Flathead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. At the 2020 census, its population was 104,357, making it the state's fourth most populous county. Its county seat is Kalispell. 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 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, 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 Rocky 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 , of which is land and (3.2%) is water. 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.

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

Demographics

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Infrastructure

  • Kalispell Regional Medical Center is the county's largest hospital.
  • North Valley Hospital is located in Whitefish
  • Flathead County Library System has 4 locations:
  • 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

  • Columbia Falls
  • Kalispell (county seat)
  • Whitefish

Census-designated places

  • Batavia
  • Bigfork
  • Coram
  • Essex
  • Evergreen
  • Forest Hill Village
  • Helena Flats
  • Hungry Horse
  • Kila
  • Lakeside
  • Little Bitterroot Lake
  • Marion
  • Martin City
  • Niarada
  • Olney
  • Pinnacle
  • Polebridge
  • Rhodes
  • Snowslip
  • Somers
  • West Glacier

Other unincorporated communities

  • Apgar Village
  • Lake McDonald

Adjacent counties

  • Regional District of East Kootenay, British Columbia – north
  • Waterton Lakes National Park (Improvement District No. 4), Alberta – northeast
  • Glacier County – east
  • Pondera County – east
  • Teton County – east
  • Lewis and Clark County – southeast
  • Powell County – southeast
  • Missoula County – southeast
  • Lake County – south
  • Sanders County – southwest
  • Lincoln County – west

Education

High school districts include:

  • Bigfork High School District
  • Columbia Falls High School District
  • Flathead High School District
  • Whitefish High School District

Elementary school districts include:

  • The Daily Inter Lake
  • Flathead Beacon Newsletter Website
  • References to Flathead County on Dave Barry's blog