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Moving to Simms, Montana

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Simms, Montana is a small city located in Cascade County. It has a population of approximately 1,500 people. The geography of the area includes rolling hills, rivers, and streams. The climate is typically dry and warm during the summer months and cold in the winter months. Simms has a long history dating back to its founding in 1892 when it was first established as a trading post along the Missouri River.

Politically, Simms is considered to be a conservative town with strong support for Republican candidates. The economy of Simms is mainly based on agriculture, with wheat and barley being some of the most common crops grown in the area. There are also several small businesses located in town that provide jobs for residents.

Education is important to Simms residents and there are several school options available for children K-12 including public schools, private schools, and homeschooling co-ops. Those seeking higher education can take advantage of nearby colleges such as University of Montana Western or Flathead Valley Community College which offer associate degree programs as well as vocational training courses.

Simms is home to many landmarks such as Chief Joseph’s Grave which marks the final resting place of one of Native American history’s most famous figures; Fort Benton which was once an important trading post on the upper Missouri River; and Big Spring Park which offers trails for hiking or horseback riding along with fishing spots where you can catch trout or catfish from its crystal clear waters. There are also many historical sites throughout town that tell stories about Simms’ rich past including old churches, saloons, and ranches that were once part of this unique community.

Population: 373
Males: 194 (52.0%), Females: 179 (48.0%)

Cascade County

Zip code: 59477

Demographics

Median resident age: 43.6 years
Median household income: $28,333
Median house value: $58,200

Population by Race

Races in Simms:

  • White Non-Hispanic (91.2%)
  • American Indian (6.4%)
  • Two or more races (1.9%)
  • Hispanic (1.6%)
  • Korean (0.5%)
  • Other race (0.5%)

Ancestries: German (26.3%), English (18.8%), Irish (12.1%), Norwegian (7.8%), French (5.4%), Dutch (4.0%).

Elevation: 3566 feet

Land area: 7.7 square miles

Population by Education

Simms, Montana is a small rural town located in Cascade County. As of the 2010 census, the population was reported as 1,054. The majority of people living in Simms are of Caucasian descent, making up about 85% of the population. The remaining 15% is divided among African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian and Native American populations.

The median age for Simms is 37 years old with a gender ratio of 50% male and 50% female. There are roughly 489 households in Simms and the average household size is 2.17 persons per household. The median household income is $41,944 with 15.3% living below the poverty line. Most residents are employed in either agriculture or manufacturing industries such as food processing or furniture production. Education levels vary greatly as there are no high schools within town limits; however, there are several institutions nearby offering higher education opportunities such as Great Falls College MSU and University of Great Falls.

The majority of residents are religious with over 75% belonging to some form of Christian denomination including Methodist and Catholic churches within town limits while other religions such as Islam and Buddhism also have small but active presence in Simms. There is also a large Amish community located just outside of town that contributes to the local economy through farming activities and home-based businesses such as woodworking and crafts making.

For population 25 years and over in Simms

  • High school or higher: 74.1%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.8%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 2.2%
  • Unemployed: 1.7%
  • Mean travel time to work: 29.6 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Simms CDP

  • Never married: 19.7%
  • Now married: 61.4%
  • Separated: 3.4%
  • Widowed: 6.4%
  • Divorced: 9.1%

1.9% Foreign born

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Simms:

  • TETON MEDICAL CENTER -CAH (about 38 miles; CHOTEAU, MT)
  • BENEFIS HEALTHCARE (about 46 miles; GREAT FALLS, MT)
  • PONDERA MEDICAL CLINIC – CAH (about 49 miles; CONRAD, MT)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Simms:

  • GREAT FALLS INTL (about 40 miles; GREAT FALLS, MT; Abbreviation: GTF)
  • HELENA REGIONAL (about 62 miles; HELENA, MT; Abbreviation: HLN)
  • BERT MOONEY (about 113 miles; BUTTE, MT; Abbreviation: BTM)

Other public-use airports nearest to Simms:

  • FAIRFIELD (about 10 miles; FAIRFIELD, MT; Abbreviation: 5U5)
  • CHOTEAU (about 28 miles; CHOTEAU, MT; Abbreviation: CII)
  • DUTTON (about 30 miles; DUTTON, MT; Abbreviation: 5U1)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Simms:

  • MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY-BOZEMAN (about 147 miles; BOZEMAN, MT; Full-time enrollment: 10,380)
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA-MISSOULA (about 149 miles; MISSOULA, MT; Full-time enrollment: 11,112)
  • RICKS COLLEGE (about 256 miles; REXBURG, ID; Full-time enrollment: 8,670)
  • MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY-BILLINGS (about 267 miles; BILLINGS, MT; Full-time enrollment: 3,105)
  • UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO (about 332 miles; MOSCOW, ID; Full-time enrollment: 9,823)
  • IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY (about 335 miles; POCATELLO, ID; Full-time enrollment: 10,057)
  • NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE (about 336 miles; COEUR D’ALENE, ID; Full-time enrollment: 2,988)

Schools

Public high school in Simms:

  • SIMMS HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 139; Location: 123 WALKER STREET; Grades: 09 – 12)

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