A quiet Montana town shaped by natural resources and neighbors
Located in a rural pocket of northeast Montana, Sidney is a community rich with multiple natural resources. The land here supports industries, including oil extraction and farming. Sidney also offers plenty of outdoor recreation thanks to its location by the Yellowstone River. This is the largest community in the region, with a population of roughly 6,300 people. Still, Sidney remains the kind of place where everybody knows everybody, says local Realtor Mandy Landers. “It’s definitely a small-town community,” says Landers, who’s with NextHome Fredricksen Real Estate and grew up in nearby Fairview. “It’s a pretty quiet little area.”
Established homes define Sidney's inventory
The bulk of Sidney’s houses were built from the early 1900s to the 1980s. Bungalows and ranch-style options dominate the landscape along the community’s wide, sidewalk-lined residential streets. Many of Sidney’s homes are well-maintained despite their age. Prices range from $120,000 to $390,000. Almost 40% of the properties here are rentals.
Yellowstone River provides opportunities for fishing and boating
Sidney sits adjacent to a portion of the almost 700-mile Yellowstone River, which is a magnet for fishing. Landers says people go paddlefishing here, in particular, in the spring. Paddlefish are a distinct species with a long snout and an average length of 5 to 7 feet. Seven Sisters Wildlife Management Area, 12 miles south, is a place to hunt for ducks, geese, turkey and deer and has a boat launch to the river. Sidney’s Richland Park also provides a boat ramp and doubles as a campground. The park has a playground, too. Multiple other parks are within walking distance for some Sidney residents, wedged among the area’s homes. Central Park is one, offering a pavilion and a playground. Lyndale Acres Park is another, featuring a pair of ball fields. The Sidney Svarre Municipal Pool is available for a fee from June to August. The golf course at the Sidney Country Club is open to the public.
Central Avenue and Main Street make up Sidney’s commercial core
In a largely residential community, locals can make the short trip to downtown Sidney for a meal or to knock out errands. “There are a lot of people that have opened up businesses themselves to enhance the community,” Landers says. Many of them are along Central Avenue and Main Street. Gullivers is considered a local favorite for sandwiches, and Sunny’s Family Restaurant has popular omelets. Cattle-Ac is a steakhouse that doubles as a casino. Shops in the area include Boutique33, which has a selection of clothing. Ribbon & Rail carries supplies for a variety of crafts, including fabric and yarn. The Market at Sidney and Reynolds Market are grocery options.
Students can get musical in Sidney Public Schools
The Sidney Public Schools system maintains a B grade on Niche. The district’s Westside Elementary earns a B-plus, includes prekindergarten to second grade and offers students the opportunity to participate in a spring concert in April. Students at the B-rated Central Elementary, which covers grades 3 through 5, can take part in a jazz assembly in the fall. The B-minus-rated Sidney Middle offers cross-country, football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling and track teams. Extracurricular activities at the B-rated Sidney High include an esports club and a book club.
Sidney is home to the Richland County Fair
The seat of Richland County, Sidney hosts the Richland County Fair & Rodeo in late July and August. The fair draws more than 30,000 attendees every year, with food, rides, live music and a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo competition. “There are rodeos that bring people in from surrounding areas,” Landers says. “And then demolition derbies, too.” Montana Magical Christmas is another tradition in Sidney in late November, with a parade of lights along Central Avenue.
Air travel and highways are easily accessible
The Sidney-Richland Airport provides daily flights to Billings, Montana’s biggest city, through Cape Air. Drivers can hop on Montana Highway 200, which makes up Central Avenue, and then North Dakota Highway 58, for trips toward Williston, North Dakota, 45 miles away. Williston Basin International Airport has direct flights to Denver and Minneapolis. Locals also head to Williston for some commercial amenities — big-box stores there include Walmart and JCPenney. But people don’t have to leave town to access the Sidney Health Center, where there’s a 24-hour emergency room.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
