| MINERAL COUNTY IN MONTANA |
Mineral
County is full of opportunity. The people are friendly and the climate is mild.
Mineral County is located in the Northwest section of Montana and is bordered
on the West by Idaho. There are several separate, but intertwined communities
within the county: The West End (Haugan, Saltese, DeBorgia), St.
Regis, Superior and Alberton. The county contains 1,223 square miles and a
population of 3,625. The majority of the land surface is contained within the
Lolo National Forest and located through a narrow valley separated by the Clark
Fork and St. Regis Rivers. The Clark Fork River carries more water than any other
river in Montana. The entire county is heavily forested with ponderosa pine (the
state tree), lodge pole pine, fir, larch, white pine and cedar. The area is high
in minerals and contains many unpatented mining claims.Mineral County became an
independent county in 1914, with Superior as the County seat, and boasts a lively
history before and since. It has hosted a gold rush, seen the building of two
transcontinental railroads, experienced the trauma of the 1910 fire, and witnessed
the destruction of several floods of the St. Regis and Clark Fork Rivers, as well
as being the home to many Civilian
Conservation Corps workers during the Great Depression. The historic John
Mullan Road was built here in 1859-60 and the Yellowstone Trail in 1917. The
Historical registry lists three county buildings: Savenac
Nursery Compound (1907), DeBorgia Schoolhouse (1908), and Superior Schoolhouse.
Mineral County Table of Contents
COMMERCIAL SERVICESType of newspaper:
Weekly
Radio station in community: No
Number of TV channels received without
cable: 3
Cable antenna television services: Yes
Maximum number of cable
channels received: 31
Number of churches: 17 (12 Protestant, 3 Catholic, 2
Other)
Number of hotels/motels available: 12
Total number of rooms available:
197
Total number of banks in county: 3
Number of S&L firms: None
Chamber
of Commerce: Yes
Manager is full time: No
(all numbers are area code 406)
|
American Legion | 649-2455
722-3325 722-3372 822-4672 649-2455 911 911 678-4271 649-2411 822-4932 822-3548 822-4055 822-4841 822-4891 822-4344 822-3520 822-4809 822-4202 822-3333 822-3563 822-3329 822-4551 822-3555 543-7766 822-3545 722-4911 649-2731 822-4231 822-4421 722-3372 649-2421 822-3334 649-2727 649-2290 822-4233 678-4303 626-5201 678-4303 822-4344 822-4807 822-4540 |
| RECREATION FACILITIES |
Type of facilities in city or within
10 miles:
public golf course, public parks, baseball fields, public tennis
courts, public swim pools, boat ramps, public airport
Country club available:
No
Nearest public access lake or river: 0.2 miles
Activities allowed:
swimming fishing motor boating
Number of theaters: 1 Indoor
Number of
Museums: 2
Buildings on Historic Registry: Savanac Nursery, DeBorgia School,
Superior School
| LOCATION |
Distance in highway miles from US cities:
| Chicago Denver Phoenix Salt Lake City Seattle | 1600 970 1250 585 430 | Los
Angeles San Francisco Portland St. Paul Spokane | 1260 1135 483 1224 140 |
Distance in highway miles from Canadian cities:
| Calgary Edmonton Regina | 420 603 710 | Saskatoon Vancouver Winnepeg | 820 574 1075 |
| HOUSING |
(~1995
info)
No. of single units built in last year: 16
No. of multiple units
built in last year: 0
Average monthly rental: $325 Apt: $275
Average cost
of House: $65,000
| UTILITIES |
ELECTRICITY
Supplier: Montana Power Company
kW Capacity:
11,250
kW Peak Demand: 8,000
Additional Source: upgradeable
Supplier:
Missoula Electric Cooperative
kW Capacity: 1000 kW Peak Load: 1000
WATER
Town of Superior:
Water
supplied by: Private
Name of supplier: Mountain Water Company
Source:
Wells
No of wells: 3
Ave depth: 146 feet
Capacity of water plant:
1350 gal/min
Ave consumption: 380,000 gal/day
Peak consumption: 1,300,000/day
Storage capacity: 25,000 gallons
Hardness (ppm): 164
Treated: No
Temperature range: 32-50°
Additional source: Flat Creek (300 gpm, est)
Town of Alberton:
Water supplied by: Municipal (Alberton)
Name of supplier: Town of Alberton
Source: Wells
Ave Depth: 350 feet
Capacity of water plant: 7300 gal/hour
Average consumption: 60,000 gal/day
Peak consumption: 90,000 gal/day
Storage
capacity: 300,000 Gallons
Hardness (ppm): ca43.3 mg/1
Treated: No
Temperature range: Unknown
SANITATION
Town of Superior:
Type of sewage plant: Lagoon
Capacity: 1.2 Million
gal/day
Present load: 69,000-75,000 gal/day
Town of Alberton:
Type
of sewage plant: Lagoon
Capacity: 650,000 gal/day
Present load: 10,000-15,000
gal/day
Community of St. Regis:
Type of sewage plant:
Lagoon with Agricultural Dispersion
Capacity: 240 Hookups
Present load:
160 Hookups
NATURAL GAS: Not Available
PROPANE: private (Amerigas, Cenex)
WASTE DISPOSAL: private (Felstet Disposal)
TELEPHONE & INTERNET: private (Clark Fork Telecommunications)
| EDUCATION FACILITIES |
Mineral County is organized into three schools: Alberton, Superior, and St. Regis. All of them are fully accredited through the State of Montana and contain an elementary (K-8) and high school (9-12) district. Each district has its own superintendent and the county has a part-time superintendent of school with most duties being contracted with Missoula County Superintendent of Schools. The county superintendent can be reached at 406-822-3534. The county is also within close proximity to the University of Montana in Missoula that offers a wide range of education and training.
ALBERTON:
| Enroll | Teach-Pupil Ratio | |
| Elementary | 107 | 12.5 : 1 |
| Jr.High | 36 | 12.5 : 1 |
| Sr.High | 92 | 12.5 : 1 |
Alberton School is a K-12 Class C School located in the heart of town. It offers a traditional curriculum with a broad range of elective courses and extra-curricular activities, including many coeducational sports. There is an up-to-date computer lab and library and a school to work program. For more information about Alberton School District call Robert Mutch, Superintendent, 406722-3381.
ST. REGIS:
| Enroll | Teach-Pupil Ratio | |
| Elementary | 111 | 13:1 |
| Jr. High | 37 | 13:1 |
| Sr. High | 70 |
St. Regis School boasts a brand new 17,700 square foot school which houses K-6, a newly renovated 35,000 square foot high school, and a new library. They serve both breakfast and lunch and currently employ a staff of 20 (including full-time counselors and Title 1 teachers). St. Regis offers full-time kindergarten, advanced technology and business programs, gifted and talented programs in all classes, college tract and school to work programs. There's one computer for every two students! Also offered is a full range of sports including: boys & girls basketball, football, wrestling, girls volleyball, boys & girls track, and boys & girls golf. For more information about St. Regis School District contact Linda Carlson, Superintentent, 406-649-2427.
SUPERIOR:
| Enroll | Teach-Pupil Ratio | |
| Elementary | 243 | 19:1 |
| Jr. High | 90 | 15:1 |
| Sr. High | 145 | 15:1 |
The largest school in Mineral County, approximately 478 students attend the Superior schools. The elementary district is the charter member from Montana with the NW Accreditation service. A new 34,000 square foot elementary school has recently opened which houses kindergarten through sixth grades. Both districts have their own modem and up to date libraries and offer a wide range of extracurricular activities. The high school offers a college tract program, vocational ed programs, plus an assortment of electives that include music, art, foreign language, advanced placement courses and school-to-work opportunities. It annually rates with the states best in music, journalism, business vocational skills, math skills and wrestling. For more information about Superior School District, call the Superintendents Office at 406-822-4851.
| TAX STRUCTURE |
COUNTY OF MINERAL:
Actual valuation of County: $137,881,223
Bonded indebtedness:
General Obligation:
$1,642,680(LEC)$2,300,000(School)
TOWN OF SUPERIOR:
Actual valuation of city: $20,318,153
Tax rate (per $100 of actual value):
City: 9.29479
County: 7.287
School: 21.331
Other: 5.674
Total: 42.484
TOWN OF ALBERTON:
Actual valuation of city: $5,380,708
Tax rate (per $100 of actual value):
City: 7.045
County: 7.287
School: 28.431
Other: 5.500
Total: 48.263
| MUNICIPAL SERVICES |
MINERAL COUNTY:
Type of local government:
3-member county commission. Comprehensive plan adopted in 1973, currently
under revision. No zoning in county with the exception of downtown Alberton
and an area in Fish Creek.
Number of law enforcement officers: 6
Public Library: County Library in Superior.
TOWN SUPERIOR:
Type of government: Mayor/Town
Council with Charter
Comprehensive plan: No (under consideration)
Zoning
in effect: No.
Volunteer fire department: ~28 members.
Fire insurance
class: In City.
Number of law enforcement officers: 4
City Engineer: Consultant
Percent of city streets paved: 98%
TOWN OF ALBERTON:
Type of government: Mayor/Town
Council
Comprehensive plan: Yes, adopted 1985
Zoning in effect: Yes.
Volunteer fire department: 32 members.
Fire insurance class: In City.
Number of law enforcement officers: 1
City Engineer: Consultant
Percent
of city streets paved: 50%
MOTOR CARRIER
Highway bus service
available: yes
Number highways serving City: Federal 2 State 1
Name
of nearest Interstate: I-90
Distance to nearest interstate: 0 miles
Motor freight carriers serving community: Interstate carriers: Consolidated, Garret,
UPS Intrastate carriers: Intercity Freight, UPS
Time in transit for carload
or truckload lots to:
| City | Days
by Railroad | Days
by Motor Freight |
| Chicago Phoenix Denver Salt Lake City Los Angeles Minneapolis Seattle Portland San Francisco Spokane | 7 10 5 6 10 6 5 5 8 2 | 3 2.5 2 1 2.5 2.5 1 1 2 1 |
AIR
Distance to nearest public airport:
0 miles
Elevation: 2800 feet
Type of runway: Hard surface
Length of
longest runway: 3400 feet
Runway lighted: yes
Private aircraft storage
available: yes
Private aircraft maintenance available: yes
Distance to
nearest commercial air transportation: 60 miles
Names of airlines serving
points:
Majors: American, Alaska, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Northwest,
United
Commuters: Horizon
RAIL
Community served by railroad: yes
Distance to nearest loading point: 0
miles
Number of freight train trips per day: 8-10
Functional piggyback
ramp available: no
Distance to nearest piggyback service: varies
Name
of railroad: Montana Rail Link
Distance to nearest commercial train service:
130 miles
| INDUSTRIAL SITES/BUILDINGS |
* A current inventory of these and other potential commercial and industrial sites is maintained at WEDGo, 406-822-4344.
| CLIMATE |
| Average daily temperature | Min | Mean | Max |
| January | -9 | 29 | 54 |
| April | 25 | 46 | 82 |
| July | 40 | 68 | 100 |
| October | 17 | 45 | 79 |
Average annual precipitation: 16.46 inches
Average length of growing season 90-110 days
| POPULATION |
| 1980 1994(est.) | |
| Alberton St. Regis Superior County | 368
402 591 651 1054 961 3675 3633 |
AGE:
18-24 180
25-44 991
45-54 393
55-64 350
Over 64 420
Median age 35.4
| LOCAL BUSINESS CHARACTERISTICS |
Number of manufacturing
plants in community: 2 with unions: none
Major
manufacturers or other large employers in community:
| COMPANY | Year # Emp | Union Products/ Services |
| Mountain
West Bark Mineral Community Hospital and Nursing Home Lincoln Development Independent Loggers Federal, State, Local Government | 1988
45
??
| NO
Bark Products NO Studs NO Medical Services NO Tourist Services NO Tourist Services NO Tourist Services NO Grocers/ Hardware NO Timber
Harvest |
| LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS |
WEDGo/SBDC, David Sanchez, (406) 822-4344
301 2nd
Ave., Box 427, Superior, MT 59872
Mineral County Chamber of Commerce, Mike
Byrnes
Box 483, Superior, MT 59872, (406) 822-4495
Mineral
County Chamber
HOURS OPEN:
April: Friday
3-7 pm
May: Friday 4-8 pm
June: Friday 4-8 pm
July: Friday 4-8 pm
August: Friday 4-8 pm
September: Friday 4-8 pm
PHONE:
Office: 406-822-4891
Home: 406-822-4626
LOCATION:
100 2nd Ave East
South end in historic old school on River St., Superior
| LABOR |
Weekly wage rates (1995 statistics)
| Job Title | Avg. |
| Retail Trade Private Local Government Construction Manufacturing Trans. Public Ut. Finance, Insurance & R/E Services | $191 $ 257 $ 379 $ 245 $ 405 $ 236 $ 255 $ 195 |
Name of Community: MINERAL COUNTY
State
Certified: Yes
Date Compiled: 2/29/96
County Labor Data (Sept 1995)
Labor
Force: l569
Unemployed 198
Unemployed as % of Labor Force 12.6%
Total
Employment 1371
| HEALTH FACILITIES |
No. of hospitals in community: 1 No. beds: 10
Nursing homes in community:
1 No. beds: 20
Assisted living facilities in community 1
No. beds: 14
Clinic
in community: yes
Medical personnel: 3 MDs, 1 DO, 1 DC, 2 MDDs, 19 EMTs
Nurses: Registered, LPN & aides
Mineral Community Hospital and Nursing Home is located in Superior. Easily accessible from l-90, services include: orthopedic and general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, comprehensive physical respiratory therapy, registered dietician, and life flight.
Western Montana Mental Health Center was established in 1980. It currently employs one full-time outpatient therapist, two full-time Children Case Managers, one part-time Chemical Dependency Counselor and one part-time receptionist. The Center offers individual, family and group therapy for children with emotional problems and learning disabilities; adolescents; help for 1, parents; husbands and wives in conflict; adults recovering from childhood abuse; people with alcohol or drug related problems; individuals suffering from emotional stress and children’s' in-home case management.