and April 12, 1997. Late in spring thunderstorms increase in frequency and during late spring and early summer these provide most of Big Timber's annual precipitation. The wettest calendar year since 1894 has been 1957 with Script error: No such module "convert". and the driest 1939 with Script error: No such module "convert"., while the wettest single month has been May 1981 with Script error: No such module "convert".
During the summer, days can be very hot, with maxima of Script error: No such module "convert". on 28.5 afternoons and over Script error: No such module "convert". on 1.1, although mornings very rarely stay above Script error: No such module "convert".. The record hottest temperature is Script error: No such module "convert". on July 21, 1931, and the hottest morning Script error: No such module "convert". on July 31, 1936.
The fall season is usually short and variable, with snow occasionally falling in September, but at other times hot weather can extend into October or even November.
Demographics
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| Census | Pop. | Template:Sronly | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 100 | — | |
| 1890 | 265 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1900 | 850 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1910 | 1,022 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1920 | 1,282 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1930 | 1,224 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1940 | 1,533 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1950 | 1,679 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1960 | 1,660 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1970 | 1,592 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1980 | 1,690 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1990 | 1,557 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 2000 | 1,650 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 2010 | 1,641 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 2020 | 1,650 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| source:[8] U.S. Decennial Census[9][2] | |||
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2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Big Timber had a population of 1,650. The median age was 44.4 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.7 males age 18 and over.[10][11]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[12]
There were 763 households in Big Timber, of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.4% were married-couple households, 25.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 40.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[10]
There were 885 housing units, of which 13.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.0%.[10]
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White | 1,507 | 91.3% |
| Black or African American | 7 | 0.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 19 | 1.2% |
| Asian | 5 | 0.3% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.1% |
| Some other race | 9 | 0.5% |
| Two or more races | 101 | 6.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 63 | 3.8% |
2010 census
As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 1,641 people, 751 households, and 429 families residing in the city. The population density was Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 933 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert".. The racial makeup of the city was 95.9% White, 0.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.
There were 751 households, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.9% were non-families. 38.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.82.
The median age in the city was 45.5 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 25.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.
2000 census
As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 1,650 people, 711 households, and 430 families residing in the city. The population density was Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 812 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert".. The racial makeup of the city was 96.61% White, 0.79% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.70% of the population.
There were 711 households, out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.4% 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 2.92.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,595, and the median income for a family was $38,869. Males had a median income of $29,000 versus $17,596 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,569. About 9.3% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Orvin B. Fjare, United States Congressman from Montana[15]
- Bobby Hauck, head football coach of the University of Montana football team[16]
- Michael Keaton, Academy Award-nominated actor[17]
- Speed Langworthy, lyricist and newspaper magnate.[18]
- Judy Martz, 22nd Governor of Montana( 2001-2005)[19]
- Charles McDonnell, former Montana state Senator and pioneer
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Government
Big Timber has a mayor and city council. All positions are non-partisan and have four-year terms. There are two wards, each with two council members.[20]
The current mayor of Big Timber is Justin Ferguson, who assumed office in 2026, and the four city council members are Leonard Woehler, Jeff Davis, Kerri Baird, and Mike Duval.
Mayoral Election Results(2021-)
In the mayoral election in November 2025 Justin Ferguson was elected with 61.98% of the vote against Lee Andreas(38.10%).[21] Ferguson was a council member for 16 years. This election saw a 19.58% decline from the 2021 election with a voter turnout of 50.39%. Ferguson succeeded Greg DeBoer on January 1, 2026.
In the 2021 mayoral election Greg DeBoer was elected mayor with 77.69% of the vote over Lee Andreas(12.14%) and Lucas Lee(10.16%). DeBoer is a chiropractor and owner of Crazy Peak Chiropractic. This election saw a relatively large voter turnout with 707 people turning out.[22]
List of mayors
Since 1902, mayors have served four year terms. There have been 29 mayors of Big Timber. A dagger (†) indicates mayoralties cut short by death in office.[23] The longest serving mayor of Big Timber is Harold Boe, who served in the office for 18 years. Meanwhile the shortest serving mayor was Douglas D. Lowry who was appointed to the office and served for only 4 months and 27 days.
| No. | Name (birth–death)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
Term | Previous office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John F. Asbury | 1902-1911 | |
| 2 | DH Marsh | 1912-April 1913 | |
| 3 | J R Kaiserman | April 1913-1914 | Superintendent of the City Water and Electric Light Utilities |
| 4 | Ernest R Patterson (c. 1886-1943)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1914-1915 | |
| 5 | J A Elliot | 1915-July 1916 Resigned |
|
| 6 | Drura Claiborn (c. 1875–1959)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
July 1916-July 1918 Resigned |
Member of the Big Timber City Council |
| 7 | John A. Lowry (c. 1869–1939)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
September 1918-May 1921 | Member of the Big Timber City Council |
| 8 | John A. Trower (c. 1886-1933)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
May 1921-April 1927 | |
| 9 | Albert P O'Leary 1st term (c. 1870-1935)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
May 1927-1931 | |
| 10 | Gilbert H. "Major" Goosey (c. 1872-1937)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1931-1935 | |
| 11 | Albert P O'Leary 2nd term (c. 1870-1935)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1935-December 28, 1935(†) | 9th Mayor of Big Timber |
| 12 | O Nordstrom | January 1936-May 1945 | |
| 13 | Harold Boe (c. 1894-1978)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1945-1963 | |
| 14 | H Klindt | 1963-1969 | |
| 15 | Arthur L Schump (c. 1897-1997)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1969-1973 | |
| 16 | McLean "Mac" Clark (c. 1914-1982)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1973-1977 | |
| 17 | Oscar Stephens (c. 1905-1978)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1977-April 30, 1978(†) | Member of the Big Timber City Council |
| 18 | Harold McLaughlan | May 1978-1982 | Member of the Big Timber City Council |
| 19 | John O. Drivdahl | 1982-1990 | |
| Vacant | 1990-1993 | ||
| 20 | James A. Devenny 1st term (c. 1944-2020)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1993-1998 | |
| 21 | Gary Smart | 1998-April 30, 2001 Resigned |
|
| 22 | Tom Hanel (c. 1954/55-Present)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
May 1, 2001-June 24, 2003 Resigned |
Member of the Big Timber City Council |
| 23 | Douglas D. Lowry | August 4, 2003-December 31, 2003 Appointed to Fill Until End of Year |
Member of the Big Timber City Council |
| 24 | James A. Devenny 2nd term (c. 1944-2020)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
January 1, 2004-December 31, 2005 | 20th Mayor of Big Timber |
| 25 | Diana Taylor | January 1, 2006-December 31, 2009 | |
| 26 | Mark Stephens | January 1, 2010-December 31, 2017 | |
| 27 | Rolland Karlin | January 1, 2018-December 31, 2021 | |
| 28 | Greg DeBoer (c. 1961/62-Present)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
January 1, 2022-December 31, 2025 | |
| 29 | Justin Ferguson (c. 1973-Present)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
January 1, 2026-Present | Member of the Big Timber City Council |
Arts and culture
The Crazy Mountain Museum has a focus on the area history.[24] In addition to the indoor displays there are outdoor replicas, including a homestead cabin from Swedish settlers to the area, and a large garden based on plant descriptions from the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Carnegie Public Library serves the Big Timber area.[25]
Infrastructure
Insterstate 90 passes to the south of Big Timber while U.S. Route 191 runs directly through town.
Big Timber Airport is a public use airport located 3 miles southwest of town.[26]
Intercity bus service to the city is provided by Jefferson Lines.[27]
Education
Sweet Grass County High School provides public high school education in Big Timber.[28] They are known as the Sheepherders.[29]
Media
The local newspaper is the Big Timber Pioneer. It is published weekly.[30]
A satellite of Yellowstone Public Radio, KYPB, is licensed in Big Timber.[31]
See also
References
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- ↑ a b National Weather Service, Billings, MT; NOW Data
- ↑ Moffatt, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850-1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 127.
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External links
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- Big Timber/Sweet Grass County Chamber of Commerce
- The Big Timber Pioneer - Local newspaper
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