Valier is a town in Pondera 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 530 at the 2020 census.

History

The town was named for Peter Valier, who supervised construction of the Montana Western Railway's railroad line between Valier and Conrad, the county seat of Pondera County. The town was incorporated in 1909.

Geography

Valier borders Lake Frances. Pike, perch, walleye, and rainbow trout can all be found in the lake. The

Swift Dam Swift Dam or Swift No. 1 is an earth-type hydroelectric dam on the Lewis River, in the U.S. state of Washington. Completed in 1958, it is located in Skamania County and its reservoir is called Swift Reservoir. See also *List of dams in the Colu ...

and its reservoir are also nearby. The town is situated with the Rocky Mountain Front to the west and plains to the east. 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.

Climate

According to the

Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

system, Valier has a

semi-arid climate A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of semi-ar ...

, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

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 509 people, 234 households, and 138 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 284 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 87.4%

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 ...

, 8.1% Native American, 0.6%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, and 3.9% 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 1.0% of the population. There were 234 households, of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% 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, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.0% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age in the town was 47.3 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.6% were from 25 to 44; 31.9% were from 45 to 64; and 21.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 498 people, 220 households, and 143 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 275 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 92.17%

, 5.22% Native American, and 2.61% from two or more races.

of any race were 1.20% of the population. There were 220 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were

living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.6% 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 2.87. In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 105.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males. The median income for a household in the town was $30,000, and the median income for a family was $36,750. Males had a median income of $25,156 versus $16,875 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 $14,862. About 7.9% of families and 8.4% 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 3.5% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Agriculture, including

cattle ranch A ranch (from es, rancho/Mexican Spanish) is an area of land, including various structures, given primarily to ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle and sheep. It is a subtype of a farm. These terms are most often ...

ing, is the main industry in the area. There are three

Hutterite Hutterites (german: link=no, Hutterer), also called Hutterian Brethren (German: ), are a communal ethnoreligious group, ethnoreligious branch of Anabaptism, Anabaptists, who, like the Amish and Mennonites, trace their roots to the Radical Refor ...

colonies nearby.

Government

Valier has a mayor-council form of government. In 2023 there were 4 aldermen and Glenn Wunderlich was mayor.

Education

Valier Schools educates students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Valier High School Valier may refer to: ;Places * Valier, Illinois, a village in the United States * Valier, Montana, a town in the United States * Villa Duodo, also known as "Villa Valier", in Veneto district, Italy * Valier (crater), an impact crater on the Moon ...

's team name is the Panthers. Valier Public Library serves the area.

Media

The local newspaper is ''The Valierian''. It is published weekly both in print and as an e-edition.

Infrastructure

Valier is on Highway 44, an east–west roadway that connects

I-15 I15 may refer to: * Interstate 15, a north–south Interstate Highway in the United States of America * Polikarpov I-15, a Soviet fighter aircraft * I15 (band) "Soulja Girl" is the second single from American rapper Soulja Boy's studio album '' ...

and

US 89 U.S. Route 89 (US 89) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway with two sections, and one former section. The southern section runs for from Flagstaff, Arizona, to the southern entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The northern section ...

at the midpoint between Glacier National Park and

Great Falls Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements * Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size * Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent People * List of people known as "the Great" *Artel Great (born ...

. The local airport has a grass landing strip; also, water planes can land on the lake. It is a public use airport.

Notable people

Author

Ivan Doig Ivan Doig (; June 27, 1939 – April 9, 2015) was an American author and novelist, widely known for his sixteen fiction and non-fiction books set mostly in his native Montana, celebrating the landscape and people of the post-war American West. W ...

graduated from Valier High School. American Football player Scott Curry attended high school in Valier.

References

External links

*
Valier Area Development Corporation
{{Pondera County, Montana Towns in Pondera County, Montana