Flathead County, Montana

Flathead County is in the U.S. state of Montana. At the 2020 census, its population was 104,357,[1] making it the state's fourth most populous county. Its county seat is Kalispell.[2] 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
County
Flathead County Courthouse in Kalispell
Flathead County Courthouse in Kalispell
Official seal of Flathead County
Seal
Map of Montana highlighting Flathead County
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Map of the United States highlighting Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 48°17′N 114°01′W
Country United States
State Montana
Founded1893
Named forFlathead Indians
SeatKalispell
Largest cityKalispell
Area
 • Total5,256 sq mi (13,610 km2)
 • Land5,088 sq mi (13,180 km2)
 • Water169 sq mi (440 km2)  3.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total104,357
 • Estimate 
(2022)
111,814 Increase
 • Density20/sq mi (7.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district1st
Websiteflathead.mt.gov
  • Montana county number 07

Flathead County comprises the Kalispell, Montana Micropolitan Statistical Area, with neighboring Lake County following soon after.

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,[3] 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 Rockey 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.[4] 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.[5]

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19009,375—
191014,07950.2%
192021,70554.2%
193019,200−11.5%
194024,27126.4%
195031,49529.8%
196032,9654.7%
197039,46019.7%
198051,96631.7%
199059,21814.0%
200074,47125.8%
201090,92822.1%
2020104,35714.8%
2022 (est.)111,814[6]7.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 104,357 people.

2010 census
The North Fork Road in Flathead County.

As of the census of 2010, 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.

United States presidential election results for Flathead County, Montana[11][12][13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 38,321 63.93% 20,274 33.82% 1,343 2.24%
2016 30,240 63.67% 13,293 27.99% 3,963 8.34%
2012 28,309 64.47% 13,892 31.64% 1,708 3.89%
2008 25,559 58.43% 16,138 36.89% 2,047 4.68%
2004 26,019 67.27% 11,587 29.96% 1,072 2.77%
2000 22,519 66.55% 8,329 24.61% 2,991 8.84%
1996 16,542 51.33% 10,452 32.43% 5,231 16.23%
1992 11,699 37.24% 9,746 31.02% 9,971 31.74%
1988 14,461 57.33% 10,202 40.44% 562 2.23%
1984 17,012 65.93% 8,310 32.21% 481 1.86%
1980 15,102 63.54% 6,349 26.71% 2,316 9.74%
1976 10,494 55.69% 7,827 41.53% 524 2.78%
1972 10,417 60.72% 5,412 31.55% 1,327 7.73%
1968 7,215 51.54% 5,253 37.52% 1,532 10.94%
1964 6,325 44.02% 8,015 55.78% 30 0.21%
1960 7,554 52.95% 6,689 46.88% 24 0.17%
1956 8,088 57.40% 6,003 42.60% 0 0.00%
1952 7,372 59.09% 4,994 40.03% 110 0.88%
1948 4,240 46.12% 4,546 49.45% 407 4.43%
1944 4,066 52.22% 3,608 46.34% 112 1.44%
1940 4,403 45.06% 5,217 53.39% 151 1.55%
1936 2,460 28.83% 5,408 63.38% 664 7.78%
1932 2,978 38.76% 4,026 52.40% 679 8.84%
1928 4,098 66.61% 1,972 32.05% 82 1.33%
1924 2,541 43.28% 788 13.42% 2,542 43.30%
1920 3,900 59.26% 2,241 34.05% 440 6.69%
1916 2,913 45.33% 2,978 46.34% 535 8.33%
1912 493 14.93% 1,106 33.50% 1,702 51.56%
1908 1,838 49.45% 1,480 39.82% 399 10.73%
1904 1,969 64.54% 861 28.22% 221 7.24%
1900 1,104 47.08% 1,201 51.22% 40 1.71%
1896 413 23.22% 1,360 76.45% 6 0.34%

Infrastructure
  • Kalispell Regional Medical Center is the county's largest hospital.[14]
  • North Valley Hospital is located in Whitefish
  • Flathead County Library System has 4 locations:
      • Bigfork
      • Columbia Falls
      • Kalispell
      • Marion
    • 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

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Adjacent counties

Notable people

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.

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 126.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  5. Long, Ben (March 6, 2020). "Finding a Middle Ground on Wolves and Wolf Management". Outdoor Life. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  11. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  12. "Our Campaigns - U.S. President". Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  13. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Bob La Follette, received 2,537 votes, while the Workers Party candidate William Foster received 5 votes.
  14. Read, Richard (October 24, 2020). "Coronavirus bears down on a small Montana town". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 24, 2020.

48.29°N 114.02°W / 48.29; -114.02

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