Kalispell () is a city in, and the county seat of, Flathead County, Montana, United States.
The 2020 Census put Kalispell's population at 24,558.
Located in the northwest region of Montana, it is the largest city, and the commercial center, of the Kalispell Micropolitan Statistical Area.
The name Kalispell is a Salish word meaning "flat land above the lake".
History
thumb|left|Main Street, Kalispell Working using his own capital, Charles Edward Conrad, a businessman and banker from Fort Benton, Montana, formed the Kalispell Townsite Company with three other men.
The townsite was quickly platted and lots began selling by the spring of 1891.
Conrad built a large mansion in Kalispell in 1895.
Kalispell was officially incorporated as a city in 1892.
Since that time, the city of Kalispell has continued to grow in population reaching 19,927 in 2010.
As the largest city in northwest Montana, Kalispell serves as the county seat and commercial center of Flathead County.
The city is considered a secondary trade center with a trade area of approximately 130,000.
The city is home to Kalispell Regional Medical Center, which boasts a 150-bed hospital facility.
Nestled in the Flathead valley, Kalispell is  from Glacier National Park and  from Hungry Horse Dam.
Skiers have access to Whitefish Mountain Resort on Big Mountain and Blacktail Mountain Ski Area, each  away.
Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi river, is  away.
Buffalo Hill Golf Club, designed by Robert Muir Graves, serves the needs of golfers in the region.
The tribal schools nearby offer classes in the Kalispel–Spokane–Flathead language, a language nest, and intensive language training for adults.
There is a Salish language school and training center in nearby Arlee, Montana.
Heaven’s Gate (1980), an American western epic, was filmed in and around Kalispell.Maddrey, Joseph (2016).
The Quick, the Dead and the Revived: The Many Lives of the Western Film.
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Geography and climate
Kalispell is located at  (48.197801, −114.316068), at an elevation of 2,956 feet (901 m).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which  is land and  is water.
Kalispell is located  north of Flathead Lake, which is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States.
The city experiences a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), with long, cold, and moderately snowy winters, hot and dry summers, and short springs and autumns in between.
Snow usually occurs from late October/early November to March.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 19,927 people, 8,638 households, and 4,944 families living in the city.
The population density was .
There were 9,379 housing units at an average density of .
The racial makeup of the city was 94.2% White, 0.2% African American, 1.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races.
Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.
Of the 8,638 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18, 40.4% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female family head with no husband present, 4.8% had a male family head with no wife present, and 42.8% were not classified as family units.
35.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% were individuals 65 years old or older.
The average household size was 2.26, and the average family size was 2.94.
The median age in the city was 34.5 years.
25.1% of residents were under 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.2% were between the ages of 25 to 44; 22.7% were between the ages 45 to 64, and 14.4% were 65 years of age or older.
The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,223 people, 6,142 households, and 3,494 families living in the city.
The population density was 2,605.7 people per square mile (1,005.8/km).
There were 6,532 housing units at an average density of 1,196.7 per square mile (461.9/km).
The racial makeup of the city was 95.84% White, 0.28% African American, 1.22% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races.
Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.55% of the population.
21.7% were of German, 12.0% Irish, 11.3% Norwegian, 10.7% English and 6.6% United States or American ancestry.
There were 6,142 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families.
36.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
The average household size was 2.209, and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city, the population's age distribution shows 24.0% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% 65 years of age or older.
The median age was 38 years.
For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,567, and the median income for a family was $36,554.
Males had a median income of $29,431 versus $20,122 for females.
The per capita income for the city was $16,224.
About 10.1% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Top employers
According to the City's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report  for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, the top employers in the city are:
Source: Montana Department of Labor & Industries
Kalispell is home to the headquarters of the Montana Rifle Company.
Education
Kalispell has a public library, a branch of the Flathead County Library.
There are two high schools located in Kalispell (Flathead High School and Glacier High School), along with a Flathead Valley Community College.
Transportation
Kalispell is located at the intersection of U.S. Routes 2 and 93.
Commercial air service is offered at Glacier Park International Airport, located approximately  northeast of Kalispell off U.S. Route 2 between Kalispell and Columbia Falls.
Kalispell City Airport, located in the southern part of the city, offers general aviation service.
Amtrak's Empire Builder service between Chicago and either Seattle, Washington, or Portland, Oregon, is available in Whitefish, approximately  north.
Eagle Transit, an agency of Flathead County, offers local transit service within and connecting Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Whitefish, as well as paratransit demand-responsive service.
Agriculture
, one of Montana's last mint farms, growing peppermint and spearmint, is located near Kalispell.
Local media
Kalispell is one of the largest media markets in Montana.
It is the second largest over the air radio market in Montana, behind only Billings.
;AM radio
KGEZ 600
KERR 750
KJJR 880
KOFI 1180
KSAM 1240
KQDE 1340
;FM radio
KLKM 88.7
KUKL-FM 90.1
KFLF 91.3
KQRK 92.3
KHNK 95.9
KALS 97.1
KBBZ 98.5
KKMT 99.7
KIBG 100.7
KXZI-LP 101.9
KANB-LP 102.3
KRVO 103.1
KZMN 103.9
KWOL-FM 105.1
KDBR 106.3
;Television
KCFW-TV 9 (NBC)
KAJJ-CD 18 (CBS)
KUKL-TV 46 (PBS)
;Newspapers
Daily Inter Lake
Flathead Beacon
Notable people
Ruth Anderson, composer
James E. Atwater, retired chemist and geophysicist
Chuck Baldwin, former candidate for president under the Constitution Party
Brad Bird, Academy Award-winning director of animated films and television programs
Asta Bowen, author
Robert Bray, film and television actor
Jaime Clarke, novelist and editor
John Corapi, a former Catholic priest and speaker
Shane Bitney Crone, activist, filmmaker, writer, speaker for LGBT Rights
William Cumming, 20th-century artist and founder of Northwest School
Rick Dennison, offensive coordinator of NFL's Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos
John Edward Erickson, Governor of Montana
George Everett, American accountant, real estate broker, and politician from Montana.
Frank Garner, American former Chief of Police, security consultant, and politician from Montana.
Garner is a Republican member of the Montana House of Representatives for District 7.
Flip Gordon, professional wrestler
Robin Lee Graham, circumnavigated the world at age 16
Frank Hagel, painter and sculptor
Tanner Hall, professional skier, Winter X-Games gold medalist in Slope-Style, Big Air and Half-pipe
T. J. Hileman, photographer of Glacier National Park
Lex Hilliard, NFL player, New York Jets fullback
L. Ron Hubbard, author and founder of Scientology
Dorothy M. Johnson, noted author of Western fiction
Amanda Kimmel, Survivor: China, Micronesia, and Heroes vs. Villains contestant
Brad Ludden, professional kayaker
Sam McCullum, former NFL football player
Dylan McFarland, former Buffalo Bills offensive lineman
Andrew J. Moonen, former employee of Blackwater USA accused of murder in Iraq
Mary Oppen, activist, photographer, wife of George Oppen
Brock Osweiler, NFL quarterback for Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns
Daniel Parker, sculptor and painter
Charlotte Pendragon, magician/entertainer
Eugene H. Peterson, author of The Message, a contemporary rendition of the Bible
Shadi Petosky, author and television producer
Ace Powell, painter and sculptor
Keith Regier, American educator, businessman and politician from Montana
Matt Regier, American businessman and politician from Montana.
Mike Reilly, NFL quarterback, CFL quarterback, BC Lions, Edmonton Eskimos
Alice Ritzman, former LPGA golf professional
Monsignor Alexander King Sample, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Portland, Oregon
Robert Burns Smith, Governor of Montana
Thatcher Szalay, former Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman
Misty Upham (1982-2014), actress
Michelle Williams, actress
The von Trapps, musical singer
References
External links
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Kalispell Downtown Association
