Town file
Sidney, Montana
Sidney, Montana (Richland County, Montana) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 694, "Of Mice & Men & Murder" (24 April 2026). Sidney, Montana, lies in Richland County in the north-east of the state, close to the North Dakota border.
- Town
- Sidney
- County
- Richland County
- State
- Montana
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 694
- Approximate location
- 47.715, -104.167
Episode 694 / 24 April 2026 / 73 min / express
Of Mice & Men & Murder
"This is Sydney, Montana, SID NEY, in northeastern Montana by the North Dakota border, in Richland County." about 0:03:34
The case: Murder of Sherry Arnold (January 7, 2012). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2026
- Population
- 6,420
- Median household income
- $55,611
- Median home value
- $397,100
- Drug crimes in eastern Montana
- ▲ more than doubled
- Assaults in Dickinson, North Dakota
- increased fivefold
- Registered sex offenders within approximately one mile of the jogging route
- 41
- Registered sex offenders per capita
- ▲ four times the national average
- Registered sex offenders non-compliant with registry requirements
- 10
- Registered sex offenders rated level three, the highest risk
- 1 of 41
History, in brief
- Settlers began coming here in the 1870s. about 0:05:46
- A post office was established in 1888. about 0:05:46
- The town was named after six-year-old Sidney Walters, whose parents were staying with Hiram Otis, the local Justice of the Peace, who chose the name. about 0:05:46
- The following year Montana became a state and Sidney was incorporated. about 0:06:19
- For a long time sugar beets were the main source of everything here. about 0:06:23
- Then the oil boom came, tapping the shale, and everything changed. about 0:06:39
The reviews read out
5 stars
"A very small, tight-knit town where everybody might know your name but you are very well cared for."about 0:06:49
"A town 45 minutes from colleges in Williston and Glendive; people leave for college but always find their way back home to raise families."about 0:07:14
5 stars
"Loved living in Sidney and raising a family there; there may not be many conveniences, but the friendliness and community make up for it."about 0:07:42
2 stars
"The cost of living is high because of demand for people here, and not everyone makes the oil-field money, so for some it is difficult."about 0:08:07
"The town is small and there is not much to do unless you go to the bar, and there are about eight to choose from."about 0:09:00
3 stars
"There is nothing to do here and there is no reason to stay."about 0:09:28
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Dickinson, North Dakota86 miles
- Minot, North Dakota138 miles
- Lemmon, South Dakota155 miles
- Bismarck, North Dakota171 miles
- Menoken, North Dakota182 miles
- Belle Fourche, South Dakota211 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.