Kalispell, Montana

Kalispell, Montana
Kalispell (Montana Salish: Ql̓ispé, Kutenai language: kqayaqawakⱡuʔnam) is a city in Montana and the county seat of Flathead County, Montana, United States. The 2020 census put Kalispell's population at 24,558. In Montana's northwest region, it is the largest city and the commercial center of the Kalispell Micropolitan Statistical Area. The name Kalispell is a Salish word meaning "flat land above the lake".
History
The first European settler to explore the Flathead Valley was likely surveyor Peter Fidler of the Hudson’s Bay Company in the 18th century. From 1870, permanent settlement and the introduction of livestock brought permanent changes, as did the near-eradication of local bison populations.
In 1884, a short-lived town called Ashley was founded where Kalispell is today. Three years later nearby Demersville was founded. Demersville quickly grew to be the largest town in the area, but when the Great Northern Railroad bypassed the town it was abandoned just as quickly, with people moving the short distance to the new town of Kalispell.
As the Great Northern Railroad built its continent-spanning railroad line in the 19th century, a need for a Divisional point in the Flathead Valley was identified. Using his own capital, Charles Edward Conrad, a businessman and banker from Fort Benton, Montana, formed the Kalispell Townsite Company with three other men, all from Great Northern board of directors. The town took its name from the local native tribe, adding an extra "L" for good measure. "Kalispell" is a Salish word meaning "flat land above the lake".
The townsite was quickly platted, and lots began selling by the spring of 1891. Kalispell was officially incorporated as a city in 1892, and Conrad built a large mansion there in 1895. Since that time, the city has continued to grow in population, reaching 19,927 in 2010. This growth persisted despite the railroad being rerouted from its original route over Haskell Pass, via Kalispell and Marion, Montana, to a more circuitous but flatter route via Whitefish and Eureka already in 1904.
As the largest city in northwest Montana, Kalispell serves as the county seat and commercial center of Flathead County. The city is considered a secondary trade center with a trade area of approximately 130,000. The city is home to Logan Health Medical Center, which has a 150-bed hospital facility. The railroad history through Kalispell ended in 2018 when the city purchased and tore up the long abandoned track through the city. The city of Kalispell removed the remaining downtown trackage, relocating the railroad to Glacier Rail Park, a new industrial park just north of town; abandoning 2.4 miles of the original route.
Nestled in the Flathead valley, Kalispell is from Glacier National Park and from Hungry Horse Dam. Skiers have access to Whitefish Mountain Resort on Big Mountain and Blacktail Mountain Ski Area, each away. Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi river, is away. Buffalo Hill Golf Club, designed by Robert Muir Graves, serves golfers in the region.
The tribal schools nearby offer classes in the Kalispel–Spokane–Flathead language, a language nest, and intensive language training for adults. There is a Salish language school and training center in nearby Arlee, Montana.
Geography and climate
Kalispell is located at (48.197801, −114.316068), at an elevation of 2,956 feet (901 m).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of , of which is land and is water.
Kalispell is north of Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in the western U.S.
The city has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), with long, cold, and moderately snowy winters, hot and dry summers, and short springs and autumns. Snow usually occurs from late October/early November to March.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 19,927 people, 8,638 households, and 4,944 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 9,379 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.2% White, 0.2% African American, 1.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.
Of the 8,638 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18, 40.4% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female family head with no husband present, 4.8% had a male family head with no wife present, and 42.8% were not classified as family units. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% were individuals 65 years old or older. The average household size was 2.26, and the average family size was 2.94.
The median age in the city was 34.5 years. A total of 25.1% of residents were under 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.2% were between the ages of 25 and 44; 22.7% were between the ages 45 and 64, and 14.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,223 people, 6,142 households, and 3,494 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 6,532 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.84% White, 0.28% African American, 1.22% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.55% of the population. 21.7% were of German, 12.0% Irish, 11.3% Norwegian, 10.7% English and 6.6% United States or American ancestry.
There were 6,142 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.209, and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city, the population's age distribution shows 24.0% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,567, and the median income for a family was $36,554. Males had a median income of $29,431 versus $20,122 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,224. About 10.1% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Top employers
According to the City's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, the top employers in the city are:
Kalispell is home to the headquarters of the Montana Rifle Company. , one of Montana's last mint farms, growing peppermint and spearmint, is near Kalispell.
Education
Kalispell has a public library, a branch of the Flathead County Library. There are two high schools in Kalispell, Flathead High School and Glacier High School, along with Flathead Valley Community College.
Transportation
Kalispell is at the intersection of U.S. Routes 2 and 93. Commercial air service is offered at Glacier Park International Airport, approximately northeast of Kalispell off U.S. Route 2 between Kalispell and Columbia Falls.
Kalispell City Airport, in the southern part of the city, offers general aviation service.
Amtrak's Empire Builder service between Chicago and either Seattle, Washington, or Portland, Oregon, is available in Whitefish, approximately north.
Eagle Transit, an agency of Flathead County, offers local transit service within and connecting Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Whitefish, as well as paratransit demand-responsive service.
Media
Kalispell is one of Montana's largest media markets. It is the state's second-largest over-the-air radio market, after Billings.
AM radio
KGEZ 600
KERR 750
KJJR 880
KOFI 1180
KSAM 1240
KQDE 1340
FM radio
KLKM 88.7
KUKL-FM 90.1
KFLF 91.3
KQRK 92.3
KHNK 95.9
KALS 97.1
KBBZ 98.5
KKMT 99.7
KIBG 100.7
KXZI-LP 101.9
KANB-LP 102.3
KRVO 103.1
KZMN 103.9
KWOL-FM 105.1
KDBR 106.3
Television
KCFW-TV 9 (NBC)
KAJJ-CD 18 (CBS)
KUKL-TV 46 (PBS)
Newspapers
Daily Inter Lake, printed daily and online
Flathead Beacon, online only
Montana Senior News, printed in Kalispell, distributed statewide
Notable people
Ruth Anderson, composer
James E. Atwater, retired chemist and geophysicist
Chuck Baldwin, Constitution Party presidential candidate
Brad Bird, Academy Award-winning director of animated films and television programs
Asta Bowen, author
Robert Bray, film and television actor
Jaime Clarke, novelist and editor
John Corapi, a former Catholic priest and speaker
Shane Bitney Crone, activist, filmmaker, writer, speaker for LGBT rights
William Cumming, 20th-century artist and founder of Northwest School
Rick Dennison, offensive coordinator of NFL's Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos
John Edward Erickson, governor of Montana
George Everett, American accountant, real estate broker, and politician
John Fuller, Politician
Frank Garner, former chief of police, security consultant, and politician
Flip Gordon, professional wrestler
Robin Lee Graham, circumnavigated the world at age 16
Frank Hagel, painter and sculptor
Tanner Hall, professional skier, Winter X-Games gold medalist in Slope-Style, Big Air and half-pipe
T. J. Hileman, photographer of Glacier National Park
Lex Hilliard, NFL player, New York Jets fullback
Dorothy M. Johnson, noted author of Western fiction
Tim Koleto, Olympic figure skater
Brad Ludden, professional kayaker
Sam McCullum, former NFL player
Dylan McFarland, former Buffalo Bills offensive lineman
Braxton Mitchell, Politician
Andrew J. Moonen, former employee of Blackwater USA accused of murder in Iraq
Mary Oppen, activist, photographer, wife of George Oppen
Brock Osweiler, quarterback for Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns
Daniel Parker, sculptor and painter
Charlotte Pendragon, magician/entertainer
Eugene H. Peterson, author of The Message, a contemporary rendition of the Bible
Shadi Petosky, author and television producer
Ace Powell, painter and sculptor
Margaret Qualley, actress
Keith Regier, educator, businessman and politician
Matt Regier, businessman and politician
Mike Reilly, NFL quarterback, CFL quarterback, BC Lions, Edmonton Eskimos
Stewart Rhodes
Alice Ritzman, former LPGA golf professional
Monsignor Alexander King Sample, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Portland, Oregon
Robert Burns Smith, governor of Montana
Thatcher Szalay, former Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman
Misty Upham (1982-2014), actress
The von Trapps, singers
Randy Weaver
Michelle Williams, actress
Lily Gladstone, actress
In popular culture
Heaven’s Gate (1980), an American western epic, was filmed in and around Kalispell.
References
External links
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Kalispell Downtown Association
1892 establishments in Montana
Cities in Flathead County, Montana
Cities in Montana
County seats in Montana
Populated places established in 1892