Denton is a town in Fergus County,

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbi ...

, United States. The population was 205 at the 2020 census. Central Montana Rail, Inc. is headquartered in Denton.

History

A post office called Denton has been in operation since 1888. It was named after the Missouri county where the postmaster previously lived. The town was established at its present site when the railroad was extended to that point. The fast-moving West Wind Fire swept through the town in December 2021. Twelve families lost their homes. The wildfire destroyed or damaged many structures including garages, barns and grain elevators. There were no serious injuries as the town was evacuated minutes before the fire, which burned , reached the town.

Geography

Montana Highway 81 passes through town. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the town has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2010, there were 255 people, 120 households, and 64 families living in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was . There were 156 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 99.2%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

and 0.8% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 2.0% of the population. There were 120 households, of which 23.3% had

children A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger ...

under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.7% were non-families. 42.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.7% 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 2.92. The median age in the town was 44.8 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22% were from 25 to 44; 22.7% were from 45 to 64; and 27.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.8% male and 48.2% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 301 people, 133 households, and 82 families living in the town. The

was 395.4 people per square mile (152.9/km²). There were 158 housing units at an average density of 207.6 per square mile (80.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.34%

, and 0.66% from two or more races.

of any race were 1.00% of the population. There were 133 households, out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were

living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.96. In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 109.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males. The median income for a household in the town was $28,393, and the median income for a family was $32,232. Males had a median income of $23,125 versus $16,528 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the town was $14,982. About 5.9% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 4.9% of those under the age of eighteen and 2.4% of those 65 or over.

Education

Denton Public Schools educates students from kindergarten through 12th grade. They are known as the Trojans.

Denton High School Denton High School is a public high school located in the city of Denton, Texas and classified as a 5A school by the UIL. It is a part of the Denton Independent School District located in central Denton County and was the original high schoo ...

had 19 students in 2021.

Notable people

* Don Koehler, one of the few people on record to grow over eight feet tall. * James A. Shelton, Navy ensign who received the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...

posthumously for his service during the

Battle of Midway The Battle of Midway was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II that took place on 4–7 June 1942, six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea. The U.S. Navy under ...

References

External links

* {{authority control Towns in Fergus County, Montana