LIBBY, MONTANA

'Libby' is a city in Lincoln County, Montana, United States. The population was 2,626 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lincoln County.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

Environment

Transportation

External links

Geography

Libby is located at (48.388128, -115.553707). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.3 km² (1.3 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,626 people, 1,132 households, and 669 families residing in the city. The population density was 798.3/km² (2,061.9/mi²). There were 1,264 housing units at an average density of 384.3/km² (992.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.51% White, 0.15% African American, 1.26% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.53% from other races, and 1.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.
There were 1,132 households out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.9% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,276, and the median income for a family was $29,615. Males had a median income of $30,174 versus $19,675 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,090. About 10.0% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.

Environment

Nestled in the Cabinet Mountains, Libby is surrounded by coniferous forests and mountain views. Libby's economy has largely been supported by the use of natural resources, such as logging and mining. This has changed recently due to the environmental crisis created by vermiculite mining. Libby has suffered over 200 casualties from asbestos-related disease due to contamination from vermiculite mining from nearby Zonolite Mountain by W. R. Grace and Company. Countless others who insulated their homes with Zonolite have succumbed to asbestos related diseases, most of whom have never been employed in environments where asbestos would be an issue. [1] After Grace closed the mine in 1992, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Montana Department of Health and Environment sampled local soil and air and found no asbestos contamination. Further examination with improved equipment found that the samples were loaded with fibrous tremolite (known to be the most toxic form of asbestos), which is suspected in the scores of asbestos related ailments affecting area residents as well as workers and their families. After a 1999 Seattle Post-Intelligencer story claimed that asbestos-related disease was common in the town, the EPA, in response to political pressure, made cleanup of the site a priority and called Libby the worst case of community-wide exposure to a toxic substance in U.S. history.[2][3] [4] The EPA has spent $120 million in Superfund money on cleanup.[5]
In October of 2006 W. R. Grace and Company tried to appeal the fines levied on them from the EPA, but the Supreme Court rejected the appeal. [6] The United States Government is also pursuing criminal charges against several former executives and managers of the mine for allegedly disregarding and covering up health risks to employees. [7] The trial is expected to begin sometime in 2007.
A documentary film by the name ''Libby, Montana'' was made regarding the asbestos exposure. [8] It aired in the United States on the PBS series ''P.O.V.'' in August 2007.
Similar contamination has been found in nearby Troy, Montana, where many W. R. Grace miners lived.

Transportation

★ Libby (Amtrak station)

External links