Hingham, Montana Explained

Official Name:Hingham, Montana
Settlement Type:Town
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Montana
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Hill
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:0.44
Area Land Km2:0.44
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Total Sq Mi:0.17
Area Land Sq Mi:0.17
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:131
Population Density Km2:294.49
Population Density Sq Mi:761.63
Timezone:Mountain (MST)
Utc Offset:-7
Timezone Dst:MDT
Utc Offset Dst:-6
Elevation M:924
Elevation Ft:3031
Coordinates:48.5556°N -110.4231°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:59528
Area Code:406
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:30-36400
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0772428

Hingham is a town in Hill County, Montana, United States. Its economy is largely agricultural. The population was 131 at the 2020 census.[2]

Geography

Hingham is located at 48.5556°N -110.4231°W (48.555641, -110.422951).[3] Located on U.S. Route 2, it is 35 miles to Havre. It is near Fresno Reservoir.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.17sqmi, all land.[4]

History of "The Town on the Square"

Hingham is a small agricultural community in northern Montana. Hingham, like many Hi-Line towns, developed as a grain storage and shipping center along the Great Northern Railway (BNSF Railway) and U.S. Route 2. In 1909, homesteaders purchased a relinquishment for the town site, and by early 1910[5] they had a town established. The community was planned on a broad grid with a central town square as its dominant feature.[6] Hingham prospered in its early years with the opening of a school, hospital, several churches and over forty businesses. In 1917 Hingham incorporated with an elected mayor/council style government.

Community members have developed the town square into one of the best parks on the Hi-Line, much of it through volunteer work and donations. A popular landmark of the town is the water tower which can be seen for miles. The Hingham School was established in 1910 with the Rangers as their mascot and red, white and black as their colors. The school operated until the early 1980s when it consolidated with the neighboring Rudyard School to form Blue Sky Schools. Once again in 2005, Blue Sky Schools consolidated with KG Schools (Kremlin-Gildford) to form North Star Schools. In recent decades Hingham's population has declined due to lack of economic opportunity. In 2010 Hingham celebrated its Centennial.[6] Hingham shares its name with towns in Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Norfolk, England.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 118 people, 60 households, and 33 families residing in the town. The population density was 694.1PD/sqmi. There were 83 housing units at an average density of 488.2/sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 91.5% White, 3.4% Native American, 0.8% Asian, and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 60 households, of which 13.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 3.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.0% were non-families. 40.0% 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 1.97 and the average family size was 2.58.

The median age in the town was 52 years. 13.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 12.7% were from 25 to 44; 49.2% were from 45 to 64; and 20.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 52.5% male and 47.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 157 people, 65 households, and 38 families residing in the town. The population density was 930sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 87 housing units at an average density of 515.4sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 96.82% White, 1.91% Native American, and 1.27% from two or more races.

There were 65 households, out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 1.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.5% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.0% 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 3.21.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,333, and the median income for a family was $45,417. Males had a median income of $32,000 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,525. About 9.1% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.

Climate

Hingham experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with long, cold, dry winters and hot summers.[9]

Transportation

Amtrak’s Empire Builder, which operates between Seattle/Portland and Chicago, passes through the town on BNSF tracks, but makes no stop. The nearest station is located in Havre, to the east.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. September 5, 2022.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. November 2, 2021.
  3. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  4. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010 . . December 18, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt . January 12, 2012 .
  5. Web site: Hingham . Montana Place Names Companion . Montana Historical Society . April 5, 2021.
  6. News: Inbody. Kristen. Hingham: 'Town on the Square' hits 100. Great Falls Tribune. February 25, 2014. July 10, 2010.
  7. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. December 18, 2012.
  8. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  9. http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=699342&cityname=Hingham%2C+Montana%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Hingham, Montana