| Official Name: | Alder, Montana |
| Settlement Type: | Census-designated place |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Montana |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Madison |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 5.20 |
| Area Land Km2: | 5.20 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 2.01 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 2.01 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 86 |
| Population Density Km2: | 16.55 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 42.85 |
| Timezone: | Mountain (MST) |
| Utc Offset: | -7 |
| Timezone Dst: | MDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -6 |
| Elevation M: | 1561 |
| Elevation Ft: | 5121 |
| Coordinates: | 45.3244°N -112.1081°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 59710 |
| Area Code: | 406 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 30-00850 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0801986 |
Alder is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Madison County, Montana, United States. The population was 86 at the 2020 census, down from 103 in 2010. The community takes its name from Alder Creek (named by Henry Edgar in 1863), the site of the second major gold discovery in Montana.[3]
Alder is located in west-central Madison County at 45.3244°N -112.1081°W (45.324531, -112.108035), in the Ruby Valley.[4] Alder Creek enters the valley from the east and passes east of the community. Montana Highway 287 passes through town, leading east 9miles to Virginia City, the county seat, and northwest 10miles to Sheridan. The Ruby River runs along the western edge of the community, and the Ruby River Reservoir is 7miles to the south.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Alder CDP has a total area of 2.01sqmi, all land.[1]
This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Alder has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[5]
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 116 people, 48 households, and 25 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 57.6sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 69 housing units at an average density of 34.3sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the CDP was 100.00% White.
There were 48 households, out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.9% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.44.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $26,458, and the median income for a family was $33,750. Males had a median income of $22,500 versus $30,000 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,300. There were no families and 1.8% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.
The Madisonian is a newspaper serving the Madison and Ruby Valleys, which includes Twin Bridges.[7] It is printed weekly and offers an e-edition.
Alder is mentioned in the song "Myrna Loy", by American songwriter Josh Ritter, from his 2017 album Gathering.[8]