St. Marie
Census-designated place in Valley County, Montana
St. Marie is an unincorporated community (census-designated place) in Valley County, Montana, with 489 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 2,753 ft (839 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Glasgow, 15.5 miles SW.
- 489residents (2020 Census)
- 2,753 ftelevation · 839 m
- 22.9 sq miland area · 59.3 km²
- 21 / sq mipopulation density
- 59231ZIP code
About St. Marie
St. Marie or Saint Marie is a census-designated place (CDP) in Valley County, Montana, United States. As of the 2020 census, St. Marie had a population of 489. It is located at the site of the former Glasgow Air Force Base.
When the Air Force base was decommissioned, the on-base housing was purchased and offered for sale to private individuals. While many of the bids for the houses were from salvage companies, the community ultimately escaped demolition. Homes which had housed thousands of military personnel when the base was in operation were briefly promoted as condominiums for retirees.
Despite local efforts, most of the re-purposed housing units sit empty and abandoned. A few hundred residents remain in what is otherwise a partial ghost town. The runway remains in use as Glasgow Industrial Airport (FAA LID: 07MT), a test site for Boeing aircraft. The nearby city of Glasgow, Montana has dropped in population by half (from 6400 in the 1960s to 3250 in 2010) after the base closure.
Beginning in 2012 the community became embroiled in a series of legal and political conflicts with an anti-government group called the "Citizens Action Committee of Valley County," part of the larger Sovereign Citizen movement, with a similar philosophy to that of the Montana Freemen. The group intended to take ownership of the community through buying and seizing up a large amount of mostly vacant properties through bogus liens and litigation, while ostensibly planning a handful of investment schemes to redevelop them. The situation led to a number of St. Marie property owners being sued and a community backlash against the group followed.
The post office and town hall are still in operation along with a small handful of local businesses, but the school and a majority of businesses have closed. St. Marie has gained some interest from ghost town enthusiasts and back road explorers in recent years for its uniquely Atomic Age appeal, being much more intact and modern than most vacated locales and containing a fair number of larger buildings. In 2024, the town was used as a filming location for the short film "Orchards of a Futile Heaven."
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Living in St. Marie
- Median household income
- $38,971
- Median home value
- $18,800
- Median age
- 37.9
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Map of St. Marie
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Open in Google Maps ›St. Marie, MT population
St. Marie had 489 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 489 |
|---|---|
| Density | 21 per sq mi (8 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
St. Marie at a glance
| State | Montana (MT) |
|---|---|
| County | Valley County |
| Type | Census-designated place |
| Population | 489 (2020) |
| Land area | 22.90 sq mi (59.3 km²) |
| Elevation | 2,753 ft (839 m) |
| Coordinates | 48.4053° N, 106.4986° W |
| ZIP code | 59231 |
| Census code (GEOID) | 3065400 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near St. Marie
- Glasgow15.5 mi SW
- Nashua19.9 mi S
- Fort Peck27.6 mi S
- Opheim31.5 mi N
- Frazer32.2 mi SE
- Peerless40.1 mi NE
- Prairie Elk Colony42.0 mi SE
- Wolf Point44.9 mi SE
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about St. Marie
What county is St. Marie in?
St. Marie is in Valley County, Montana.
What is the population of St. Marie, MT?
489 people lived in St. Marie at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of St. Marie, MT?
The ZIP code of St. Marie is 59231.
What is the elevation of St. Marie?
2,753 feet (839 m) above sea level.
What towns are near St. Marie?
Glasgow (15.5 mi), Nashua (19.9 mi), Fort Peck (27.6 mi), Opheim (31.5 mi), Frazer (32.2 mi).
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