Kalispell was named by Mountain Sports and Living magazine as the "Best Mountain Town in America". Kalispell is the hub of Montana’s Flathead Valley, located at the junction of U.S. 93 and U.S. 2. Kalispell is also the county seat of Flathead County and is Montana’s seventh largest city and the largest town for 110 miles. Greater Kalispell’s population in 2005 was an estimated 34,000 people, with over 82,000 in the county.
Kalispell was founded in 1891 and is now a bustling small city, home to much history, culture, commercial activity and outdoor recreation. Old west charm, breathtaking scenery, bustling businesses, a welcoming community, a casual lifestyle, and exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities.
Art and culture is everywhere in Kalispell. A 2000 pound carved bear greets visitors at the corner of Main and Center Streets, and murals grace historic buildings. There are art festivals, studios, galleries, and cultural events all over town. The Glacier Symphony and Chorale performs in Kalispell and throughout the Flathead Valley. As the cultural center of the Flathead Valley, Kalispell is home to the Conrad Mansion Museum, the Museum at Central School, and the Hockaday Museum of Art. Kalispell hosts the Glacier Jazz Stampede each October, and the city sponsors a Picnic in the Park summer concert series in Depot Park.
For shopping and services, Kalispell has everything from a quaint historic downtown district with unique local shops, cafes, and fine dining, to major national retailers, banks and services throughout town. Kalispell is centrally located to the Flathead Valley's many recreation attractions:
- 31 miles from Glacier National Park
- 17 miles from Whitefish and 23 miles from Big Mountain Ski Resort
- 22 miles from the Hungry Horse Dam
- 9 miles north of Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi
But, there is no need to go far to experience nature. Plenty of open space and recreation opportunities can be found in the city’s more than 20 parks. The 38-acre Woodland Park, a year round family favorite with rustic log gazebos, log pavilion, picnic areas, two miles of walking trails, water park, swimming pool, skate board park, and a large pond that freezes for winter skating. Lawrence Park, which is on the road to the 27-hole Buffalo Hill Golf course where the town’s founder Charles Conrad once grazed his herd of buffalo, offers walking trails, picnic areas, and playgrounds.
Kalispell Area Infomration |
Population 2000(est.)
Kalispell: 16,624
Greater Kalispell: 32,572
Flathead County: 73,484
Montana: 898,824
Climate & Environmental Conditions
January, April, July, October
Min (average) 11, 30, 48, 30
Max (average) 27, 54, 82, 55
Average Annual Rainfall: 16.51 inches
Average Annual Snowfall: 55.2 inches
Average Growing Season: 108-115 days
Air Quality: Excellent
Water Quality: Excellent
Sunny Days: 71
Cloudy Days: 213
Partly Cloudy Days: 82
Medical Corridor
Hospitals 2 facilities; 194 beds
Number of Medical Doctors: 162
Doctors per 100,000: 197
911 Service: Yes
Emergency Helicopter: Yes
Nursing Homes: 7 facilities; 700 beds
Veterans Administration Home: Yes
Free Medical Transportation: Yes
Hospice: Yes
Home Care Services: 2 agencies |
Regional Airlines & Transportation
Glacier International Airport--Delta, Northwest, Horizon & Big Sky
General Aviation Airport--Kalispell Municipal Airport Rail Service
Commercial Train--Burlington Northern & Sante Fe Rail Service
Passenger Train--Amtrak Bus Service--Yes Taxi--Yes
Interstate Highway--No
Education # Enrolled In School (2000):
Public Elementary: 28,8911
Private Elementary: 8,836
Home School: 449
Public High School: 4,436
Private High School: 3,178
Total K-12 Enrollment: 14,991
Post-Secondary Education
Flathead County Community College (Fall 2000) Full Time Students in Credit Courses: 721
Part Time Students in Credit Courses: 1,101 Continuing Education Students: 1,867
Land Area
City- 4 square miles
Greater Kalispell- 16 square miles
Flathead County- 5,140 square miles
Elevation: 2,959 feet Conrad Mansion |
Helpful Phone Numbers |
EMERGENCY PHONE 9-1-1
All cities in Flathead Country
Business Calls
Flathead County Sheriff 758-5585
Columbia Falls Police 892-3234
Kalispell Police 758-7780
Whitefish Police 863-2420
ELECTRIC
Flathead Electric Co-op 752-4488
GAS
NorthWestern Energy 1-888-467-2669
TELEPHONE
Centurytel 8-1-1
Repair 6-1-1
Directory Assistance 4-1-1
Time & Temperature 752-TIME
CABLE
Kalispell 755-7200
WATER
Bigfork 837-4566
Columbia Falls 892-4391
Evergreen Water District 257-5861
Kalispell City 758-7745
Whitefish 863-2460
GARBAGE SERVICE
City of Kalispell Garbage Service 758-7200
Evergreen disposal 257-1739
Franks Service 755-7034
Kelly’s Haulaway 755-7036
North Valley Refuse 862-4381
Northwest Disposal Service 837-4153
Wee Haul Garbage Services 892-4284
KALISPELL AREA SCHOOLS
Superintendent of schools – Kalispell 751-3434
Kalispell Schools General Information 751-3445
Kalispell High School 751-3500
Kalispell Jr. High 751-3800
Laser 751-3939
Linderman 751-3990
Hedges Elementary 751-4090
Edgerton Elementary 751-4040
Elrod Elementary 751-3700
Peterson Elementary 751-3737
Russell Elementary 751-3900
Evergreen Superintendent 751-1111
Evergreen Jr. High 751-1131
Evergreen Elementary 751-1121 |
BIGFORK AREA SCHOOLS
Superintendent 837-7400
High School 837-7420
Elementary 837-7412
Swan River 837-4528
COLUMBIA FALLS AREA SCHOOLS
Administration 892-6550
High School 892-6500
Jr. High 892-6530
Canyon Elementary 387-5323
Glacier Gateway Elementary 892-6540
Ruder Elementary 892-6570
Deer Park 892-5388
WHITEFISH AREA SCHOOLS
Business line 862-8643
Superintendent 862-8640
Central School 862-8650
Muldown Elementary 862-8620
Bissell School 862-2828
High School info line 862-8600
Independent School 862-8688
OTHER VALLEY SCHOOLS
Kila School 257-2428
Marion School 854-2333
Pleasant Valley School 858-2343
Smith Valley School 756-4535
West Valley School 755-7239
Somers Middle School 857-3661
Lakeside Elementary School 844-2208
Fair Mont Egan School 755-7072
Helena Flats School 257-2301
Cayuse Prairie School 756-4560
Creston School 755-2859
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Flathead Valley Community College 756-3822
HOSPITALS
North Valley Hospital – Whitefish 863-2501
Kalispell Regional Medical Center 752-5111
VEHICLE REGISTRATION
Flathead county 758-5690
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
Bigfork 837-5888
Columbia Falls 892-2072
Kalispell 758-2800
Lakeside/Somers 844-3715
Whitefish 862-3501
ANIMAL CONTROL & CARE
Northwest Montana Humane Society 752-PAWS
Flathead County Animal Control 752-1310 |
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