Hungry Horse news., 1955-01-14
Expanding City

Columbia Falls is small city that is now vlr-
tualy doubling its population in each census
In 1880 the population was 637 In 1910 the flg-
,,re was 637 again to emphatcally indicate no
change" Then came construction of Hungry Horse
Dam, the new and expanding lumber mills, and men
home from World War II seeking new places to
make living. The population rose TO l,2S2 IN M tne
1850 census and at the start of 1855 is about 1000
Men like to live here. There is hunting and fish
ing and the 400 square mile Flathead valley IS IN
the mountains the continental divide but only
5000 feet above level. The temperature is mod
crate with seven days in the summer expected with
readings 80 or above, and only twelve days in the
winter with readings zero below. West entrance
to Glacier National Park is II miles away.
Growth and prosperity of Columbia Falls is in
dcated by percentages of increase in volume by the
u S. post office where receipts in 1854 increased 80
per cent sales at the state liquor store which serves
the area up 38 per cent and "footings' which IN
cludes deposits and savings at the Bank OF Columbia
Falls went UP Al per cent in the one year OF 1894
Lumber shipments increased about IS per cent
in the one year, and the total mill and woods pay
roll reflected this increased activity The 1855 um-
ber outgo exceeded $500 freight car loads shipped
over the Great Northern railroad There was size
able increases by mills in new machinery and new
buildings
100000 Anaconda Aluminium Co. plant, two miles
east of Columbia Falls, and 1855 will see the start
OF operations and the transition to $50 steady JOBS
that did not exist in the Flathead before Product
Will be 0U,UUO IONS OF aluminium ycdA, iCouit "
Hungry Horse Dam snow water storage and power
development.
On the other hand, home building apparently
was not as active in 1854 as in 1858. Discouragng
force was the spring strike that stopped plant con-
struction and made investors more cautious.
Columbia Falls business district total retail
gross increased possibly Is to 80 per cent and this
is Just an estimate. There increased merchan-
dising through such projects the "Buy It in Col
umba Falls" weekly drawings; increased stocks pro-
vide better selection and general sprucing up was
evident to finally having colored lights across
the streets for Christmas.
From the standpoint of the city, major achieve
ment was improving the water system with addition
Of two wells and new mains so that the growing
community could meet present and anticipated wa
ter needs for few years.
Property assessed valuation for 1854 was % per
cent higher than in 1858.
Church membership and attendance in the COM
naunity seems to have increased about 80 per cent
during 1854.
School enrolment boost topped 10 per cent
and facilities had the new grade school building
erected in 1853, and the prospect of new six-roon
edition for 1855 Columbia Falls high school serving
the district has 301 students enrolled. Teacher sal
aries in 1854 were boosted to the recommended
Montana Education Association levels, and are th
highest in Flathead county.
Percentages in Columbia Falls showed remark
able growth in 1854 Most of these percentages likely
viii not be as high in 1885, yet this is an expanding
community, good place for investment in nev
homes and businesses. MI