Ismay, Montana

Ismay, Montana
Town
Location of Ismay, Montana Location of Ismay, Montana
Ismay, Montana Location in the United States
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Montana
County	Custer
Area
• Total	0.42 sq mi (1.09 km2)
• Land	0.42 sq mi (1.09 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	2,526 ft (770 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	19
• Estimate (2012)	21
• Density	45.2/sq mi (17.5/km2)
Time zone	Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
• Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code	59336
Area code(s)	406
FIPS code	30-38950
GNIS feature ID	0794947

Ismay is a town in Custer County, Montana, United States. The population was 19 at the 2010 census.

The town's name is an amalgamation of Isabella and May, the names of the daughters of Albert J Earling, division superintendent (later president) of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway. Other communities with related names include Earling, Iowa; Marmarth, North Dakota; and Alberton, Montana. As a publicity stunt coordinated by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993, the town unofficially took the name of Joe, Montana, after the NFL quarterback Joe Montana.

The town's history and contemporary state (circa 1995) is discussed at length in travel writer Jonathan Raban's book, Bad Land: An American Romance. According to Raban, Ismay's story is emblematic of the settlement and desettlement of the northern Great Plains.

Geography

Ismay is located at (46.499497, -104.793590).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.42 square miles (1.09 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1920	344		—
1930	277		−19.5%
1940	176		−36.5%
1950	182		3.4%
1960	59		−67.6%
1970	40		−32.2%
1980	31		−22.5%
1990	19		−38.7%
2000	26		36.8%
2010	19		−26.9%
Est. 2014	21		10.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 2012 Estimate

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 19 people, 9 households, and 5 families residing in the town. The population density was 45.2 inhabitants per square mile (17.5/km²). There were 13 housing units at an average density of 31.0 per square mile (12.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 100.0% White.

There were 9 households of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, and 44.4% were non-families. 44.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 3.00.

The median age in the town was 46.5 years. 26.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 0% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.1% were from 25 to 44; 42.1% were from 45 to 64; and 10.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 57.9% male and 42.1% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 26 people, 7 households, and 7 families residing in the town. The population density was 62.5 per square mile (23.9/km²). There were 8 housing units at an average density of 19.2 per square mile (7.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 100.00% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.85% of the population.

There were 7 households of which 71.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 100.0% were married couples living together, and 0.0% were non-families. No households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.71 and the average family size was 3.71.

Age distribution was 42.3% under the age of 18, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 3.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.3 males.

The median household income was $32,083, and the median family income was $32,083. The per capita income for the town was $9,852. None of the population and none of the families were below the poverty line.

See also

• Bad Land: An American Romance