Glacier Park, Flathead Valley Montana Demographics

The beautiful Flathead Valley and the friendly towns within the boundaries of Flathead County offer residents everything they could desire in outdoor recreation, incredible scenery and much more.

The Area

Flathead County encompasses miles and miles of gorgeous lands in northwest Montana, bordered by majestic mountains and with rivers flowing through it. The county consists of 5,098 square miles (or 2,702,080 acres) with a low density of population (only 17 people per square mile), making it the perfect place to put down roots. And 158 square miles of water area provide great water recreation for those that love the lakes, streams and rivers.

Three regional centers are the highlights of Flathead Valley - Kalispell, Whitefish, and Columbia Falls. Kalispell is the largest town, and Whitefish follows as a small resort community. Columbia Falls is considered the gateway to Glacier National Park. Of course, other smaller mountain towns dot the landscape, such as Bigfork, a lakeside village that is also an artists’ colony.

Population

Flathead County boasts 88,473 residents (as of July 2008) with an average age of 39 years. Forty-eight percent are urban and fifty-two percent rural. Where Kalispell has a population of around 21,000, the smaller communities of Whitefish and Columbia Falls average around 5.5 thousand people. Bigfork consists of only 1,600 people.

Lifestyle

Flathead County residents love outdoor concerts, theatrical events and all the recreational opportunities in this area. Warm summers offer the chance for fishing, hiking, horseback riding, boating and water skiing. Of course, community events such as garden tours, cherry harvests and festivals are also favorites.

Although Montana is renowned for harsh winters, Flathead Valley temperatures rarely go below the mid-20s. Skiing, snowmobiling are popular during the winter at nearby resorts and you have sleigh rides, dog sledding and cross-country skiing virtually right outside your front door.

Wildflowers fill the meadows and hillsides in the spring, and this is a great time to raft the rivers. Biking, golfing and hunting can fill your days in the fall.

Economy

In Flathead Valley the climate is very important to the area’s economy. The mild springs and summers are perfect for growing cash crops such as cherries, fresh vegetables, barley, mint and apples. The gentle winter is great for residents because heating costs are lower.

Flathead has a strong economy, mainly due to the diversity of the area. It boasts plenty of natural resources perfect for a growing agriculture sector, but it is also a major recreation and tourism destination.

Employment

Flathead County employs 15% of the men in the county in Construction, and 15 to 20% of the women in health care. Accommodations and food service follow this closely. Other areas of employment in the county are arts, entertainment, and recreation, metal and metal products, real estate, rental and leasing, as well as agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting.

Schools

Kalispell has its own Flathead Valley Community College and is only 76 miles from the University of Montana in Missoula. Of course, Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Bigfork have public high schools, middle schools and elementary schools for your kids.