|
Source :
Montana Decennial Census Total Resident Population*Estimates
Montana Department of Commerce, South Central Regional Development
Officer
Source :
US
Census 2000 - Table DP-2: Profile of General
Demographic Characteristics
Business
Columbus
Business Listing
|
WORK FORCE & LABOR
|
1990 |
2000 |
2010 Estimate |
|
Civilian Labor Force |
|
|
|
| Columbus |
660 |
877 |
N/A
|
| Stillwater
County |
3094 |
4192 |
8000^ |
| |
|
|
|
|
Employed |
|
|
|
| Columbus |
631 |
833 |
N/A |
| Stillwater
County |
2982 |
3907 |
N/A |
| |
|
|
|
|
Unemployed |
|
|
|
| Columbus |
29 |
44 |
N/A |
| Stillwater
County |
112 |
285 |
N/A |
| |
|
|
|
|
Unemployed as % of Labor Force |
|
|
|
| Columbus |
4.4% |
5.0% |
N/A |
| Stillwater
County |
3.6% |
6.8% |
N/A |
Source:
US Census STF3; DP-3 Labor Force Status and Employment Characteristics;
2000- Columbus
US Census STF-3: DP-3 Labor Force Status and Employment Characteristics;
1990 - Stillwater County
US Census Table DP-3. Profile of Selected Economic
Characteristics: 2000 *Montana Dept of Labor
& Industry, Montana Labor Market Information, 2000 Annual
Average Labor Force by County
^Estimates: Montana Department of Commerce, South Central MT
Regional Development Officer
WORKFORCE WAGE INFORMATION
|
Per Capita Income
Columbus
Stillwater County |
$ 17,689 (1999)
$ 21,827 (1999)
|
|
Source: MT
Dept of Commerce; Bureau of Economic Analysis;
Regional Accounts Data; Local Area Income. Columbus
Census 2000 SF3; DP3 |
| |
|
|
Average Annual Wage |
$ 31,789
(1999) |
|
Source:
Montana Department
of Labor & Industry, Research & Analysis Bureau,
Covered Employment and Wages
|
|
INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION
|
Avg Annual Employees |
Annual Wages
Paid |
Avg Annual Wage |
| Mining |
986 |
52,956,704 |
53,709 |
| Construction |
83 |
2,068,271 |
24,918 |
| Manufacturing |
347 |
7,863,985 |
22,918 |
| Wholesale
Trade |
50 |
1,398,558 |
27,971 |
| Retail
Trade |
413 |
4,201,895 |
10,174 |
| Services |
296 |
4,842,754 |
16,360 |
|
Source :
Information not available for Laurel. Montana Department of Labor
& Industry, Research & Analysis Bureau, Covered Employment
and Wages, 1999 Stillwater County
|
|
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
Company Name |
Product /Service |
Year Established |
# of Employees |
| Stillwater
Mining Company |
Palladium &
Platinum |
1986 |
1289 |
| Montana
Silversmiths |
Silver Jewelry |
1973 |
200 |
| Timberweld |
Laminated Beams |
1956 |
70 |
| School
District |
Education |
1906 |
78 |
| Stillwater
County |
Local Government |
1914 |
85 |
| Beartooth
Manor |
Skilled Nursing |
1974 |
56 |
| Stillwater
Community Hospital |
Healthcare |
1962 |
74 |
Source:
Businesses
BUSINESS ACTIVITY
|
New/Expansion of Company
Current Total - 4
Company Name |
Product /Service |
# Jobs Created |
# of Employees |
| Stageline
Pizza |
Food |
6 |
6 |
| Subway |
Food |
5 |
5 |
| Cowboy
Connections |
Electronics |
4 |
4 |
| Montana
Gem |
Gems & Jewelry |
1 |
1 |
| Keyser
Creek Meats |
Specialty Meats & Montana Made
Items |
1 |
1 |
| Wolf Creek
Barbeque |
Sandwich Shop |
2 |
2 |
|
Company Departure/Downsizing
Current Total - 1 temporary departure
Company Name |
Product / Service |
# Jobs Reduced |
# of Employees |
| Western
Drug* |
Drug
Store |
|
|
| *A
portion of downtown Columbus was destroyed by fire, the Senior
Citizens Center and Western Drug were destroyed. Western
Drug is rebuilding on the same site and the Senior Citizens will
be building on a different site. |
Source: Businesses
Commercial
Services
TRANSPORTATION
Distance in highway miles from Columbus
to the
following United States cities:
|
Seattle - 778 |
Denver - 596 |
Salt Lake City - 512 |
|
Portland - 851 |
Boise - 578 |
Chicago - 1290 |
|
Spokane - 500 |
San Francisco - 1134 |
Los Angeles - 1195 |
Distance in highway miles from Columbus
to the following Canadian cities:
|
Calgary - 535 |
Saskatoon - 555 |
Edmonton - 717 |
|
Vancouver - 912 |
Regina -508 |
Winnipeg - 864 |
Source: Mapquest.com
http://www.visitmt.com
Highways serving the Columbus community:
US Interstate 90, MT Highway 78, paved other routes 421 and 306
Motor carriers serving the Columbus community: All regional carriers
Bus carriers serving the Columbus community:
Rimrock Trailways, Powder River and Greyhound
Air Carriers: Columbus's
airport serves local pilots with 2,600 ft of paved runway and is located
on the edge of town. No passenger service is available from Columbus
Airport. Columbus is
located 47 miles from Logan International Airport, Billings,
MT. Travel
time to Billings is approximately 40 minutes via Interstate 90. The
following passenger service is available at Logan International:
|
Commercial Air
Name of Air Carrier
|
Flights Per Day |
Non-Stop Destinations |
Delta
www.delta.com
|
3 Daily
|
SaltLake City, UT |
Skywest
www.skywest.com
|
3 Daily
1 Daily
|
Salt Lake City, UT
Denver, CO |
Horizon
Air
www.horizonair.com
|
5 Daily
|
Seattle, WA |
Northwest
www.nwa.com
|
4 Daily
|
Minneapolis, MN |
Big
Sky Airlines
www.bigskyair.com
|
3 Weekdays
1 Saturday & 1 Sunday
3 Weekdays
1 Saturday & 2 Sunday
2 Weekdays
1 Saturday & 1 Sunday
2 Weekdays
2 Saturday & 1 Sunday
2 Weekdays
1 Saturday & 2 Sunday
1 Weekday & 1 Sunday
|
Great Falls, MT
Helena, MT
Lewistown, MT
Miles City, MT
Missoula, MT
Sidney, MT |
| United
www.ual.com |
2 Mon/Tues/Wed |
Denver, CO |
Source: Airline
Brochures and Web Sites
|
Air Freight Carriers Logan
International Airport - Billings
|
Big Sky Airlines
Corporate Air, Inc
Emery Worldwide
Horizon Air
Security Armored Express |
Consolidated Freightways
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Federal Express
Montana Air Cartage, Inc.
On Time Delivery & Air
Cargo |
|
Rail Carriers |
Freight Trips Per Day |
|
Montana
Rail Link |
Daily Service -
stops dictated by need |
Source: Rail
Carriers
UTILITIES
|
Electric Provider
|
MVA Capacity |
Peak Load February 2000 –
January 2001 |
| NorthWestern
Energy |
7500 |
3780 - November,
2000 |
|
Natural Gas Provider
|
BTU per CF |
Capacity Available |
| NorthWestern
Energy |
1000 |
Unlimited |
|
Water Provider |
Source |
Capacity |
Average Consumption |
Peak Consumption |
| Town of Columbus |
Wells |
1.9 mgd |
.30 mgd |
1.0mgd |
|
Sewer Provider
|
Type |
Capacity |
Average Load |
Present Load |
| Town of Columbus |
Aerated Lagoon/Spray
Irrigation |
.3 mgd |
.24 mgd |
.24 mgd |
Sources: Utility
Providers
|
Telecommunications |
Services Offered |
| Quest |
BASIC Service & Features
– Telephone Service Analog
Connection |
| Verizon
Wireless |
Wireless Digital |
| 3
Rivers Wireless |
Wireless Digital |
| Visionary
Communication Network |
Broadband Wireless Internet |
| Cellular
One |
Wireless Digital |
Source: Telecommunication
Providers
COMMERCIAL SERVICES
|
Communication Services
|
Name of Media |
Type |
| Newspapers |
Stillwater
County News |
Weekly |
| Radio
Stations |
N/A- Numerous
Available |
|
| TV
Stations |
None
Local - 4 Billings |
Airway |
| |
|
Cable |
Source: Local
|
Financial Services
|
Name of Institution |
Total Assets |
| Banks |
Yellowstone
Bank
United Bank,
National Association
(Branch of Absarokee) |
$ 236,151,000
$ 36,899,000
|
| Savings
& Loans |
N/A |
N/A |
| Credit
Unions |
Laurel Federal
Credit Union (Branch of Laurel
Valley Federal
Credit Union |
$ 52,295,000
$ 81,436,000 |
Source: Montana
Wyoming Financial Directory/Winter Edition 2001
|
Lodging
|
# of Units Available |
| Number
of Hotels & Motels available - |
99 |
Source: Local
|
Postal & Delivery |
Services |
| US
Postal Service |
All postal services |
| Federal
Express |
Express delivery |
| Airborne
Express |
Express delivery |
| United
Parcel Service |
Express and small freight
delivery |
Source: Local
|
Mechanical Services
|
|
| Machine
Shops |
0 |
| Tool
and Die Service |
0 |
| Electric
Motor Repair |
0 |
Source:
Local
Community Services
Columbus
Country
COMMUNITY SERVICES
|
Health Care |
Number Available |
| Hospital |
1 |
| Dentists |
1 |
| Pharmacists |
2 |
| Nursing
Homes |
1 |
| Chiropractors |
2 |
| Physicians |
4 |
| |
|
|
Recreational/Cultural |
Number Available |
| Swimming
Pools |
1 |
| Tennis
Courts |
2 |
| Ball
Fields |
3 |
| Movie
Theaters |
0 |
| Libraries |
1 |
| Golf
Courses |
1 |
| Parks |
6 |
| Theatrical
Playhouses |
0 |
| Symphonies/Orchestras |
0 |
| Other
- Fitness Centers |
1 |
|
Religious
|
Number |
| Assembly
of God |
1 |
|
Baptist |
1 |
| Catholic |
1 |
| New Life
Victory Center |
1 |
| Congregational |
1 |
| Evangelical |
1 |
| Lutheran -
ELCA |
1 |
Source: Local
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
| Stillwater
County
Sheriff's
Department: Full Time Officers – 4
Rural Fire District: Volunteers – 25
Comprehensive Plan: Stillwater County
Master Plan
|
|
| Insurance Rating:
7 |
|
Zoning Ordinance: One special zoning
district on the West Fork of the Stillwater River |
| Columbus
Police Department:
Full Time Officers – 2
Rural Fire District: Volunteers – 25
Comprehensive Plan: Columbus Master Plan |
Insurance Rating: 6
Zoning Ordinance: Yes |
Source: Town
of Columbus Police Department and Fire District; Stillwater County
Sheriff’s Department
Quality
of Life
EDUCATION
Billings, MT is 40 minutes from Columbus. Montana State University-Billings and
Rocky Mountain College
both offer Bachelors and Masters degree programs. Montana State
University-Bozeman is 90 minutes to the west of Columbus.A variety of
vocational schools are also available in both Billings and Bozeman.
|
Public Schools
|
Enrollment |
Teacher/Pupil Ratio |
| Elementary:
Kindergarten – 6
|
265 |
1:19
|
| Middle: 6 - 8 |
141 |
1:19 |
| High
School: |
217 |
1:19 |
| |
|
|
|
Number of High School Graduates Last
Academic Year |
39 |
|
| |
|
|
|
Average SAT Scores: NA |
Average ACT Scores: 23.1 |
Source: School
District
|
Private Schools N/A
|
Enrollment
|
Teacher/Pupil Ratio |
CLIMATE
|
Average Annual Rainfall |
13.3 in |
Elevation |
3575 Ft |
|
Average Length of Growing Season |
120 days |
Annual Average Temperature |
46.0F |
|
Average January Temperature |
22.0F |
Average April Temperature |
45.0F |
|
Average July Temperature |
70.0F |
Average October Temperature |
48.0F |
Source: weatherbase.com
HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION
| Residential
New/Remodel* 12 permits |
| Commercial
New/Remodel* 13 permits |
| Average
Selling Price of Homes^ $ 117,300 |
| Average
Monthly Rental^ |
House |
$ 560 |
Apartment |
$ 523 |
* Town
of Columbus – Building Permits
^
Parks Real Estate, Columbus
Government
TAX STRUCTURE
|
Sales
Tax Rate |
Personal Income Tax Rate |
Corporate
Income Tax Rate |
Inventory
Tax
Rate |
Accommodation
"Bed" Tax
Rate |
Resort
Tax
Rate |
|
N/A |
2 – 11% |
6.75% |
N/A |
4 % |
N/A |
Source: Montana
Department of Revenue
|
Property Tax Rates (per $100 of assessed
value) by allocation
|
| City |
County |
School
District |
Other |
|
10.123 |
7.752 |
46.01 |
12.934* |
*Countywide Education, i.e.
University, Vo-tech, State Equalization, County Equalization
Source: Montana Property Tax Mill Levies
1999-2000; Montana Tax Foundation
|
Assessment Ratio (% of market value) - 2001
|
| City |
County |
School
District |
Other |
|
3.543 |
3.543 |
3.543 |
3.543 |
Source: Montana
Department of Revenue
|
Actual Valuation of Columbus $
128,640,392
|
|
Columbus
Bond Indebtedness |
General Obligation |
Revenue |
|
$ 351,000 |
$ 1,415,000 |
Source: Montana
Property Tax Mill Levies 1999-2000 publication, Montana Tax Foundation
– based on 2000 assessment ratio .3627; Town of Columbus
|
Actual Valuation of Stillwater County $
843,970,141
|
|
Stillwater
County Bond
Indebtedness |
General Obligation |
Revenue |
|
-0- |
$ 1,930,000 |
Source: Montana
Property Tax Mill Levies 1999-2000 publication, Montana Tax Foundation
– based on 2000 assessment ratio .3627; Stillwater County
|
|
On the Banks of
the Yellowstone
click to enlarge
photos
Columbus
began as a stage station on the Yellowstone Trail and is now home to a
variety of industrial, manufacturing and mining ventures.
©Beartooth
RC&D
Prosperity
came first to the Columbus area when the local quarry was chosen to
furnish the stone for the state capitol in Helena. This project
and other contracts for fine stone kept the quarries and the railroad
busy for years.
Columbus
spent many years with agriculture as one of it's primary economic
sectors. Farming and ranching remain a staple of this rural
economy however the area's recent economic growth has been from the
activation of the platinum and palladium mine located in the Beartooth
Mountains south of Columbus. Stillwater Mining's corporate
headquarters are located in Columbus along with the Base Metals Refinery
for processing ore products.
©Beartooth
RC&D
Stillwater
Mining Company, although a major factor in the growth of Columbus and
the outlying areas, has been one of several industries to locate in this
picturesque river valley. Montana Silversmiths, silver jewelry
manufacturer, chose to move to their facility on the banks of the
Yellowstone River, after their initial start in Absarokee .
©Beartooth
RC&D
Timberweld,
producer of laminated wooden beams, also has a manufacturing facility in
the Columbus Industrial Park where access to rail and small aircraft is
available.
©Beartooth
RC&D 
©Beartooth
RC&D
With
the economic activity spurred by mining in the area the downtown
business district of Columbus has grown to accommodate the service
demands of the citizens.
A
second business district has sprouted up next to the Interstate 90 exit
which includes major fuel vendors and national motel and food
chains. Several outlet stores have been established in the same
area and just down the street midway between downtown and the Interstate
exit are 2 new financial institutions.
©Beartooth
RC&D
©Beartooth
RC&D
Civic
pride shows in most areas of this rural Montana town but perhaps
nowhere stronger than in the newly constructed city hall (see above) and
the soon to be completed fire station (see below) which houses the
volunteer fire department.
©Beartooth
RC&D
The
support and funding of local businesses and volunteers made it possible
for the community to construct Granite Peak Park, a softball, baseball
and soccer facility for the community.
©Beartooth
RC&D
©Beartooth
RC&D
A
healthy community spirit is apparent in the campus of the Columbus
School District and the neighboring park and recreational
facilities.
©Beartooth
RC&D
The
importance of family activities and a safe environment is the theme
throughout the town.
©Beartooth
RC&D
©Beartooth
RC&D
©Beartooth
RC&D
Columbus
Golf Course is a well manicured 9 hole course at the edge of town and is
a favorite of area golfers.
©Beartooth
RC&D
Columbus
is located at the confluence of the Stillwater and Yellowstone
Rivers. The Stillwater River valley draws outdoor recreation
enthusiasts from across the country not only because of it's scenic
beauty but for the whitewater rafting, fishing and camping experience as
well. Itch-ke-pee (pictured below), a Crow Indian word for Wild
Rose, is the name of the park and campground on the banks of the
Yellowstone River just at the edge of Columbus.
©Beartooth
RC&D
Due to the ever changing
nature of online page sources the data sources are not linked directly.
The State of Montana site provides the links to the majority of the data
given on this page. Please take the time to explore Montana online
at
http://www.discoveringmontana.com
http://www.bizmt.com
If you have additional
questions please contact the Lead Development Organization for the
Columbus Certified Community:
Beartooth
RC&D Area, Inc.
604 West Front Street, PO Box
180
Joliet, MT 59041
Voice: 406-962-3914
Fax: 406-962-3647
|
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comments
or inquiries» |
 |
This web site
was made possible through the funding of a grant through the Montana
Department of Commerce and the Certified Communities Program, Beartooth
RC&D Area, Inc. in partnership with the USDA, Natural Resource
Conservation Service.
-
Montana -
not
just
another
pretty
place!
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