Rapelje, Montana

Rapelje is an unincorporated community in northern Stillwater County, Montana. Rapelje was named for J. M. Rapelje, general manager and vice president of the Northern Pacific Railway.[3] Rapelje had a population of approximately 110 people as of the 2000 census.[4][5] Rapelje is located 24 miles north of Columbus, Montana on Montana Secondary Highway 306.[6]

Rapelje, Montana
incorporated community
Nickname(s): 
City of wheat
Motto(s): 
"Home is where the heart is"
Rapelje, Montana
Rapelje, Montana
Coordinates: 45°58′19″N 109°15′18″W
CountryUnited States
StateMontana
CountyStillwater
Elevation
4,071 ft (1,241 m)
Population
 (2000)[1]
 • Total110
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
59067
Area code(s)406
GNIS feature ID777090[2]

History

Rapelje was originally called Lake Basin due to its geographical landscape, but in 1913 it was named after J.M. Rapelje, who was one of the heads of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Rapelje was first established as a town where local railroad workers of the Northern Pacific Railway would live in the late 1800s. As more people began to work at the railroad, the town grew bigger in both size and population. They had multiple establishments such as a hotel, a grocery store, a town hall, a K-12 school, and many other things. A post office was established in 1913, and the four grain towers (which are still there today) were put in business. A railroad destination point, Rapelje developed into a reasonable town with a number of grain elevators, its own school district, an evangelical church, a cafe, and later a violin shop and clothing business. In 1980, the railroad was taken out of Rapelje, and the population declined, as well as sales and business. Businesses and residents of Rapelje largely dispersed from the town over the following decades. The hotel burned down, the town hall was removed, and the grocery store was closed. However, some people stuck around and tried their hardest to keep the little town running. They relied on agriculture to keep the town alive, as well as the school and the sports they provided.

24 Hours of Rapelje

The 24 Hours of Rapelje is a USA Cycling sanctioned endurance mountain bike race held on the weekend in June closest to the summer solstice.[7] The race is coordinated by the local volunteers.[8]

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Rapelje has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.[9]

References
  1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  2. "Rapelje". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. Montana Railroad History Archived 2008-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. Covers Census Block 9662, Blocks 1023, 1055-1064, 1067-1067, and 1071-1072, See "U.S. Census website". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2007-10-04.
  6. "2007-2008 Montana Highway System Map" (PDF). Montana Department of Transportation.
  7. Thomas, Greg (2007-06-30). "For an Everyman, a Test of Mettle in Montana". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-10-04.
  8. Megedus, Mike (2007-09-17). "Saving a Town: Tourism's a billion dollar business in the U.S., the lifeblood of many towns". CNBC. Retrieved 2007-10-04.
  9. Climate Summary for Rapelje, Montana
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