Ekalaka was named after a Sioux girl, Ijkalaka, who was the wife of David Harrison Russell, a scout. Ijkalaka was an Oglala Lakota and the daughter of Wombalee We-chosh. She was born in 1858 on the Powder River., while she was living with a cousin, Hi Kelly, at a ranch on Chugwater Creek, near Laramie Wyoming. She was 16 when she met Russell, who was a scout and frontiersman. The town was created by Russell on the edge of his ranch. A man named Carter bogged down in mud the spring of 1885 opened a saloon and is credited with saying "Anyplace in Montana is a good place to open a saloon". The site became a trade center for cattle ranchers and sheepherders. He put up houses to house freight workers and hunters who ran the local freight line, and other added to it.
At the 2010 census, there were 332 people, 176 households and 87 families residing in the town. The population density was. There were 266 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the town was 96.4% White, 1.2% Native American, 0.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population. There were 176 households of which 17.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were married couplesliving together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 50.6% were non-families. 45.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.82 and the average family size was 2.52. The median age was 54 years. 15.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 12.3% were from 25 to 44; 34.2% were from 45 to 64; and 31.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.
At the 2000 census, there were 410 people, 195 households and 109 families residing in the town. The population density was 391.5 per square mile. There were 287 housing units at an average density of 274.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 99.02% White, 0.49% Native American, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.49% of the population. There were 195 households of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 42.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 25.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.73. 21.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 2.4% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 30.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males. The median household income was $19,432 and the median family income was $27,750. Males had a median income of $22,656 and females $18,125. The per capita income $13,667. About 7.1% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.
Climate
Ekalaka experiences a dry continental climate with cold, dry winters and hot, wetter summers.
