Info re: Scobey MT? (Billings, Missoula: fit in, real estate, low crime)

[rambn]

Can anyone provide information about Scobey, MT? What little I found on-line describes it as an economically depressed area with rather dismal prospects for the future. To me, however, it looks like it could be a very nice place to live. I noticed that land (100 or more acres) is affordable. That is something that is very attractive to me.

I know that I would be able to find work making good money there. However, my wife is a college professor with a PhD. I couldn't find many schools in the area.

For some reason I'm stuck on the idea of living in Montana. I currently live in one of the hottest parts of the country, but I was born and raised in Detroit, MI and have lived in New York and Colorado. So winter is nothing new to me.

I also have dogs and enjoy running with them at least once a day. I hope they would be safe in the winter.

Thanks in advance the feedback.

[imbobbbb]

well ive only been through there once,they have a pretty neat museum there but there isnt much going on there.there are only about 2,000 people in the whole county so there isnt much in the way of work.they call eastern montana'the big empty'for a reason.it seems a strange choice for a place to want to move unless you were going to buy very large acreage to ranch.its far away from the mountains and scenery that draw most people to montana.i would think if you wish to live in an are that sparsely populated you may want to consider ekalaka or alzada or brodus in south east montana.no one hardly lives there either but land is likely just as cheap and you are at least a little closer to some larger cities like billings mt,gillette,wy and rapid city,sd.[though not too close]

[mtmomof5]

I thought I should reply to this post because it would be stretching it for you to expect a reply from anyone in the area of Scobey because the population in Eastern Montana is smaller than practically any city in the rest of the country so the chance that there is someone on this site from the area is very slim.

I live in Circle which is about 90 miles south of Scobey.

Scobey is almost completely a farming community. Very strong family ties, very strong community feeling.

The only jobs that would probably be available there are teaching, preaching, truck driving, ranch hand, maybe there would be something available at a utility company.

The cost of housing is low in Northeastern Montana. You can buy a 5 bedroom house for about an average of $70,000.

removed

Now, Sidney is a booming town. Oil is in big production there. Jobs are available and there are small towns nearby that a person can commute from. There is a nice college in Williston, ND (40 minutes) or Glendive, MT 50 mi.

If you like the Scobey area, Plentywood or Culbertson may be better choices. As Williston wouldn't be that big of a commute for your wife to teach at the college.

Northeast Montana is a wonderful place to raise a family. If you want to go shopping or do a BIG town outing, it is usually a drive of at least 2 hours to get to a Walmart or JCPenneys. We usually go the Dickinson, ND (has a small mall, Super Walmart, Kmart), I enjoy it because you get a variety without going to the bigger cities/towns like Billings or Bismarck ND. (I know to most people those are just little towns but that is too much city for me!)

Williston does have a Super Walmart and a JCPenneys, Sidney has mom and pop shops, plus a Penneys and a Pamida. Miles City has Super Walmart, Maurices and mom & pop stores.

Miles City has a community college. You could look at Terry? Small town just 30 miles north of Miles City.

The hi-line (The area north of Hwy 2 going across northern Montana) is very cold in the winter. Do you like the cold? There are also a few reservations scattered along there. There is a lot of crime and depressed living on the reservations. Generally though, the crime stays on the reservations. Scobey is off the reservation.

The dogs would be fine in the winter. I just wouldn't run them on the 2-10 days that are 30 below zero!

I am pasting in some Demographics of the county. You have got to realize that the income reporting is somewhat misleading. Farmers and Ranchers income is reported somewhat different then that of the average person. If they say they made $30,000 last year. That $30,000 doesn't pay for their housing or a lot of their car fuel, tires, electricity, house ins, taxes, (even a new pickup is a farm expense) etc. because they report that as a cost of running their farm business. So $30,000 is basically their SPENDING (except the cost of groceries) money for the year. Where as, we make $30,000 a year but pay our housing, taxes, ins, fuel, etc out of that amount.

Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 2,017 people, 892 households, and 561 families residing in the county. The population density was 1/km² (1/mi²). There were 1,154 housing units at an average density of 0/km² (1/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.03% White, 1.29% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. 1.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 892 households out of which 23.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.10% were non-families. 33.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.84.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,306, and the median income for a family was $35,722. Males had a median income of $24,405 versus $18,421 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,055. About 13.40% of families and 16.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.20% of those under age 18 and 13.20% of those age 65 or over.

So the only colleges in Eastern Montana are: Glendive, Miles City, Havre and Billings. Then just over the border in North Dakota, Williston and Dickinson.

Western Montana college towns would be: Bozeman, Butte, Helena, Great Falls, Kalispell, Missoula, Dillon maybe some more but that's what I can think of.

If I can answer anymore questions for you, just ask.

Mtmomof5

[Chart]

Can you go on the reservaton to fish, hunt, or camp?

[smarlenee]

Scobey is the only town in Daniels County with a school; there may be teaching jobs.

There is a rather large telecommunications company based out of Scobey, Nemont. They seem to always be hiring and offer excellent benefits.

Of course nothing pays very well in that area, but the cost of living is reflective of that. I was just browsing real estate prices and a four bedroom home is going for $25,900. Ha, that is less than my down payment.

[Rickers]

Have you considered western Montana ?

[britishcracker]

Thanks mtmomof5,sounds like you don't mind "southern foreiners" moving to the North country. I was stationed in England twice and found many good "mates" and became friends with them (RESERVED ENGLISH PEOPLE). I think I would fit in with the locales. I just do not know about the cold??????
britishcracker

[elliottmew]

It does get very cold up in Northeastern Montana during the winter. However, what I hated most about the weather there was the wind. It seems like it never stops blowing.

[Iorge]

Scobey,Mt....hmmm....hmmm....depends on what you are looking for.
Do you like:
Amber waves of grain, northern lights,good neighbors, good school system, choice of 5 churches or if otherwise inclined 5 bars? Low crime, affordable housing, good hospital and nursing home.....check out scobeymt.com for Chamber of Commerce Information. Regina Sask, Canada within driving distance and population approx. 200,000.00.
Scobey has an abundance of musical talent, a great Pioneer Town and Museum, block management for hunting, great bird watching and much more....you simply have to slow down...look around and learn how to reappreciate the basics in life...but then I am an optimist.

[Iorge]

Rambn, iambobbbb,mtmomof5

Don't bet on Scobey having "little prospect for the future"....a tenacious population with great track record for "getting things done"...also located within the Bakken Oil area. People who live here tend to live below or within their means opposed to living beyond their means...
A diverse, well traveled population .....Google earth some Montana Towns.........it's a great State and so are most of the communities within it.