Valier is a town in Pondera County,

Montana Montana ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota to the east, South Dakota to the southeast, Wyoming to the south, an ...

, 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 Conrad may refer to: People * Conrad (name) * Saint Conrad (disambiguation) Places United States * Conrad, Illinois, an unincorporated community * Conrad, Iowa, a city * Conrad, Montana, a city * Conrad Glacier, Washington Elsewher ...

, 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 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, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

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

Climate

According to the

Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

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 se ...

, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2010, there were 509 people, 234 households, and 138 families living in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), 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 geog ...

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 chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 8.1% Native American, 0.6% Asian, and 3.9% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino 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 recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

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.

or Latino 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 average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

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 ...

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

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

Hutterite Hutterites (; ), also called Hutterian Brethren (German: ), are a communal ethnoreligious branch of Anabaptists, who, like the Amish and Mennonites, trace their roots to the Radical Reformation of the early 16th century and have formed intent ...

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'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), a band * , of the Imperial Japanese Navy * Älvsborg Regiment The Älvsborg Regiment ...

and US 89 at the midpoint between Glacier National Park and Great Falls. The local airport has a grass landing strip; also, water planes can land on the lake. It is a public use airport.

Notable people

* Scott Curry American Football player, attended high school in Valier. *

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 ...

Author, graduated from Valier High School.

References

External links

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