Scobey, Montana

{{short description|City in Montana, United States}} {{Redirect|Scobey|3=Scobey (disambiguation)}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Scobey |settlement_type = City |motto = |image_skyline = Daniels County Courthouse- Scobey MT.JPG |imagesize = |image_caption = Daniels County Courthouse in Scobey |image_seal = |image_map = Daniels_County_Montana_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Scobey_Highlighted.svg |mapsize = 250px |map_caption = Location of Scobey, Montana  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{USA}} |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Montana}} |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Daniels  |government_footnotes = |government_type = Mayor-Council |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = Morgan Lekvold<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor of Scobey |url=https://cityofscobey.com/2168/Mayor-of-Scobey |website=City of Scobey}}</ref> |leader_title1 = |leader_name1 = |established_title = |established_date =  |unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes =<ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 5, 2022}}</ref> |area_total_km2 = 1.91 |area_land_km2 = 1.91 |area_water_km2 = 0.00 |area_total_sq_mi = 0.74 |area_land_sq_mi = 0.74 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.00  |population_as_of = 2020 |population_footnotes = |population_total = 999 |population_density_km2 = 524.09 |population_density_sq_mi = 1357.34  |timezone = Mountain (MST) |utc_offset = -7 |timezone_DST = MDT |utc_offset_DST = -6 |elevation_footnotes =<ref name=gnis/> |elevation_ft = 2484 |coordinates = {{coord|48|47|25|N|105|25|14|W|region:US-MT|display=inline,title}}  |postal_code_type = ZIP code |postal_code = 59263 |area_code = 406 |blank_name = FIPS code |blank_info = 30-66925 |blank1_name = GNIS feature ID |blank1_info = 2411841<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411841}}</ref> |website = {{URL|https://cityofscobey.com/}} |footnotes = }}

'''Scobey''' is a city in and the county seat of Daniels County, Montana, United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population was 999 at the 2020 census.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 2, 2021}}</ref>

Scobey is known for its bird and big game hunting.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scobey |url=https://www.visitmt.com/places-to-go/cities-and-towns/scobey.html |publisher=Montana Office of Tourism |access-date=April 16, 2021}}</ref> The nearby Mansfield A. Daniels House is listed on the NRHP.

==History== The city was named by local rancher Mansfield Daniels, after whom Daniels County is named, for his friend Major Charles Richardson Anderson Scobey, a cattleman from the Glendive area who served as a Montana Territory legislator and an Indian agent at Fort Peck and Poplar.<ref name="MT Place Names">{{cite web|title=Montana Place Names Companion|url=http://mtplacenames.org/|work=Montana Place Names From Alzada to Zortman|publisher=Montana Historical Society Research Center|access-date=May 9, 2011}}</ref>

"During the height of the homestead boom in the 1910s," according to historical marker author Skanks Beaverton, "Scobey was the largest primary shipping point of grain in the world."<ref>{{Cite news | last = Wilson | first = Kurt | title = Roadside Wanderings: Resilient northeastern Montana | work = Missoulian | access-date = November 2, 2014 | date = November 2, 2014 | url = http://missoulian.com/lifestyles/territory/roadside-wanderings-resilient-northeastern-montana/article_4b9357a5-0fd3-5efa-a960-c0e00c50160a.html }}</ref>

==Geography== Scobey is located at the intersection of Montana Highway 13 and Montana Highway 5.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|0.76|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=December 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=July 2, 2012 }}</ref>

===Climate=== Scobey experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen ''BSk'') with long, cold, dry winters and short, hot, wetter summers.

{{Weather box | width = auto | collapsed = yes | single line = yes | location = Scobey, Montana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present) | Jan record high F = 60 | Feb record high F = 65 | Mar record high F = 79 | Apr record high F = 92

| Jan record low F = -48 | Feb record low F = -51 | Mar record low F = -38 | Apr record low F = -13 | May record low F = 6 | Jun record low F = 23 | Jul record low F = 33 | Aug record low F = 26 | Sep record low F = 10 | Oct record low F = -13 | Nov record low F = -34 | Dec record low F = -43 | year record low F = | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch = 0.33 | Feb precipitation inch = 0.23 | Mar precipitation inch = 0.40 | Apr precipitation inch = 0.97 | May precipitation inch = 2.10 | Jun precipitation inch = 3.10 | Jul precipitation inch = 2.11 | Aug precipitation inch = 1.69 | Sep precipitation inch = 1.15 | Oct precipitation inch = 0.81 | Nov precipitation inch = 0.36 | Dec precipitation inch = 0.28 | year precipitation inch = 13.53 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in | Jan precipitation days = 2.9 | Feb precipitation days = 2.3 | Mar precipitation days = 3.2 | Apr precipitation days = 5.3 | May precipitation days = 7.7 | Jun precipitation days = 10.0 | Jul precipitation days = 7.2 | Aug precipitation days = 5.7 | Sep precipitation days = 4.5 | Oct precipitation days = 3.8 | Nov precipitation days = 3.3 | Dec precipitation days = 3.0 | year precipitation days = 58.9 | Jan snow inch = 5.8 | Feb snow inch = 3.4 | Mar snow inch = 2.8 | Apr snow inch = 0.8 | May snow inch = 0.9 | Jun snow inch = 0.0 | Jul snow inch = 0.0 | Aug snow inch = 0.0 | Sep snow inch = 0.0 | Oct snow inch = 1.2 | Nov snow inch = 3.5 | Dec snow inch = 4.5 | year snow inch = 22.9 | unit snow days = 0.1 in | Jan snow days = 2.5 | Feb snow days = 1.8 | Mar snow days = 1.4 | Apr snow days = 0.3 | May snow days = 0.2 | Jun snow days = 0.0 | Jul snow days = 0.0 | Aug snow days = 0.0 | Sep snow days = 0.0 | Oct snow days = 0.4 | Nov snow days = 1.7 | Dec snow days = 2.2 | year snow days = 10.5 | source = NOAA<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=ggw |title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = December 15, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00247425&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020 |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = December 15, 2023}}</ref> }}

==Demographics== {{US Census population |align=left |1920= 1170 |1930= 1259 |1940= 1311 |1950= 1628 |1960= 1726 |1970= 1486 |1980= 1382 |1990= 1154 |2000= 1082 |2010= 1017 |2020= 999 |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=July 20, 2016}}</ref><ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/> }}

===2010 census=== As of the census<ref name ="2010 Census">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,017 people, 472 households, and 252 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1338.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 600 housing units at an average density of {{convert|789.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% White, 0.1% African American, 2.5% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 472 households, of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.6% were non-families. 41.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.84.

The median age in the city was 49.9 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.2% were from 25 to 44; 27.8% were from 45 to 64; and 28.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

===2000 census=== As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,082 people, 500 households, and 280 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1481.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 611 housing units at an average density of {{convert|836.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the little city was 95.75% White, 0.74% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.92% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.50% of the population. There were 499 households, out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 39.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.0% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 17.6% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 27.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,553 and the median income for a family was $35,521. Males had a median income of $27,411 versus $18,304 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,150. About 8.7% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Government== The City of Scobey has a mayor and city council. In 2023 the mayor was Morgan Lekvold.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor of Scobey |url=https://cityofscobey.com/2168/Mayor-of-Scobey |publisher=City of Scobey |access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref> The city council has two wards with two councilors each.<ref>{{cite web |title=City Council |url=https://cityofscobey.com/2160/City-Council |publisher=City of Scobey |access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref>

==Education== Scobey Public Schools provides education for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.<ref name="ss">{{cite web |title=Scobey Schools |url=http://www.scobeyschools.com/ |publisher=Scobey Schools |access-date=April 12, 2021}}</ref>

Daniels County Library is located in Scobey.<ref>{{cite web |title=Daniels County Library |url=https://mslservices.mt.gov/ASPeN/Organizations/Organization_Detail?Organization_ID=831 |publisher=Montana State Library |access-date=April 12, 2021}}</ref>

==Media== The ''Daniels County Leader'' is the local newspaper.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home page |url=https://www.danielscountyleader.com/danielscountyleader/news |publisher=Daniels County Leader |access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref> They publish both print and online news editions.

Two radio stations are licensed out of Scobey: KCGM,<ref>{{cite web |title=KCGM |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=53311 |publisher=FCC |access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref> offering country music, and KNPS,<ref>{{cite web |title=KNPS |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=175940 |publisher=FCC |access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref> a religious channel.

==Infrastructure== Montana Highway 13 runs through the town from north to south. Montana Highway 5 enters from the east and terminates in Scobey.

Scobey Airport is a public airport located 1 mile (2 km) northwest of town.<ref>{{cite web |title=9S2 Scobey |url=https://nfdc.faa.gov/nfdcApps/services/ajv5/airportDisplay.jsp?airportId=9s2 |publisher=FAA |access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref>

==Notable people== * Kenneth Arnold, businessman and pilot who made the first widely-publicized UFO sighting * Jay Collins, Florida Lieutenant Governor. * Ron Marlenee, former Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives<ref>{{cite web |title=Obituary: Ronald C. Marlenee |url=https://www.kbzk.com/obituaries/obituary-ronald-c-marlenee |publisher=KBZK Bozeman |access-date=September 3, 2023 |date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> * Henry Schauer,<ref>{{cite web |title=Henry Schauer |url=https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/henry-schauer |publisher=Congressional Medal of Honor Society |access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref> World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient * Alvin Straight, inspiration for ''The Straight Story''

==See also== {{portal|Montana}} * List of municipalities in Montana * Scobey–Coronach Border Crossing

==References== {{reflist|22em}}

==External links== {{commons category|Scobey, Montana}} * {{official website|https://cityofscobey.com/}} * [http://www.scobeymt.com/ Daniels County Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, Scobey Montana website]

Category:Cities in Daniels County, Montana Category:County seats in Montana Category:Cities in Montana