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Zortman, Montana

9 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1943 and the latest in 1984. It stands in the South Phillips census division. It lies in ZIP code area 59546. It lies near Whitcomb Butte. The Survey maps it on the Zortman quadrangle. 82 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 4,032 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Zortman within Phillips County

On record in Zortman

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 1 record

Population over time

2 figures

Zortman grew from 69 to 82 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
201069
202082+13 (+19%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

5 surveys from 9 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

33 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 33 fires within 5 miles of Zortman between 1992 and 2020, burning about 11,268 acres in total. 26 started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Natural26
Recreation and ceremony3
Missing data/not specified/undetermined2
Fireworks1
Equipment and vehicle use1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
6 September 2020Recreation and ceremony4.9 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictBEAVER MOUNTAIN
4 September 2010Naturalunder an acreFort Belknap AgencyKING FIRE 2
4 September 2010Natural1.0 acresFort Belknap AgencyKING FIRE 1
4 September 2010Natural1.0 acresFort Belknap AgencyCLIFF SIDE
3 September 2000Natural1.0 acresFort Belknap AgencyBLAIR
26 September 1992Recreation and ceremonyunder an acreFort Belknap AgencyCOON
15 September 1996Naturalunder an acreFort Belknap AgencyLUKE FIRE
7 August 1995Naturalunder an acreNorth Central Montana DistrictDRY GULCH

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Phillips County

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 39 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 39 workings within 5 miles of Zortman: 15 unknowns, 10 past producers, 7 occurrences, 4 prospects. 3 still produce. What was taken out: Gold, Silver, Fluorine-Fluorite, Gold, Silver. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Antone PeakFluorine-Fluorite, Gold, Lead, SilverOccurrence
Badger KingGold, Tellurium, Fluorine-FluoriteProspect
Bailey GroupGold, Silver, LeadUnknown
Camp ProspectLead, Zinc, Silver, Gold, CopperProspect
Frank MineGold, Silver, Lead, ZincUnknown
Gold Bug MineGold, Silver, Copper, ZincPast Producer1893, 1894
Gold Bug MineGold, Silver, Iron, Manganese, Fluorine-FluoritePast ProducerGold, Limonite, Sylvanite
Jack DeuceSilver, Gold, LeadPast Producer
Lucky MaudGold, Copper, Lead, SilverPast Producer
Surprise MineGold, Silver, TelluriumOccurrence

Every working recorded in Phillips County

Storms near this place

60 of 74 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Zortman in 74 storm reports between 1995 and 2022: 36 hail, 31 thunderstorm wind, 5 heavy rain, 1 flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 2002Thunderstorm WindZortman$75,000A line of thunderstorms produced severe winds across southern Phillips County. The damaging winds were generally less than 70 mph, but one RAWS site at Zortman did measure a 74 mph gust. A group of researchers just north of the UL Bend had significant damage to trailer they were using to stay in while conducting research. Three trailers were completely toppled, and another had the side caved in.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindZortman$50,000Outflow from thunderstorms 10 to 15 miles south produced wind damage. The strong wind lasted about 30 to 40 seconds. A camper was blown approximately 30 yards and destroyed. Branches were twisted off of trees and power lines were downed by the wind. The roofs were blown off of two barns.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindZortman$50,000A thunderstorm wind gust blew a Ford Bronco SUV into a house and downed 5 power poles in Zortman. Several trees and a sign were also blown down by the wind.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindZortman$20,000A thunderstorm wind gust 4 miles north of the Manning Corral RAWS site blew a roof off of a barn and blew down 2 power poles.
May 2008FloodZortman$1,000Flooding was observed on a few area dirt roads resulting in portions of the road surfaces washing out.
February 2022Thunderstorm WindZortman-The Malta South US-191 DOT site (MTMAL) recorded a 65 mph wind gust from a convective shower.
February 2022Thunderstorm WindZortman-The Malta South US-191 DOT site (MTMAL) recorded a 60 mph wind gust from a convective shower.
July 2022HailZortman-A trained spotter measured hail up to the size of golf balls.
July 2022HailZortman-A trained spotter reported hail up to the size of ping pong balls, along with heavy rain.
July 2022HailZortman-A trained spotter reported hail up to the size of golf balls.
July 2022HailZortman-Public reported hail up to the size of golf balls in the town of Zortman.
July 2022HailZortman-Public reported, via Facebook, hail up to the size of baseballs.
July 2022HailZortman-Public reported, via Facebook, hail up to the size of baseballs.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindZortman-The Zortman BLM RAWS site (ALDM8) measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 73 mph.
June 2021HailZortman-Public reported hail up to the size of tea cups, along with broken car windshields and heavy rain. Time estimated.
June 2021HailZortman-Cooperative observer shared photos of golf ball size hail and roof shingle damage.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindZortman-Public reported, via Facebook, that a 71 mph wind gust blew a tree down in Zortman.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindZortman-At the Zortman BLM RAWS site (ALDM8) a 64 mph wind gust was recorded.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindZortman-At the Zortman BLM RAWS site (ALDM8), a 64 mph wind gust was recorded sometime between 18:32 MST and 19:32 MST.
June 2019Heavy RainZortman-Cooperative observer in Zortman reported a 24-hour rainfall total of 6.30 inches.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindZortman-The RAWS site in Zortman recorded at 58 mph wind gust.
June 2019Tornado (EF0)Zortman-Storm Chaser and NWS storm survey reported a narrow swath of damage crossing US Highway 191. Tree tops and power poles snapped.
May 2017Thunderstorm WindZortman-The RAWS site in Zortman measured a 65 mph wind gust.
July 2017Thunderstorm WindZortman-A 58 mph wind gust was measured at the RAWS site at Zortman.
July 2017Thunderstorm WindZortman-A 65 mph wind gust was recorded at the Zortman RAWS site.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindZortman-A 58 mph wind gust was measured at the Zortman BLM RAWS site.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindZortman-Trained spotter reported severe winds up to 60 mph lasting for nearly one hour. Also received 0.6 inches of rain.
July 2011HailZortman-A light covering of scattered quarter-sized hail stones was reported.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindZortman-Spotter reported strong winds estimated between 50 and 60 mph that blew flower pots away.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindZortman-Person estimated winds to be about 60 mph.
August 2009Heavy RainZortman-Total rainfall that was measured was 1.1 inches.
August 2009Heavy RainZortman-Total rainfall measured between 730 pm and 930 pm was 4.66 inches. 2.5 inches fell in the first 15 minutes with pea-sized hail. Runoff from water reached near record high water markers near the bridge. Water was about 18 inches below the bridge span. No significant damage was reported and the flooding occurring in a very rural area.
August 2009Heavy RainZortman-A rain gauge that can hold up to six inches had overflowed. Bear Gulch was about two to three feet out of its banks. Beaver Creek was at least four feet out of its banks in the area. The water went over a fence on a coulee three-quarter miles north of Beaver Creek. This is a very rural area and no damage occurred.
May 2008Heavy RainZortman-A trained spotter recorded 7.04 inches of rain from May 21 to May 24. The heavy rain washed out gravel roads in the Zortman area.
July 2008HailZortman-Hail covered highway 191 between mile markers 134 and 135.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindZortman-Manning Corral Raws.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindZortman-64 mph wind gust reported at Manning Corral Dogtown RAWS.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindZortman-70 mph wind gust reported by motorist on US 191 just north of the Missouri River.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindZortman-60 mph wind gust reported at Zortman RAWS.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindZortman-Wind gust reported at Manning Corral Prairie Dog RAWS site.
July 2009HailZortman-no account filed
July 2008HailZortman-no account filed
July 2008HailZortman-no account filed
August 2008HailZortman-no account filed
July 2008Thunderstorm WindZortman-no account filed
August 2007Thunderstorm WindZortman-no account filed
June 2007HailZortman-no account filed
June 2007HailZortman-no account filed
June 2005Thunderstorm WindZortman-no account filed
August 2005HailZortman-no account filed
August 2005HailZortman-no account filed
August 2005HailZortman-no account filed
August 2004Thunderstorm WindZortman-no account filed
June 2003Thunderstorm WindZortman-no account filed
August 2003HailZortman-no account filed
July 2001HailZortman-no account filed
July 2001HailZortman-no account filed
July 2000HailZortman-no account filed
July 2000HailZortman-no account filed
July 2000HailZortman-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Phillips County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Whitcomb (historical)1.8 miles9
Landusky5.3 miles9
DY Junction10.2 miles9
Trine (historical)12.9 miles8
Brookside (historical)15.9 miles7
Midale19.3 miles8
Phillips22.7 miles7
Regina (historical)28.7 miles9

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on ZortmanAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q6171856The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 778765. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.