Hardin, Montana

History

The city was named for Samuel Hardin (1846-1921), a friend of developer Charles Henry Morrill. It was incorporated in 1911. Thomas D. Campbell operated the nation's largest wheat farm on 95,000 acres near here and pioneered the use of industrial machinery in farming. The Holly Sugar Corporation established a sugar beet–processing plant in Hardin in 1937.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.57 sqmi, all land.

The Little Bighorn River empties into the Bighorn River east of town.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Hardin has a cold semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

|Jan record high F = 70 |Feb record high F = 74 |Mar record high F = 84 |Apr record high F = 96 |May record high F = 97 |Jun record high F = 106 |Jul record high F = 112 |Aug record high F = 109 |Sep record high F = 104 |Oct record high F = 94 |Nov record high F = 81 |Dec record high F = 72

|Jan avg record high F = 56.7 |Feb avg record high F = 60.8 |Mar avg record high F = 72.6 |Apr avg record high F = 82.3 |May avg record high F = 88.2 |Jun avg record high F = 97.0 |Jul avg record high F = 101.7 |Aug avg record high F = 100.7 |Sep avg record high F = 95.9 |Oct avg record high F = 83.6 |Nov avg record high F = 69.1 |Dec avg record high F = 58.9 |year avg record high F = 103.0

|Jan avg record low F = -15.7 |Feb avg record low F = -8.7 |Mar avg record low F = 1.6 |Apr avg record low F = 18.5 |May avg record low F = 28.9 |Jun avg record low F = 39.8 |Jul avg record low F = 47.5 |Aug avg record low F = 44.2 |Sep avg record low F = 32.5 |Oct avg record low F = 16.0 |Nov avg record low F = -0.4 |Dec avg record low F = -10.2 |year avg record low F = -23.4

|Jan record low F = -43 |Feb record low F = -38 |Mar record low F = -31 |Apr record low F = -1 |May record low F = 15 |Jun record low F = 30 |Jul record low F = 34 |Aug record low F = 30 |Sep record low F = 15 |Oct record low F = -14 |Nov record low F = -31 |Dec record low F = -47

|access-date = August 5, 2022 |access-date = August 5, 2022

Demographics

|align-fn=center

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,505 people, 1,301 households, and 850 families living in the city. The population density was 1363.8 PD/sqmi. There were 1,401 housing units at an average density of 545.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 49.8% White, 0.7% African American, 40.8% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.2% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.1% of the population.

There were 1,301 households, of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.7% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.29.

The median age in the city was 33.2 years. 29.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.7% were from 45 to 64; and 13.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,384 people, 1,295 households, and 868 families living in the city. The population density was 2,415.5 PD/sqmi. There were 1,411 housing units at an average density of 1,007.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 62.26% White, 0.12% African American, 31.59% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 1.03% from other races, and 4.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.53% of the population.

There were 1,295 households, out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,018, and the median income for a family was $33,729. Males had a median income of $28,493 versus $19,444 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,041. About 17.2% of families and 23.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.1% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The city developed an 800 acre industrial park. It has access to Interstate and rail.

Hardin hosts a bitcoin mining facility by Marathon Patent Group, according to a press release by the company in 2021.

Jail

Main article: Two Rivers Detention Facility

In 2004–05, a consortium including architectural, bond sellers and contractors located in Texas, promoting the construction of speculative prison and jail ventures convinced Hardin's industrial development authority to float a $27 million bond issuance to build the Two Rivers Detention Facility. It was designed for 464 inmates, and was to be located on a 40 acre sugar beet field. The facility was slated to open in July 2007 but the state of Montana would not approve it. The Authority bonds defaulted on May 1, 2008. The consortium's contract terminated in January 2009 without any prisoners ever being housed in the jail.

In November 2009 the Two Rivers Board hired its fifth director. A reserve fund of $814,000 was earmarked to maintain the building for possible future use. It remained complete and vacant for over seven years, though it was partially filled for 18 months. By February 2016, empty once again, it had cost the city $582,595 paid to Two Rivers to maintain it since 2004. Due to unpaid interest on the defaulted bonds, its estimated indebtedness had increased to over $40 million by December 2015.

In April 2019, the Bureau of Indian Affairs took possession and began operations. The name was changed to the Rocky Mountain Regional Detention Facility.

Arts and culture

The Big Horn County Historical Museum is located in Hardin. It sits on 35 acres and has 24 historic structures.

The Hardin Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture conducts the annual Little Big Horn Days festival the 3rd weekend in June. It includes the Custer's Last Stand Reenactment written by Joe Medicine Crow. There is also a PRCA rodeo and Crow Native Days.

The Big Horn County Library operates in Hardin.

Government

Hardin has a mayor and six city councilors. There are three wards, each with two councilors. In the November 2025 elections, Riley Ramsey defeated incumbent mayor Joseph Purcell. Purcell replaced Jack Lane in 2019.

Education

The Hardin School Districts educate students from kindergarten to 12th grade. The Hardin Elementary School District has 5 schools. Hardin High School had 529 students enrolled in the 2021-2022 school year. Their team name is the Bulldogs.

Media

Radio

• KHDN 1230 AM has a news talk information format.
• KNPC 88.5 FM has a religious format.
• KRWS-LP 100.7 FM has an oldies format.

Newspapers

• Big Horn County News
• The Original Briefs

Television

Hardin is the city of license for Fox network affiliate KHMT, channel 4, whose studio facilities are located on South 24th Street West in Billings; its transmitter is located in unincorporated southeastern Yellowstone County (southeast of Indian Arrow).

Hardin is primarily served by the Billings media market.

Infrastructure

Interstate 90 passes the northern part of town from east to west. It is also served by Old US Route 87 as a frontage road as well as secondary highways 216, 236, 307, 313, and 384.

Big Horn County Airport is a public use airport located 3 miles west of town. The nearest commercial airport is Billings Logan International Airport.

Notable people

• Kroy Biermann, NFL defensive end
• Bill Christiansen, 25th Lieutenant Governor of Montana
• Kendall Cross, Olympic Gold Medalist in Freestyle Wrestling
• Tim Fox, Attorney General of Montana
• Carroll Graham, Montana State Senator

References

References

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