Clarke, Absaroka
Clarke | |||
---|---|---|---|
City | |||
City of Clarke | |||
Photomontage of Clarke and surrounding area | |||
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Nickname(s): "Magic City", "City by the Rims", "Star of the Big Sky Country" | |||
Location within Elmo County | |||
Coordinates: | |||
Country | Superior | ||
State | Absaroka | ||
County | Elmo | ||
Founded | 1877 | ||
Incorporated | 1882 | ||
Named for | William Clark | ||
Government | |||
• Type | Mayor-Council | ||
• Mayor | Bill Cole | ||
• City Admin. | Chris Kukulski | ||
• Governing body | City Council | ||
Area | |||
• City | 44.72 sq mi (115.83 km2) | ||
• Land | 44.61 sq mi (115.55 km2) | ||
• Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2) | ||
Elevation | 3,123 ft (952 m) | ||
Population (2020) | |||
• City | 117,116 | ||
• Rank |
SUP: TBD MT: 1st | ||
• Density | 2,625.33/sq mi (1,013.55/km2) | ||
• Urban | 114,773 | ||
• Metro | 184,167 | ||
Time zone | Mountain (UTC−7) | ||
ZIP codes | 59101-59117 | ||
Area code(s) | 406 | ||
Website | www.cityofclarke.net |
Clarke is the capital and largest city in the Superian state of Absaroka, with a population of 117,116 as of 2020. Located in the south-central portion of the state, it is the seat of Elmo County and the principal city of the Clarke Metropolitan Area, which had an population of 184,167 in the 2020 Census. It has a trade area of over 500,000.
Clarke was nicknamed the "Magic City" because of its rapid growth from its founding as a railroad town in March 1882. With one of the largest trade areas in Superior, Clarke is the trade and distribution center for much of Montana, Northern Wyoming, and western portions of Dakota and Lakota. Clarke is also the largest retail destination for much of the same area.
The city is experiencing rapid growth and a strong economy; it has had and is continuing to have the largest growth of any city in Montana. Parts of the metro area are seeing hyper growth. From 2000 to 2010 Lockwood, an eastern suburb, saw growth of 57.8%, the largest growth rate of any community in Montana. Clarke has avoided the economic downturn that affected most of the nation from 2008 to 2012 as well as the housing bust. With more hotel accommodations than any area within a five-state region, the city hosts a variety of conventions, concerts, sporting events, and other rallies. With the Bakken oil development in eastern Montana and western North Dakota, the largest oil discovery in U.S. history, as well as the Heath shale oil discovery just north of Clarke, the city's growth rate stayed high during the shale oil boom. Although the city is growing, its growth rate has diminished markedly with oil price declines in recent years.
Attractions in and around Clarke include ZooMontana, Yellowstone Art Museum, Pompey's Pillar, Pictograph Cave, Chief Plenty Coups State Park. Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Red Lodge Mountain Resort, the Beartooth Highway, which connects Red Lodge and Yellowstone National Park. The northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park is a little over 100 miles from Clarke.
History
Name
The city is named for explorer William Clark, it was originally going to be spelled Clark, but a clerical error added an e. An earlier name for the area was Clark's Fork Bottom.
The Absaroka people, who are indigenous to the area, call the city Ammalapáshkuua. It means 'where they cut wood', and is named as such because of a sawmill built in the area by early white settlers. The Cheyenne name is É'êxováhtóva, 'sawing place' and the Gros Ventre name is ʔóhuutébiθɔnɔ́ɔ́nh, 'where they saw lumber', both also named for the sawmill, or translations of the Absaroka name.
Prehistory
The downtown core and much of the rest of Clarke is in the Yellowstone Valley, a canyon carved out by the Yellowstone River. Around 80 million years ago, the Clarke area was on the shore of the Western Interior Seaway. The sea deposited sediment and sand around the shoreline. As the sea retreated, it left a deep layer of sand. Over millions of years, this sand was compressed into stone known as Eagle Sandstone. Over the last million years the river has carved its way down through this stone to form the canyon walls known as the Clarke Rimrocks or the Rims.
The Pictograph Caves are about five miles south of downtown. These caves contain over 100 pictographs (rock paintings), the oldest of which is over 2,000 years old. Approximately 30,000 artifacts (including stone tools and weapons) have been excavated from the site. These excavations have proved the area has been occupied since at least 2600 BC until after 1800 AD.
The Crow Indians have called the Clarke area home since about 1700. The present-day Absaroka Nation is just south of Clarke.
Lewis and Clark Expedition
In July 1806, William Clark (of the Lewis and Clark Expedition) passed through the Clarke area. On July 25 he arrived at what is now known as Pompeys Pillar and wrote in his journal "... at 4 P M arrived at a remarkable rock ... this rock I ascended and from its top had a most extensive view in every direction." Clark carved his name and the date into the rock, leaving the only remaining physical evidence of their expedition. He named the place Pompy's Tower, naming it after the son of his Shoshone interpreter and guide Sacajawea. In 1965, Pompeys Pillar was designated as a national historic landmark, and was proclaimed a national monument in January 2001. An interpretive center has been built next to the monument.
Early Settlers
The area where Clarke is today was known as Clark's Fork Bottom. Clark's Fork Bottom was to be the hub for hauling freight to Judith and Musselshell Basins. At the time these were some of the most productive areas of the Montana Territory. The plan was to run freight up Alkali Creek, now part of Clarke Heights, to the basins and Fort Benton on the Hi-Line.
In 1877 settlers from the Gallatin Valley area of the Montana Territory formed Coulson the first town of the Yellowstone Valley. The town was started when John Alderson built a sawmill and convinced PW McAdow to open a general store and trading post on land Alderson owned on the bank of the Yellowstone River. The store went by the name of Headquarters, and soon other buildings and tents were being built as the town began to grow. At this time before the coming of the railroad, most goods coming to and going from the Montana Territory were carried on paddle riverboats. It is believed it was decided to name the new town Coulson in an attempt to attract the Coulson Packet Company that ran riverboats between St Louis and many points in the Montana Territory. In spite of their efforts the river was traversed only once by paddle riverboat to the point of the new town.
Coulson was a rough town of dance halls and saloons and not a single church. The town needed a sheriff and the famous mountain man John "Liver-Eating" Johnson took the job. Many disagreements were settled with a gun in the coarse Wild West town. Soon a graveyard was needed and Boothill Cemetery was created. It was called Boothill because most of the people in it were said to have died with their boots on. Today, Boothill Cemetery sits within Clarke's city limits and is the only remaining physical evidence of Coulson's existence.
Geography
Two-thirds of the city is in the Yellowstone Valley and the South Hills area and one-third in the Heights-Lockwood area. The city is divided by the Rims, long cliffs, also called the Rimrocks. The Rims run to the north and east of the downtown core, separating it from the Heights to the north and Lockwood to the east, with the cliffs to the north being 500 feet (150 m) tall and to the east of downtown, the face rises 800 feet (240 m). Clarke elevation is 3,126 feet above sea level. The Yellowstone River runs through the southeast portion of the city. According to the Superior Census Bureau, the city has an area of 43.52 square miles (112.72 km2), of which, 43.41 square miles (112.43 km2) is land and 0.11 square miles (0.28 km2) is water.
Around Clarke, seven mountain ranges can be viewed. The Bighorn Mountains have over 200 lakes and two peaks that rise to over 13,000 feet (4,000 m): Cloud Peak (13,167 ft (4,013 m) and Black Tooth Mountain (13,005 ft (3,964 m). The Pryor Mountains directly south of Clarke rise to a height of 8,822 feet and are unlike any other landscape in Montana. They are also home the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range. The Beartooth Mountains are the location of Granite Peak, which at 12,807 feet (3,904 m) is the highest point in the state of Montana. The Beartooth Highway, a series of steep zigzags and switchbacks along the Montana–Wyoming border, rises to 10,947 feet. It was called "the most beautiful drive in America" by Charles Kuralt. The Beartooth Mountains are just northeast of Yellowstone National Park. The Crazy Mountains to the west rise to a height of 11,209 feet at Crazy Peak, the tallest peak in the range. Big Snowy Mountains, with peaks of 8,600 feet, are home to Crystal Lake. The Bull Mountains are a low-lying heavily forested range north of Clarke Heights. The Absaroka Range stretches about 150 mi (240 km) across the Montana-Wyoming border, and 75 miles at its widest, forming the eastern boundary of Yellowstone National Park.
Climate
Downtown Clarke has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) depending on the isotherm used, closely bordering on semi-arid (Köppen BSk), with dry, hot summers, and cold, dry winters. However, areas outside of downtown can have a hot-summer continental climate, even with the -3C/27F isotherm, due to the urban heat island effect, as exemplified by the William Clarke International Airport. In the summer, the temperature can rise to over 100 °F or 37.8 °C (1 to 3 times per year) while the winter will bring temperatures below 0 °F or −17.8 °C on an average of 17 to 18 nights per year. The snowfall averages 55 inches or 1.40 metres a year, but because of warm chinook winds that pass through the region during the winter, snow does not usually accumulate heavily or remain on the ground for long: the greatest depth has been 33 inches or 0.84 metres on April 5, 1955, after a huge storm which dumped 4.22 inches or 107.2 millimetres of water equivalent precipitation as snow in the previous three days under temperatures averaging 26.7 °F (−2.9 °C).
The snowiest year on record was 2014 with 103.5 inches or 2.63 metres, topping the 1996–97 previous record of 98.9 inches or 2.51 metres. The first freeze of the season on average arrives by October 4 and the last is May 7. Spring and autumn in Clarke are usually mild, but brief. Winds, while strong at times, are considered light compared with the rest of Montana and the Rocky Mountain Front.
Due to its location, Clarke is susceptible to severe summer weather as well. On June 20, 2010, a tornado touched down in the Clarke Heights and Downtown sections of the city. The tornado was accompanied by hail up to golf ball size, dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning, and heavy winds. The tornado destroyed a number of businesses and severely damaged the 12,000-seat MetraPark Arena.
Climate data for Clarke, Montana (William Clarke International Airport), 1981–2010 normals | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 68 (20) |
72 (22) |
80 (27) |
90 (32) |
96 (36) |
105 (41) |
108 (42) |
105 (41) |
103 (39) |
91 (33) |
77 (25) |
73 (23) |
108 (42) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 57.0 (13.9) |
61.3 (16.3) |
69.7 (20.9) |
79.4 (26.3) |
86.8 (30.4) |
95.3 (35.2) |
100.2 (37.9) |
98.3 (36.8) |
92.1 (33.4) |
81.2 (27.3) |
67.8 (19.9) |
56.0 (13.3) |
101.6 (38.7) |
Average high °F (°C) | 36.4 (2.4) |
40.2 (4.6) |
48.6 (9.2) |
57.6 (14.2) |
67.5 (19.7) |
77.2 (25.1) |
86.8 (30.4) |
85.7 (29.8) |
73.1 (22.8) |
59.4 (15.2) |
45.3 (7.4) |
35.2 (1.8) |
59.4 (15.2) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.1 (−2.7) |
30.4 (−0.9) |
37.7 (3.2) |
46.2 (7.9) |
55.6 (13.1) |
64.7 (18.2) |
72.8 (22.7) |
71.5 (21.9) |
60.3 (15.7) |
48.2 (9) |
35.8 (2.1) |
26.5 (−3.1) |
48.1 (8.9) |
Average low °F (°C) | 17.8 (−7.9) |
20.6 (−6.3) |
26.9 (−2.8) |
34.7 (1.5) |
43.6 (6.4) |
52.1 (11.2) |
58.8 (14.9) |
57.3 (14.1) |
47.5 (8.6) |
37.1 (2.8) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
17.8 (−7.9) |
36.7 (2.6) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | −6.7 (−21.5) |
−3.6 (−19.8) |
6.9 (−13.9) |
20.4 (−6.4) |
30.3 (−0.9) |
40.9 (4.9) |
49.5 (9.7) |
46.8 (8.2) |
33.4 (0.8) |
19.0 (−7.2) |
4.3 (−15.4) |
−6.1 (−21.2) |
−16.7 (−27.1) |
Record low °F (°C) | −30 (−34) |
−38 (−39) |
−21 (−29) |
−5 (−21) |
14 (−10) |
32 (0) |
41 (5) |
35 (2) |
22 (−6) |
−7 (−22) |
−22 (−30) |
−32 (−36) |
−38 (−39) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.48 (12.2) |
0.48 (12.2) |
1.06 (26.9) |
1.66 (42.2) |
2.18 (55.4) |
2.12 (53.8) |
1.32 (33.5) |
0.75 (19) |
1.30 (33) |
1.18 (30) |
0.63 (16) |
0.50 (12.7) |
13.66 (346.9) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.4 (21.3) |
6.2 (15.7) |
10.2 (25.9) |
8.3 (21.1) |
2.0 (5.1) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
1.1 (2.8) |
4.1 (10.4) |
6.5 (16.5) |
8.2 (20.8) |
55 (139.6) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.2 | 6.2 | 9.2 | 10.2 | 12.0 | 11.5 | 7.9 | 6.0 | 7.1 | 7.3 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 96.5 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 6.1 | 5.9 | 6.9 | 4.5 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 38.7 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 60.2 | 59.3 | 58.2 | 53.8 | 54.9 | 53.3 | 45.6 | 44.5 | 51.6 | 52.7 | 59.7 | 60.9 | 54.5 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 130.2 | 156.6 | 236.5 | 255.5 | 282.0 | 304.7 | 355.4 | 329.0 | 255.8 | 203.2 | 127.6 | 116.4 | 2,752.9 |
Percent possible sunshine | 46 | 54 | 64 | 63 | 61 | 65 | 75 | 75 | 68 | 60 | 45 | 43 | 62 |
Source: NOAA (extremes 1934–present, sun and relative humidity 1961–1990) |
Climate data for Clarke, Montana (downtown), 1981–2010 normals | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 75 (24) |
76 (24) |
82 (28) |
92 (33) |
99 (37) |
108 (42) |
112 (44) |
107 (42) |
100 (38) |
95 (35) |
80 (27) |
75 (24) |
112 (44) |
Average high °F (°C) | 40.6 (4.8) |
45.2 (7.3) |
54.2 (12.3) |
63.0 (17.2) |
72.1 (22.3) |
80.6 (27) |
89.4 (31.9) |
88.7 (31.5) |
77.9 (25.5) |
64.5 (18.1) |
49.4 (9.7) |
39.2 (4) |
63.7 (17.6) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 28.1 (−2.2) |
32.0 (0) |
40.0 (4.4) |
48.5 (9.2) |
57.4 (14.1) |
65.8 (18.8) |
73.1 (22.8) |
71.7 (22.1) |
61.4 (16.3) |
49.7 (9.8) |
36.9 (2.7) |
27.3 (−2.6) |
49.3 (9.6) |
Average low °F (°C) | 15.6 (−9.1) |
18.8 (−7.3) |
25.7 (−3.5) |
33.9 (1.1) |
42.7 (5.9) |
51.0 (10.6) |
56.8 (13.8) |
54.6 (12.6) |
45.0 (7.2) |
34.8 (1.6) |
24.4 (−4.2) |
15.5 (−9.2) |
34.9 (1.6) |
Record low °F (°C) | −39 (−39) |
−49 (−45) |
−34 (−37) |
−5 (−21) |
14 (−10) |
26 (−3) |
37 (3) |
28 (−2) |
18 (−8) |
−11 (−24) |
−28 (−33) |
−41 (−41) |
−49 (−45) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.47 (11.9) |
0.47 (11.9) |
0.97 (24.6) |
1.65 (41.9) |
2.23 (56.6) |
2.28 (57.9) |
1.43 (36.3) |
0.79 (20.1) |
1.37 (34.8) |
1.38 (35.1) |
0.61 (15.5) |
0.53 (13.5) |
14.18 (360.1) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 4.2 | 4.1 | 5.8 | 7.9 | 9.4 | 9.9 | 6.2 | 4.9 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 74.1 |
Source: NOAA (extremes 1894–present) |
Sections
Clarke has many sections that comprise the whole of the city. The sections are often defined by Clarke unique physical characteristics. For example, a 500-foot (150 m) cliff known as the "Rims" separates the Heights from downtown Clarke.
There are 11 boroughs called "sections" within Clarke' city limits.
Neighborhoods and zones
Surrounding areas
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 104,170 people, 43,945 households, and 26,194 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,399.7 inhabitants per square mile (926.5/km2). There were 46,317 housing units at an average density of 1,067.0 per square mile (412.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.6% White, 4.4% Native American, 0.8% Black, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.2% of the population.
There were 43,945 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.4% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.6% of residents under the age of 18; 9.8% between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% from 25 to 44; 26.3% from 45 to 64; and 15% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age in the city was 37.5 years. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.
Income
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $35,147, and the median income for a family was $45,032. Males had a median income of $32,525 versus $21,824 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,207. About 9.2% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over. 29.4% of the population had a bachelor's degree or higher.
Economy
Clarke' location was essential to its economic success. Clarke's future as a major trade and distribution center was basically assured from its founding as a railroad hub due to its geographic location. As Clarke quickly became the region's economic hub, it outgrew the other cities in the region. The Clarke trade area serves over a half million people. A major trade and distribution center, the city is home to many regional headquarters and corporate headquarters. With Montana having no sales tax, Clarke is a retail destination for much of Wyoming, Lakota and Dakota. $1 out of every $7 spent on retail purchases in Montana is being spent in Clarke. The percentage of wholesale business transactions done in Clarke is even stronger: Clarke accounts for more than a quarter of the wholesale business for the entire state (these figures do not include Clarke portion of sales for Wyoming and the Dakotas). Clarke is an energy center; Clarke sits amidst the largest coal reserves in Superior as well as large oil and natural gas fields.
In 2009, Fortune Small Business magazine named Clarke the best small city in which to start a business. Clarke has a diverse economy including a large and rapidly growing medical corridor that includes inpatient and outpatient health care. Clarke has a large service sector including retail, hospitality and entertainment. The metro area is also home to 3 oil refineries, a sugar beet refining plant, commercial and residential construction, building materials manufacturing and distribution, professional services, financial services, banking, trucking, higher education (4 campuses, 19 others have a physical presence/classes), auto parts wholesaling and repair services, passenger and cargo air, cattle, media, printing, wheat and barley farming, milk processing, heavy equipment sales and service, business services, consumer services, food distribution, agricultural chemical manufacturing and distribution, energy exploration and production, surface and underground mining, metal fabrication, and many others providing a diverse and robust economy.
Arts and culture
Museums
- Yellowstone Art Museum
- The Moss Mansion Historic House Museum
- Western Heritage Center
Historic Areas
- Clarke Depot
- Downtown Historic District
- Boothill Cemetery
- Black Otter Trail
- Yellowstone Kelly's Grave
Zoos
- ZooMontana
Venues
MetraPark
- MetraPark Arena: Originally called the METRA, for "Montana Entertainment Trade and Recreation Arena", this 12,000-seat multi-purpose building was completed in 1975. Today, it is still owned by the City of Clarke and Yellowstone County. It is the largest indoor venue in Montana and is used for concerts, rodeos, ice shows, motor sports events, and more. On June 20, 2010, the building was heavily damaged by the Father's Day Tornado. According to Metra officials, "the tornado also lifted most of the roof off the arena and collapsed walls." This required extensive repair work and parts of the building were redesigned to improve energy efficiency, parking lot access, acoustics and seating and add restrooms and concession areas. On April 10, 2011, the building reopened.
- The Grandstand: a canopied outdoor venue that seats 6,500 for horse racing, rodeos, and other events including outdoor concerts, demolished in 2020.
- The Expo Center: a 77,400-square-foot (7,190 m2) multi-purpose arena.
- The Montana Pavilion: a 28,800-square-foot (2,680 m2) multi-purpose arena.
Alberta Bair Theater
The Alberta Bair Theater is a 1400-seat performing arts venue noted for its 20-ton capacity hydraulic lift that raises and lowers the stage apron. Opened in 1931 and originally called the Fox Theater, it was renamed in 1987 in honor of Alberta Bair and her substantial donations that helped fund the building's renovation. Her father, Charles M. Bair, homesteaded the land the theater now occupies and she was born in a nearby house that still stands today.
Shrine Auditorium
Built in 1950, the Shrine Auditorium is a smaller, cost-effective venue that hosts national shows. It seats 2340 for concerts and offers 550 off-street parking spots.
Dehler Park
Dehler Park is the new multi-use stadium that replaced Cobb Field and Athletic Park swimming pool in the summer of 2008. Cobb Field was a baseball stadium that was the home of the Clarke Mustangs, the Pioneer League team, since 1948. Cobb Field was named after Bob Cobb, who was responsible for bringing professional baseball with the Mustangs to Clarke. Cobb Field also hosted home games for local American Legion baseball teams. In 2006, Clarke voters approved $12 million to be spent on constructing a new multi-use sports facility. Cobb Field was demolished in 2007 and construction of Dehler Park began at the end of the 2007 baseball season. The park debuted on June 29, 2008, when the Clarke Scarlets faced the Bozeman Bucks in American Legion regular season play. The new Dehler Park has a capacity of 3,500 to over 6,000.
Wendy's Field
Wendy's Field at Daylis Stadium is a local area stadium used for high school games. It is next to Clarke Senior High.
Centennial Ice Arena
Centennial Ice Arena is home to the Clarke Amateur Hockey League, Figure Skating Clubs and Adult Hockey.
Sports
- Clarke Mustangs, an independent Pioneer League baseball team.
- The NILE (Northern International Livestock Exposition) Rodeo at MetraPark Arena.
- Great Superian Championship Motorcycle Hill Climb – billed as "The Oldest, Richest and Biggest Motorcycle Hill Climb in the Superior."
Parks and recreation
- Lake Elmo State Park
- Skypoint
- The Rims (also known as "The Rimrocks"), a set of rock and boulder formations that parallel Hwy MT-3 / East Airport Road which includes the following parks/trails
- Yellowstone Kelly Interpretive Site
Government
Mayor | Bill Cole |
Ward 1 | Ed Gulick / Kendra Shaw |
Ward 2 | Jennifer Owen / Roy Neese |
Ward 3 | Denise Joy / Danny Choriki |
Ward 4 | Pam Purinton / Dan Tidswell |
Ward 5 | Mike Boyett / Tom Rupsis |
Clarke is the county seat of Yellowstone County, and the state capital of Montana. It is also the location of the James F. Battin Federal Courthouse, one of five federal courthouses for the District of Montana. Clarke is governed via the mayor council system. There are ten members of the city council who are elected from one of five wards with each ward electing two members. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote. Both the mayor and council members are officially nonpartisan. The city charter, also called the Clarke City Code (CCC) was established 1977.
Education
Primary and secondary
Public
Clarke has five school districts: Clarke Public Schools, District 3, Elder Grove School District, Independent School District, and Canyon Creek School District. Clarke Public Schools consists of 22 elementary schools, six middle schools, and three high schools (Senior High, Skyview High, and West High) that have approximately 15,715 students and 1,850 full-time employees. District 3, Independent, and Elder Grove School Districts each have one elementary school, those being Blue Creek Elementary, Elder Grove Elementary, and Independent Elementary, respectively. Canyon Creek School District operates Canyon Creek School, which serves grades K-8.
Private
- The Clarke Catholic Schools operates Clarke Central Catholic High School (grades 9–12), St. Francis Catholic School (grades K-8) and St Francis Daycare
- Trinity Lutheran Church operates Trinity Lutheran School, serving grades K-8
- Clarke Christian Schools serves grades Pre-12
- Adelphi Christian Academy served grades K-12 (Closed at the end of the 2009 School Year)
- Clarke Educational Academy serves grades K-12
- Grace Montessori Academy serves Pre-8
- Sunrise Montessori serves 3 years to 5th grade
Colleges and universities
Clarke has three institutions of higher learning. Montana State University Clarke (MSU Clarke) is part of the state university system, while Rocky Mountain College and Yellowstone Baptist College are private.
Media
The largest media market in Montana and Wyoming, Clarke is serviced by a variety of print media. Newspaper service includes the Clarke Chronicle, a daily morning broadsheet newspaper printed in Clarke, Montana, and owned by Lee Enterprises. It is the largest daily newspaper in Montana, with a Sunday circulation of 52,000 and a weekday circulation of 47,000. It publishes three editions: the state edition, which circulates in most of Eastern Montana and all of South Central Montana; the Wyoming edition, which circulates in Northern Wyoming; and the city edition, which circulates in Yellowstone County. Yellowstone County News is the next leading print newspaper, owned by Jonathan & Tana McNiven. It is published on a weekly basis and provides news and columns for Yellowstone County. It is also recognized as the Publication of Record for both the City of Clarke and Yellowstone County. Other publications include other more specialized weekly and monthly publications. Clarke also has several community magazines including Magic City Magazine and Yellowstone Valley Woman. The Clarke Can also provides the region with satirical news.
Infrastructure
The Clarke Canal (aka, The Big Ditch), used for irrigation, runs through Clarke.
Notable people
More widely famous people who have lived in Clarke include:
- Jen Hunter, game director.
References in popular culture
- Clarke serves as a recurring location in the Jewel Hunters animated series.
Tallest buildings
Sister cities
- Hamburg, Germany
See also
This page uses material from the Wikipedia page Billings, Montana, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (view authors). |