Flathead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. At the 2020 census, its population was 104,357, making it the state's fourth most populous county. Its county seat is Kalispell. Its numerical designation (used in the issuance of license plates) is 7. Its northern border is on the state's north border, making it contiguous with the Canada–US border, facing British Columbia.
Flathead County comprises the Kalispell, Montana Micropolitan Statistical Area, with neighboring Lake County following soon after.
Contents
History
Flathead County was founded in 1893. Some sources cite the supposed practice of the Salish tribe flattening infants' heads as the origin of the name Flathead, but there is no record of Salish Indians ever having that appearance.
Geography
The county includes much of Flathead Lake, the Flathead Valley, and the Flathead River. These natural treasures were created by glacial activity which ended approximately 10,000 years ago. The Flathead Valley is the southern extension of a prominent valley called the Rocky Mountain Trench, which runs from the Yukon Territory in Canada as far south as Flathead Lake. The Trench in northwestern Montana was created by subsidence along a major extensional fault, which continues today. After the valley formed, glaciers flowing down the Trench from British Columbia, and into it from the surrounding mountain ranges left a flat valley floor and dammed the Flathead River drainage to create Flathead Lake. Several tribes have long used the Flathead Lake, and the Bitterroot Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreilles tribes are represented on the Flathead Reservation. The western part of Glacier National Park is located in the county.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,256 square miles (13,610 km2), of which 5,088 square miles (13,180 km2) is land and 169 square miles (440 km2) (3.2%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Montana by land area and second-largest by total area.
Ecology
Wildlife includes bobcats, black bears, coyotes, deer, elk, grizzly bears, lynx, mountain lions, and wolves.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 104,357. Of the residents, 21.9% were under the age of 18 and 21.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 42.9 years. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.9 males. 48.5% of residents lived in urban areas and 51.5% lived in rural areas.
The racial makeup of the county was 90.7% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 1.0% from some other race, and 6.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.2% of the population.
There were 42,481 households in the county, of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 49,875 housing units, of which 14.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.7% were owner-occupied and 28.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.6%.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 90,928 people, 37,504 households, and 24,817 families living in the county. The population density was 17.9 inhabitants per square mile (6.9/km2). There were 46,963 housing units at an average density of 9.2 per square mile (3.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.5% white, 1.1% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.4% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 28.1% were German, 15.0% were English, 14.8% were Irish, 9.3% were Norwegian, and 4.6% were American.
Of the 37,504 households, 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.8% were non-families, and 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40, and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 41.2 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,998, and the median income for a family was $53,940. Males had a median income of $39,767 versus $28,026 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,721. About 8.4% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Along with Yellowstone County (home to Billings), Flathead County is one of Montana's more populous counties that leans heavily Republican. It has last voted Democratic in 1964, and has voted over 60% Republican in every presidential election since 1996 save 2008.
Infrastructure
Kalispell Regional Medical Center is the county's largest hospital.
North Valley Hospital is located in Whitefish
Flathead County Library System has 4 locations:
Whitefish Library is separate
Flathead County Solid Waste (Landfill) is located between Kalispell and Whitefish
There are 16 Fire Districts and 3 Fire Service Areas
There are 6 High Schools including private
There are 21 Public School Districts
Legislature
3 County Commissioner Districts
11 House Districts
7 Senate Districts
Communities
Cities
Columbia Falls
Kalispell (county seat)
Whitefish
Other unincorporated communities
Apgar Village
Lake McDonald
Education
High school districts include:
Bigfork High School District
Columbia Falls High School District
Flathead High School District
Whitefish High School District
Elementary school districts include:
Bigfork Elementary School District
Cayuse Prairie Elementary School District
Columbia Falls Elementary School District
Creston Elementary School District
Deer Park Elementary School District
Fair-Mont-Egan Elementary School District
Evergreen Elementary School District
Helena Flats Elementary School District
Kalispell Elementary School District
Kila Elementary School District
Marion Elementary School District
Olney-Bissell Elementary School District
Pleasant Valley Elementary School District
Smith Valley Elementary School District
Somers Elementary School District
Notable people
Joe Bereta, member of the sketch comedy duo Barats and Bereta based in Spokane, Washington. Currently co-hosts SourceFed on YouTube.
Jaime Clarke, novelist and editor
Frank Hagel, Western art painter
Phil Jackson, NBA coach and player
Dorothy M. Johnson, writer of Westerns
Daniel Parker, wildlife sculptor
Maury Povich, talk show host known for his TV show Maury
Keith Regier, Montana state senator
Alice Ritzman, LPGA golf professional
Derek Skees, Montana state representative
Michelle Williams, actress
In popular culture
Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry frequently cites the police blotter of the Flathead Beacon in Flathead County as a source of humorous material. It is written in a spare, surrealist style by local man Micah Drew, following the pattern set by earlier writers Christie Burns and Justin Franz.