Colstrip, Montana

Colstrip is a city in Rosebud County, Montana, United States. The population was 2,214 at the 2010 census. Established in 1924 and incorporated as a city in 1998, Colstrip is the largest city in Rosebud County with 24% of the total population. Colstrip's primary industries are coal mining and electricity production. For the Sports Illustrated Magazine's 50th anniversary, it named Colstrip the top sports town in Montana.[4] The entire community celebrates Colstrip Days annually on the weekend prior to the 4th of July.

Colstrip, Montana
City
Sign upon entering Colstrip
Seal
Motto(s): 
Tomorrow's Town Today
Location of Colstrip, Montana
Coordinates: 45°53′32″N 106°37′44″W
CountryUnited States
StateMontana
CountyRosebud
Incorporated (city)1998
Government
 • TypeMayor-Council
 • MayorJohn Williams
Area
 • Total4.47 sq mi (11.58 km2)
 • Land4.47 sq mi (11.58 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
3,222 ft (982 m)
Population
 • Total2,214
 • Estimate 
(2018)[3]
2,266
 • Density500/sq mi (190/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
59323
Area code(s)406 Exchange: 768
FIPS code30-16525
GNIS feature ID0770042
Websitehttp://www.cityofcolstrip.com/

History
Open pit strip mining with shovels at Colstrip's Rosebud Mine

Colstrip was established by the Northern Pacific Railway in 1924 as a company town to provide coal for their steam locomotives. The mining at Rosebud Mine two miles south of the town is open pit strip mining, where draglines remove soil above the layer of bituminous coal from the Fort Union Formation.[5][6]

During World War II, the Colstrip mine was identified as strategically important because it supplied coal for the Northern Pacific Railway steam locomotives hauling military equipment for the war effort. The mine was guarded from sabotage, and the employees were not allowed to quit their jobs.[7]

In 1958 the railroad switched to using diesel locomotives and the Colstrip mine was shut down. In 1959 Montana Power Company purchased the rights to the mine and the town, and resumed mining operations in the 1970s with plans to build coal-fired electrical plants.[8]


The power plants were built in the 1970s and 1980s by a collection of contractors including Bechtel. During this construction period Colstrip was a boomtown, with a large increase in population. Plants 1 & 2 were operational in 1975 and 1976, and plants 3 & 4 were operational in 1984 and 1986.

Colstrip Power Plants 1-4 from right to left
The Rosebud mine in 2006, taken from the International Space Station

In 1974 construction of Colstrip's 150-acre (0.61 km2) Castle Rock Lake (formerly named surge pond) was completed. The Colstrip plants produce electricity from coal using steam. The water for the steam is pumped in an underground pipe 30 miles (48 km) from the Yellowstone River and stored in the lake. The lake is stocked with fish and the home for a wide variety of wildlife.

In 1990 the Colstrip Energy Limited Project started commercial operations. Located six miles (10 km) north of Colstrip, this experimental electricity production facility is owned by Rosebud Energy Corp., a partnership that at one point included Enron. The plant uses high sulfur waste coal from the Rosebud Coal Mine's topmost one foot layer of coal.[9]

In 1998 plants 1-4 were sold to a group led by PPL Corporation (PPL) [10] and Puget Sound Energy [11] (PSE). The Rosebud Coal Mine was sold to Westmoreland Mining LLC. [12] [13] In this same year the City of Colstrip was incorporated.

As of June 2015, PPL spun off its power generation assets including the Colstrip plants to become Talen Energy.

In 2016, Puget Sound Energy reached an agreement with the Sierra Club and the Montana Environmental Information Center to shut down units 1 and 2 of the coal-fired generating plant by the year 2022.[14] The agreement said nothing about the status of Units 3 and 4 at the generating station. However, the existing electrical transmission capacity that transmits power from Colstrip to the Pacific Northwest may be used to transmit wind energy.[15]

In June 2019, Talen Energy announced the closure of two of the four coal burning units by the end of the year. The power plant is "the sixth-largest source of greenhouse emissions in the U.S."[16] Units 3 and 4 will remain in operation.[17]

In January 2020, Puget Sound Energy announced that Unit 1 ceased operating in the "first days of January", and Unit 2 ceased operating on January 4. Units 3 and 4 will remain operational as planned, but will be closed within the next five years.[18]

Colstrip is the proposed junction point of the BNSF Railway's trackage through the city with the proposed Tongue River Railroad south to new coal mines near the Wyoming border.[19]

Education

The highest level of education offered in Colstrip is the Colstrip High School. The nearest college is Chief Dull Knife College in Lame Deer. Colstrip is about 20 miles (32 km) north of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. Many Cheyenne students from the reservation attend school at the high school, making up about one third of the students.[20]

Recreation
Castle Rock Lake near Colstrip

Colstrip offers a wide variety of recreational and sports activities. Boating and fishing is available on Castle Rock Lake, an artificial reservoir used by the Colstrip power plants. Fishing enthusiasts can find bluegill, bass, walleye and pike. A 3.2 mile walking/biking trail runs around the lake, and a picnic area and beach is available to swimmers.[21] A year-round recreational facility is available free to residents at Rye Park through Colstrip Parks and Recreation District. CPRD, formerly CARPA, offers sports programs for children and adults alike including golf,[22] soccer, basketball, baseball, fitness and health classes. CPRD facilities include a weight room and cardio room, and two different gymnasiums. CPRD also maintains the bike paths around the city.[23]

Geography

Colstrip is located at 45°52′50.03″N 106°37′47.65″W (45.880563, -106.629903).[24]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.47 square miles (11.58 km2), all of it land.[1]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
20002,346—
20102,214−5.6%
Est. 20182,266[3]2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[25]

The historical population of Colstrip has varied largely since it was established in 1924. Prior to incorporation in 1998 it was a census-designated place.[26]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 2,214 people, 863 households, and 622 families residing in the city. The population density was 495.3 inhabitants per square mile (191.2/km2). There were 986 housing units at an average density of 220.6 per square mile (85.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.7% White, 0.2% African American, 9.0% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.3% of the population.

There were 863 households, of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.9% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.06.

The median age in the city was 38.1 years. 28.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 to 44; 36% were from 45 to 64; and 5.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.8% male and 48.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census[27] of 2000, there were 2,346 people, 825 households, and 674 families residing in the city. The population density was 522.6 people per square mile (201.7/km2). There were 936 housing units at an average density of 208.5 per square mile (80.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.93% White, 0.68% African American, 11.30% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 3.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.15% of the population.

There were 825 households, out of which 48.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.8% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.4% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 3.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $55,650, and the median income for a family was $60,352. Males had a median income of $54,241 versus $25,234 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,336. About 5.9% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Colstrip has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.[28]

Climate data for Colstrip, Montana
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 1.3
(34.3)		 4
(39)		 8
(47)		 14.8
(58.7)		 20.4
(68.8)		 25.4
(77.7)		 31.2
(88.1)		 30.4
(86.7)		 23.9
(75.1)		 16.8
(62.2)		 8.1
(46.6)		 2.8
(37.1)		 15.6
(60.1)
Average low °C (°F) −12.5
(9.5)		 −9.8
(14.4)		 −5.6
(21.9)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 4.9
(40.8)		 9.6
(49.3)		 13.1
(55.5)		 11.8
(53.3)		 6.3
(43.4)		 0.7
(33.3)		 −5.4
(22.2)		 −11
(13)		 0.2
(32.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 15
(0.6)		 13
(0.5)		 23
(0.9)		 41
(1.6)		 64
(2.5)		 69
(2.7)		 33
(1.3)		 28
(1.1)		 33
(1.3)		 33
(1.3)		 15
(0.6)		 15
(0.6)		 382
(15)
Average precipitation days 6 5 7 7 10 9 6 5 5 5 5 5 75
Source: Weatherbase [29]

Notable people

References
  1. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-07-02. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  4. "The little town that could: Tiny Colstrip takes SI Sportstown Honors for the state of Montana". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2007-01-03. Retrieved 2016-10-03.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  5. "Rosebud Mine Tour Fact Sheet 2007" (PDF). Westmoreland Mining LLC. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  6. David T. Hanson (2010). Colstrip, Montana. Fairfield, Iowa: Taverner Press. LCCN 2010925843.
  7. McRae, Wallace (2009). Stick Horses and Other Stories of Ranch Life. Gibbs Smith. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-4236-0591-1.
  8. "City of Colstrip History". Colstrip City Government. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  9. "SEC Info - Rosebud Energy Corp". Securities & Exchange Commission. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  10. "PPL Colstrip Page".
  11. "PSE Appendix J Colstrip" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  12. "Westmoreland Rosebud Mine". Westmoreland Coal Company. Retrieved 2006-09-17.
  13. "Montana Power Company - Generations of Power". The Missoulian Newspaper. Archived from the original on 2001-05-26. Retrieved 2008-07-11.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  14. "Colstrip coal plant in Montana agrees to close 2 units". Associated Press. The Olympian. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  15. "Oldest two units at Colstrip to be retired no later than 2022". Montana Environmental Information Center. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  16. Kirk, Karen (2019-07-15). "The 'war on coal' myth". Yale Climate Connections. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  17. "Colstrip Steam Electric Station Units 1 and 2 to Retire". Talen Energy Investors. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  18. Gordon, Phillip (2020-01-06). "US 2020 coal closures start with a bang with two units closed in Montana". Smart Energy International. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  19. "Tongue River Railroad Environmental Impact Statement". Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  20. Page 107 We, the Northern Cheyenne People: our land, our history, our culture (2008), Ambler, Marjane; Little Bear, Richard E; Wilson, Dave; Tall Bull, Linwood; Hantz, Joan; Ward, Carol; Wertman, Bill; Chief Dull Knife College, Lame Deer, Montana
  21. http://www.visitmt.com/listings/general/lake/castle-rock-lake.html
  22. https://mtslim.wixsite.com/ponderosa-butte-gc
  23. http://www.colstripparks.com
  24. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  25. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  26. "Colstrip Comprehensive Growth Plan" (PDF). Colstrip City Government. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  27. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  28. Climate Summary for Colstrip, Montana
  29. "Weatherbase.com". Weatherbase. 2015. Retrieved on October 16, 2015.
  30. "Staying Enthralled by History", American Spirit Magazine, National Society Daughters of American Revolution (NSDAR), Vol 147, No. 4, Jul/Aug 2013, p. 13

Further reading
  • David R. Wilson, “You Grow Where You’re Planted: Community Building in Colstrip, Montana” (PhD Dissertation: Brigham Young University, 2000)
  • Hanson, David T. (2010). Colstrip, Montana. Fairfield, Iowa: Taverner Press. ISBN 9781935202202.
  • Hanson, David T. (1997). Waste land: meditations on a ravaged landscape (1st ed.). New York: Aperture. ISBN 0893817260.
  • Joel Vetsch, The Virtual Tour of Colstrip, Montana (Colstrip, MT: Bright Idea Web Design, 2005)
  • Carol Ward, Michael Cope, Kayci Muirbrook, Nick Andre, Jake Wixom, and David Wilson, “Colstrip Community Survey: Report I: Community Life, Perspectives, and Outlook for the Future” (Provo, UT: Charles Redd Center for Western Studies, 2019)
  • William B. Evans and Robert L. Peterson. “Decision at Colstrip.” Pacific Northwest Quarterly Vol. 61, No. 3 (Fall 1970): 129-36.
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