Flathead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 90,928, making it the fourth-most populous county in Montana. Its county seat is Kalispell. The numerical designation for Flathead County (used in the issuance of license plates) is 7. It is south from the Canadaâ€"US border of British Columbia.
Flathead County comprises the Kalispell, Montana Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Flathead Court House - Flying around and away from the Flathead County Courthouse down Main Sreet. Taken in Kalispell, MT.
Flathead County was founded in 1893. It contains much of Flathead Lake, the Flathead Valley, and the Flathead River. All of these natural treasures, originated by glaciers, are named for the unique geological formation of a broad flat valley surrounded by mountains at the head of a deep glacial lake. 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. Several tribes have long made use of the magnificent Flathead Lake, and the Bitterroot Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreilles tribes are represented on the Flathead Reservation.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,256 square miles (13,610Â km2), of which 5,088 square miles (13,180Â km2) is land and 169 square miles (440Â km2) (3.2%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Montana by land area and second-largest by total area. The western part of Glacier National Park is located in the county.
Adjacent counties
National protected areas
- Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (part)
- Flathead National Forest (part)
- Glacier National Park (part)
- Kootenai National Forest (part)
- Lolo National Forest (part)
- Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge
Politics
Demographics
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 74,471 people, 29,588 households, and 20,415 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 34,773 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.26% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 1.15% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. 1.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.7% were of German, 11.3% Irish, 11.0% Norwegian, 10.3% English and 9.1% United States or American ancestry.
There were 29,588 households out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out with 25.90% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 26.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,466, and the median income for a family was $40,702. Males had a median income of $31,908 versus $20,619 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,112. About 9.40% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.70% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 90,928Â people, 37,504Â households, and 24,817Â families residing 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 37,504Â 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.
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 Justin Franz, following the pattern set by earlier writer Christie Burns.
Communities
Cities
- Columbia Falls
- Kalispell (county seat)
- Whitefish
Census-designated places
Other communities
- LaSalle
- Polebridge
Notable residents
- Dee L. Brown â€" member of the Montana House of Representatives
- Maury Povich â€" the talk show host known for his TV show Maury
- Alice Ritzman â€" LPGA golf professional
- Joe Bereta â€" member of the sketch comedy duo Barats and Bereta based in Spokane, Washington. Currently co-hosts SourceFed on YouTube.
- Dorothy M. Johnson â€" Writer of Westerns. Three of her novels, The Hanging Tree, A Man Called Horse, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, were made into motion pictures. Her family moved to Whitefish when she was a girl, and she lived there for many years.
See also
- List of cemeteries in Flathead County, Montana
- List of lakes in Flathead County, Montana (A-L)
- List of lakes in Flathead County, Montana (M-Z)
- List of mountains in Flathead County, Montana (A-L)
- List of mountains in Flathead County, Montana (M-Z)
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Flathead County, Montana
References
External links
- The Daily Inter Lake
- Flathead Beacon Newsletter Website
- References to Flathead County on Dave Barry's blog