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MONTANA

W W W . N E L S O N P U B . N E T

RELOCATION GUIDE 2017Community Profile • Healthcare & Education • Arts & Entertainment

Attractions & Recreation • History & Resources

Flathead ValleyKalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Lakeside and Somers

of Whitefish (406) 863-3400 Sixth & Spokane

Check out our website:remax-whitefish-mt.com Local Staff, Local Agents, Local Ownership

Global Presence

- 1 -2017

In the northwest corner of the Treasure state, near spectacular Glacier Park, is the picturesque Flathead County. Well known for it's lakes, mountains, and overall beauty, Flathead is home to over 85,000 residents and remains one of Montana's most popular destinations for those looking for a real taste of the state's natural characteristics.

At the center of it all lies Kalispell, one of Montana's most charm-ing and vibrant cities. The city lies in an expansive valley surrounded by rolling hills, rivers, ponds, parks, and lakes. Beautiful historic buildings line the downtown core of Kalispell and some are home to the community's arts and culture organizations, such as Hockaday Museum of Art, Central School Museum, and the Conrad Man-sion Museum, the former home of one of Kalispell's first residents.

Theatre, symphony, concerts, festivals, and cultural events are everyday occurrences in Kalispell, as its residents take delight in cel-ebrating all the good things in life, while staying connected to the rich history and cultural heritage. The surrounding arts communities of Whitefish, and Bigfork also contribute to the rich variety of culture in the Flathead Valley. This progressive thriving community that is Montana's seventh largest city is both the county seat of Flathead County and the trade center of northwest Montana. Founded in 1891 by James J. Hill as part of the westward expansion of the Great Northern Railroad, the city of Kalispell continues to grow in both population and stature.

It is a financial and retail center, healthcare and education center, and commercial service center, with a secondary trade area of ap-proximately 130,000. Kalispell is home to Flathead Community College and Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Just a few miles away at the base of Big Mountain lies White-fish. A small town with big thrills and bigger offerings to those in search of the treasures that give Montana it's nickname as the aforementioned Treasure State. Although Whitefish itself only inhabits less than 6,000 residents, it keeps it's fair share of comers and goers drawn to it's unmistakable beauty from mountain tops to the depths of it's lakes.

Prided by cultural appreciation, one can visit these mountain's and lakes by day and pursue the pleasures of theatre, music, and art by midday and into the night. Rich with history and nostalgia alike, the railroad is not only a tourist attraction but still serves as a heavyweight member of the Amtrak railway service to this day. A museum inside the station itself commemorates a hundred plus years of what once was a railway station town and has blossomed uniquely into a resort destination as well as a community maintain-ing small town values.

Welcome to KalispellThe outdoors still remain the major appeal of this town and it's

area, with Glacier Park being just 25 miles northeast, and Whitefish Lake's main docking shore literally being on the edge of the little town. Boaters, fisherman, swimmers, waders, watchers, and so on will find the 10 acre lake more than sufficient to their needs and wants. Plenty of camping grounds along the state parks ring the shores as well as bicycle paths beyond the beaches.

Big Mountain ski resort is not only a sight for sore eyes but a challenge to skiers, snowboarders, and overall casual lovers of it's 2353 vertical feet and 3000 acres of terrain. It stands as one of the largest year round resorts in the entire Northwest offering 13 lifts and five star lodging accompanied with fine dining. All this overlooking Whitefish from just eight miles away.

It's no secret why Whitefish is a rapidly growing community with enough recreation to keep one's Montana treasure seeking urges fresh and exciting, but Whitefish is no one trick pony. The area offers ex-cellent schools with intimate classroom settings to keep students from being neglected. North Valley Hospital is a state of the art medical facility founded in 1905 and remodeled with additions in 2007.

Truly unique in it's unsurpassed beauty and well balanced com-munity full of recreation, cultural activities and attractions, as well as a strong growing economy, Whitefish's appeal is no longer a secret. An extraordinary lifestyle awaits you in this well woven small community with excitement bigger than the mountains that contain the town of Whitefish.

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CLIMATE & TOPOGRAPHY

The town of Kalispell is set in a relatively flat and fertile area surrounded by rolling hills giving way to more rugged moun-tainous terrain. The elevation in town is 2,959 ft. The higher mountains to the east and west protect the residents from the harsh extremes east of the Continental Divide as well as the coastal moisture from the west. The surrounding lakes and rivers moderate the temperatures both in summer and in win-ter.

Summers are warm and dry with daytime highs in the 80’s cooling off nicely at night. Early fall brings crisp morn-ings, but temperatures can still reach into the eighties during September with little humidity. Mid Fall often brings an early snowfall making for a spectacular display of bright oranges, gold, and dusting while over the landscape. Winters will usually drop enough accumulation of snow to participate in all the winter recreational activities so popular in Northwest Montana. Spring can at times come early but more often the weather does not settle until about the middle of May.

Most of the moisture falls during the Winter and Spring seasons with precipitation of about 16” annually in the valley floor, and 100” on the mountain peaks. The growing season varies depending on location and proximity to the lake, rang-ing from 105-130 days. Late frost will usually be felt around the 3rd week in May with an early frost averaging mid-Sep-tember. Min. Avg. Temp. Max Avg. Temp.

January 14 29April 31 56July 47 80October 28 55

Average Annual Rainfall – 15.7”Average Annual Snowfall – 62.2”Average Growing Season – 130 daysAir Quality – ExcellentWater Quality – ExcellentSource: weather.com

Kalispell is located in the Flathead Valley of Northwest Mon-tana. East/West Hwy 2 and North/South Hwy 93 intersect the city making it the gateway to several of Montana’s most visited recreational areas. About 30 miles to the east lies spec-tacular Glacier National Park. 17 miles north is the location of one of the nations most popular and largest ski resorts, Whitefish Mountain Resort at Big Mountain. Seven miles south of Kalispell is one of the purest and the largest fresh-water lakes west of the Mississippi. Glacier International airport is seven miles north of Kalispell. Coupled with this prestige is it’s strategic location in the midst of 2.3 million acres of federally protected public land, the Flathead National Forest. Two wilderness areas; the Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Mission Mountain Wilderness complete the very es-sence of Big Sky Country of which Kalispell is the heart. As Montana’s seventh largest city, Kalispell is the trade center for a three county area and county seat for Flathead County.

Surrounding CommunitiesBigfork – Columbia Falls – Coram – Evergreen – Hungry Horse – Lakeside – Martin City – Niarada – Somers – White-fish

POPULATION

% Change 00-14 2016 2010 2005 2000

Flathead County 27.4% 96,165 90,928 82,601 74,471Columbia Falls 31.5% 5,093 4,688 4,630 3,645Kalispell 51.2% 22,052 19,927 18,463 14,223Whitefish 32.1% 7,073 6,357 5,629 5,032Balance of County 18.9% 61,947 59,956 53,879 52,079

Community Profile

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EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY

Applied Health Services 6Applied Materials 8Brendan House 6Costco 6Flathead Electric Co-op Inc. 6Glacier Bank 6Healthcenter Northwest 6Immanuel Lutheran Home 6Kalispell Regional Med Center 9L C Staffing Service 8McDonalds 6National Flood Services 7Source: Employment Size Class Coding: Class 9 = 1000+ employees, Class 8 = 500 to 999 employees, Class 7 = 250 to 499 employees, Class 6 = 100 to 249 employees, Class 5 = 50 to 99 employees, Class 4 = 20 to 49 employees, Class 3 = 10 to 19 employees

North Valley Hospital 7Plum Creek 7Schellinger Construction 6Smith’s Food & Drug 6Summit Medical Fitness Center 6Super 1 Foods 7Teletech 8Wal-Mart 7

Avg. Annual Avg. Annual Employment Wages Pd.

Total All Industries 37,019 $32,986Total Private 32,037 $31,849Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting 285 31,018Mining 268 $47,563Utilities 197 $63,438Construction 2364 $38,486Manufacturing 2,366 $46,881Wholesale Trade 887 $41,578Retail Trade 5,504 $24,979Transportation and Warehousing 583 $32,982Information 584 $41,086Finance and Insurance 1,596 $49,028Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 573 $24,783Professional and Technical Services 1,345 $42,503Management of Companies and Enterprises 141 $87,746Administrative and Waste Services 2,275 $24,987Educational Services 393 $26,874Health Care and Social Assistance 5,125 $42,002Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 1,279 $15,720Accommodation and Food Services 4,824 $14,713Other Services 1,450 $21,462Total Government 4,982 $40,299Local Government 3,413 $37,222State Government 652 $41,625Federal Government 917 $50,807

Source: Montana Department Of Labor & Industry, Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program (Laus)

U.S. $46,742Montana $34,589Flathead $32,969

U.S. $39,780Montana $35,399Flathead $34,989Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Source: MT Dept. of Labor & Industry, Quarterly Census of Employment &Wages Program (QCEW)

Less than HS 7.3% 8.3% 14.4%HS Diploma (or equivalent) 35.1% 29.9% 28.5%Some College 23.1% 25.1% 21.3%Associate’s Degree 7.8% 7.9% 7.6%Bachelor’s Degree 8.1% 19.8% 17.7%Graduate or Professional 8.6% 9.0% 10.4%

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS Farms: (number) 1,094 Land in farms (acres) 251,597 Average size of farms (acres) 230 Median size of farms (acres) 40

Farms by size: (number) Less than 1,000 acres 1,048 1,000 acres or more 46

Farms by value of products sold: (number) Less than $100,000 1,033 $100,000 or more 61

Farms by type of organization: (number) Family, Individual, Partnership 1,001 Corporation, Cooperative, Trust 93

Business Name Size Class

Business Name Size Class

Educational Flathead Montana U.S.Attainment County

TOP PRIVATE EMPLOYERS

ANNUAL AVG. WAGES

HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION

(Population 25 years and older)

PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME

Labor & Industry


Education

Kalispell School District #5 currently includes five Elemen-tary Schools, one Middle School, one Junior High, two High Schools, and two Alternative Schools.

Because of the unbeatable quality of life, Kalispell schools draw teachers from throughout the US to teach students who are nurtured in a healthy, supportive environment. Kalispell students consistently score 25% above the national average.

With the phenomenal growth taking place in the Kalispell area, the education sector has kept pace with new building and expansion projects such as a new high school, and a reno-vated and expanded middle school. The biggest impact was the 243,000 square foot Glacier High School Campus, which opened in the fall of 2007.This $35 million project features a commons area, several science and computer labs, performance hall, and a blackbox theatre.

The campus includes four football/soccer fields, a track prac-tice facility, and future plans for a tennis courts. Glacier High School teams will take on the name of the “Glacier Wolfpack”. The school design not only reflects the best solution for the Flathead Valley, but also incorporates the most progressive re-search-based thinking from across the country. Key planning factors includes creating many areas that encourage collabora-tive group learning opportunities and a flexible building that can adapt to curriculum trends, future technology and growth.

With the addition of the new school, enrollment is divided between Flathead High and Glacier High resulting in smaller classroom sizes. Career Clusters were introduced into both high schools starting with the 2007-2008 school year. This will encourage concentration on areas of study and help the student focus toward a career path. The “Career Clusters” model is designed to help students develop a five-year plan and explore their individual areas of interest and skills.

With the addition of Glacier High School, two AA sports pro-grams will represent Kalispell. Sports attract enthusiastic and broad based support in the community. Teams have made the AA playoffs and have had national ranking for several years. Strong programs in music and drama, award-winning voca-tional agriculture and engineering, along with opportunities for students to pursue college credits and applied vocational programs through Flathead Community College foster an environment for academic excellence.

Flathead High SchoolHome of the Braves & Bravettes

Flathead High School is a three-year comprehensive educa-tional facility offering academic, technical, and occupational education programs. Since 2007-2008 school year, Freshman are once again part of the student body, as the valley’s newest school, Glacier High, began its first year of operation. FHS is accredited by the Northwest Association of High Schools and the Montana State Department of Public Instruction.

FHS is Montana’s first authorized International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme School. International Baccalaureate (IB) offers a comprehensive two-year curriculum for juniors and seniors that allow students to fulfill requirements of various national education systems and to meet admissions require-ments of universities throughout the world.

Kalispell Middle High School is a three year educational fa-cility offering a comprehensive program for students in grades 6,7 & 8. KJHS was recently remodeled to become the district’s new middle school for 6 to 8th graders. Freshmen are divided between two high schools. The building’s $11 million expan-sion was completed for the 2007-08 school year and includes a new 8,000 sq ft gym, 24,000 sq ft classroom wing and com-mons/cafeterium.

Kalispell Elementary Schools (zip code 59901)

Peterson Elementary School, 1119 Second Street West; 406-751-3737Hedges Elementary School, 827 4th Avenue East; 406-751-4090Edgerton Elementary School, 1400 Whitefish Stage Road; 406-751-4040Russell Elementary School, 227 West Nevada Street; 406-751-3900Elrod Elementary School, 413 3rd Avenue West;406-751-3700Kalispell Junior High School, 205 Northwest Lane; 406-751-3800Linderman Middle School, 124 Third Avenue East; 406-751-3990Flathead High School, 644 4th Street; 406-751-3500Glacier High School, 375 Wolfpack Way; 406-757-3632

KALISPELL PUBLIC SHCOOLS

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Kalispell is home to two alternative schools:

Bridge Academy – 406-257-7337Bridge Academy is an educational opportunity for students whose needs cannot be accommodated in a traditional high school structure. At Bridge Academy, students pursue a high school diploma in a truly alternative setting.

LASER Alternative School – 406-751-3939The LASER Facility provides an alternative learning environment for those students whose learning style is other than conventional.

Private Schools in Kalispell include:

The Kalispell Montessori Center – 406-3826; which offers first through sixth gradesWoodland Montessori – 406-755-3824; www.kalmont.com; a state of Montana Licensed daycare and early childhood education for children ages 27 months to kindergarten.St. Matthews Catholic School – 406-752-6303; www.stmattsaints.org; Kindergarten through 8th grade.Stillwater Christian School – 406-752-4400; www.stillwaterchristianschool.org; Middle School - High School.

Kalispell is also home to approximately 447 registered home schooled children. The greater Kalispell area school system is comprised of 35 public and private schools. For detailed information of Flathead County Schools please go to www.co.flathead.mt.us/schools/index.htmv

The FVCC Kalispell Campus is located in one of Montana’s fastest growing areas, and is the firth largest and one of the most affordable of all public colleges in the state.

The college is a source of community pride and retains an exceptional talented faculty, with 30% having doctoral degrees. Classrooms are designed for approximately 30 students to uphold the college’s tradition of personalized attention, boasting a student-teacher ratio averaging 16-1.

With nearly 50 occupational programs, more than 95 percent of its job-seeking graduates have successfully secured employment; of those, 97 percent found jobs in the Flathead, Lake, and Lincoln Counties. As a result of tremendous growth the area and new trends in post-secondary education. FVCC launched a $20 million expansion project in 2005, adding three new learning

facilities that more than doubled the size of the campus, which now encompasses 209 acres. A $4 million, 25,000 square foot Occupational Trade Building was completed in January of 2007 answering the demand for job-centered education. A $10 million, 61,000 square foot Arts and Technology Building was completed in May of 2007 and features a gallery, plaza arts courtyard, instructional kitchen, for the culinary arts program, darkroom and studio, a 200-seat blackbox theatre, and lecture hall. The new Early Childhood Development Center opened early in 2008. It includes a learning lab and daycare facility for 50 children. A new practical nursing program was also initiated in 2007 in response to the nursing shortage and growing field of geriatric nursing.

College students have several opportunities to earn bachelor and masters degrees, upon graduating with their associate degrees. At FVCC, students can earn Associate of Science degrees which prepare students to successfully transfer to any four-year colleges or universities as juniors. Students interested in pursuing terminal vocational degrees can earn a variety of Associate of Applied Science degrees at FVCC. Students who earn their AAS degrees and choose to continue their education can easily apply their degrees toward Bachelor of Applied Science degrees. In partnership with several Montana universities.

FVCC is fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges and serves over 10,000 people a year. Kalispell campus: 777 Grandview Drive, Kalispell MT, 406-756-3822; www.fvcc.edu

Education

FLATHEAD VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE


Whitefish School District #44 currently includes three ma-jor schools as well as Whitefish Independent High School. Muldown Elementary handles grades K through 4, and enrolls over 630 students. Students in both 3rd and 4th grade have traditionally exceeded state averages in reading and math after taking their annual CRT test. Classrooms remain small despite the growing population of the town itself with approximately 17 students per classroom and per teacher. Whitefish Central brings in the 5th to 8th graders and has 578 students enrolled. The ratio of FTE teacher to student here is approximately 16 to 1, and they too have faired quite well with their testing finishing above or around the state averages in both categories. Whitefish High School has a great reputation within the community and the state as being a top notch school with helps kids excel both in the classroom and through extra curricular activities. Grades 9 through 12 consists of over 725 students but still provides a small classroom environ-ment with another 16 to 1 average student to teacher ratio. Upper level students are offered a chance to get a jump start on the college level with Advance Placement courses offered in Chemistry, English Literature and Composition, U.S. Government and Politics, and Spanish Language. The Bulldogs were state winners in several categories in recent years including boy’s soccer, tennis, and track, as well as girl’s cross country and golf. Whitefish also provides an independent High School for

Education

kids in the 10 to 12 grade range looking for a non tradi-tional alternative.

L A Muldown School - 1500 East 7th (406) 862 - 8620Whitefish Central - 600 East Second Street (406) 862 - 8650

Whitefish High School - 1143 East 4th (406) 862 – 8600

WHITEFISH PUBLIC SHCOOLS

There are several school districts in the greater Kalispell area. The Superintendant of Flathead County Schools has detailed information and area maps. Please note that not all rural schools offer public transportation/bus service to and from school. Contact the superintendent for address confirmation of the school in your area. 406-758-5720

West Valley School, Dist. #1; K-8; 2290 Farm to Market Rd.; Kalispell, MT 59901; 406-755-7239Fair-Mont-Egan, Dist. #3; K-8; 797 Fairmont Rd.; Kalispell, MT 59901; 406-755-7072Creston School, Dist. #9; K-6; 4495 Montana Highway 35; Kalispell, Mt 59901; 406-755-2859Cayuse Prairie School, Dist. #10; K-8; 897 Lake Blaine Rd.; Kalispell, MT 59901; 406-756-4562Helena Flats School, Dist. #15; K-8; 1000 Helena Flats Rd., Kalispell, MT 59901; 406-257-2301Evergreen School, Dist. #50, K-8; 18 West Evergreen Dr., Kalispell, MT 59901; 406-751-1111Smith Valley School, Dist. #89; K-8; 2901 Hwy 2 West; Kalispell, MT 59901; 406-756-4535

Flathead County Schools: 406-758-5720; www.co.flathead.mt.us/schoolsKalispell Public Schools: 406-751-3434; www.sd5.k12

KALISPELL RURAL SCHOOLS

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Kalispell has an abundance of recreational opportunities and facilities both within the city as well as the surrounding area. There are thirty city parks throughout Kalispell. The city’s largest, oldest, and most popular is the 38-acre Woodland Park, which was once the private game preserve for the city’s founder, Charles Conrad. It is located on the east side of Kalispell in close proximity to the Conrad Mansion. Central to the park is a beautiful lagoon that is home to a variety of waterfowl, a rose garden, a formal flower garden, a playground, and a one-mile paved walking loop trail. A water park complete with a swimming pool, slide, water features, and a skate park are new additions to the park. The lagoon is transformed into a skating rink during the cold months. This is an ideal place to photograph wildlife with the abundance of waterfowl, birds, and other small animals. Lawrence Park bordering the Stillwater River and Ka-lispell’s Municipal Golf Course is another great place to watch wildlife, enjoy a picnic, or walk the nature trails. The park also features playgrounds and playing fields. It is located north of downtown Kalispell.

Depot Park in the heart of downtown is home to Picnic in the park, a summer series of afternoon and evening concerts. Kid Sport Youth Athletic Complex – The city of Ka-lispell’s newest park is located across from Flathead Commu-nity College and provides 140 acres of fields for youth soccer and baseball. There are several tennis courts available around Kalispell in-cluding the city’s extensive complex of courts (FVCC Courts) near Flathead Valley Community College. County Parks and Recreation - The County Parks and Recreation Department cover various activities for children, youth, and adults. Please check their website for informa-tion; www.co.flathead.mt.us/parksrec/parkuse.html. Flat-head County maintains over 40 accessible parks and facilities. (Some available for rentals) Conrad Complex Sports Facility – located off Hwy 2 includes several playing fields, volleyball courts, basketball court, picnic tables, and restrooms. Leisure Island Park – located off Leisure Drive and adja-cent to the Stillwater Park features a natural boat ramp and is a local favorite bird watching area for spotting eagles and osprey along with upland game birds.

Recreation & Sports Facilities

Foys Lake Park – 3.5 miles south of Kalispell on Foys Lake Rd. has a swimming area, boat dock, benches, and restrooms. Foys Lake is a beautiful 235-acre lake, the a largest of a chain of three lakes. Residential areas surround Lower Foys Lake and Middle Foys Lake. The lake, which lies adjacent to Lone Pine State Preserve and State Park, offers great fishing (spring and fall) for rainbow trout and kokanee. Iven Herron Memorial Park also on Foys Lake Rd. offers equestrian jups, horse stalls, dressage arenas and a great sled-ding hill and cross country ski trails during the snow season. Foys Community Center located four miles south of Ka-lispell at Foys Lake Rd. includes full rental facilities.Source: Kalispell City Parks & Recreation and Flathead County Parks & Recreation

CITY PARKS & RECREATION


The arts, live music, and theatre are an essential part of life in the Flathead Valley. Residents and visitors alike thrive in this culturally rich environment. Studios, galleries, festivals, and museum showcase the work of over 2,000 artists and craft people. Theatre and live music are enjoyed by enthusiastic and apprecia-tive audiences all summer long. The Whitefish Theatre Company in its 30th season hosts a variety of offerings throughout the year from classic comedy, edgy drama, and Black Curtain Theatre Productions to musicals, dance, and the latest and greatest in film. Also offered are sum-mer theatre camp and “Young Artist & Actors” Theatre Educa-tion Program. 406-862-5371 Whitefish’s own Alpine Theatre Project provides the Flathead Valley top notch stage productions, ranging from timeless musi-cals to modern day drama. Since the summer of 2003 this Equity Professional summer Theatre company has brought New York City Style and Broadway caliber performances and production to Whitefish, often times bringing in headline national stars to lead the way. Past performers have included John Lithgow, Olympia Dukakis, Robert Goulet, and Henry Winkler. The shows are designed to inspire audiences and artists alike. Contact ATP for tickets for more info regarding upcoming events. Box Office: 406-862-7469; Office: 406-862-9050; [email protected] Kalispell’s popular summer event “Picnic in the Park” features a variety of local talented musicians who perform on the outdoor stage at Depot Park Tuesday evenings and Wednesday after-noons. Big Fork Riverbend Park and Columbia Falls Marenette Park also host summer concert series. Each season Kalispell welcomes top quality entertainment to perform at events such as the Northwest Montana Fair. Cul-tural Arts Centers, auditoriums, local night spots, and The O’Shaughnessy Cultural Arts Center have hosted both national and international performers from classical to pop. Big Fork Center for the Performing Arts presents year-round entertainment. 406-837-4885. From May through August the Big Fork Summer Playhouse offers musical repertory theatre. Other productions during the year include “The Nutcracker” performed by Kalispell’s Northwest Ballet School. Alpine The-atre Project in Whitefish is Montana’s only Equity Professional Summer Theatre.

Northwest Montana’s award winning symphony and chorale perform classical series, holiday, and pop concerts each season, and have been for over 25 years. Their programs feature world-class and emerging guest artists, producing quality musical programs in the Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana. Many of the musicians of the Glacier Symphony and Chorale are area neighbors, friends, co-workers, and students, working together to create musical excellence for audiences throughout Kalispell, the Flathead Valley, and beyond. Beautiful Rebecca Farm on the outskirts of Kalispell is the set-ting for the Glacier Symphony’s Annual “Summer Pops” concert held each July. Concert goers pack a picnic and enjoy an evening of symphony music under the stars. For more information on the Glacier Symphony and chorale, please call 406-257-3241 or visit www.glaciersymphonychorale.org

An Annual Event with a tradition in its second decade of lighting up Kalispell in the early days of October. A four day, four venue music festival of Traditional, Ragtime, Dixieland, Big Band, and Swing Jazz. Over a dozen bands feature some of the greatest musicians from across the U.S. & Canada. Information: 406-777-6088; www.glacierjazzstampede.com

The proposed Glacier Performing Arts Center will serve to enhance the quality of life in Flathead County. This center will define Kalispell as a Center of the Arts in the Northwest thus benefiting the area culturally and economically.

The new arts center will also bring the excitement of the performing arts to residents of Northwest Montana and the sur-rounding region by presenting a broad spectrum of quality arts events and by providing a home for local artistic, cultural, and educational groups in the Glacier Performing Arts Center.

The $20 million project will accommodate 1,100 seats in a 40,000 sq. ft. venue that will serve a wide range of activities in-cluding orchestral performances, choral music, dancing, musicals, plays, and notable speakers. It will be equipped with industry standard theatrical equipment to support productions by local arts organizations and touring groups.

The center will serve to establish a larger performing arts venue in NW Montana with large stage size and seating capac-ity and professionally designed acoustics and lighting. It will provide cultural activities such as traveling Broadway-type shows and renowned guest artists and speakers. The center will allow for enhanced and/or expanded activities with other existing community groups and organizations; ie: symphony, chorales, museums, schools, etc. The Center will be constructed in the heart of downtown Kalispell. Information: 406-752-1002; www.glacierperformingartscenter.org

GLACIER JAZZ STAMPEDE

GLACIER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

GLACIER SYMPHONY & CHORALE

Arts & Entertainment

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HOCKADAY MUSEUM OF ARTS

The Hockaday Museum of Art located in the historic downtown section of Kalispell, is housed in a turn of the century Carnegie Library Building that is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The 100-year old building has undergone significant renovations to create a sophisticated museum setting while retaining the building’s historic ambiance. The museum’s namesake Hugh Hocka-day moved to the Flathead Valley after a successful career as a commercial artist. He passed away during the conver-

sion of the Carn-egie Library to an art center and the building was renamed in his honor in 1969. The Hockaday Museum of Art focuses on the arts and culture of Montana with an empha-sis on the art and artists of Glacier National Park. Permanent exhibits include the “Crown of the Continent: Glacier National Park”, highlight-

ing significant works by photographers and painters, along with collectables featuring the rich history of the park. Along with the permanent collection, the museum offers rotating exhibits of works by nationally renowned and emerging artists. Children enjoy the “Discovery Gallery” with hands on activities that change along with the exhib-its. The museum also offers on going events and programs for children and adults, along with outreach and artists-in-residence programs. The Hockaday Museum hosts “Arts in the Park” which is Northwest Montana’s largest and longest running art and entertainment fair. This event takes place every 4th week-end of July in Depot Park in downtown Kalispell. This juried art show is a favorite for browsing the artistic cre-ations of local regional and national artists during the lazy days of summer. Here one can find high quality jewelry, clothing, photography, paintings, pottery, glass, and other unique artwork by Montana artists and others from several states and Canada. This annual benefit for the Hockaday Museum of Arts has more than 100 booths all featuring fine artists and craftsmen, along with a variety of food ven-dors and great live entertainment from talented musicians and exciting dance performances along with hands-on art activities for children.

The Hockady Museum of Art located 2 blocks east of Main at the corner of Third Street and Second Ave. For more information call 406-755-5268 or go to www.hockaday-museum.org

The Museum at Central School holds an intriguing collec-tion of Northwest Montana history in a turn of the century historic building. Built in 1894 as Kalispell’s first school, this venerable four-story stone and brick structure served the educational needs of the Flathead Valley for nearly 95 years before being fully restored in the late 1990’s and converted into the history museum as it stands today. Here you can discover the story of early Kalispell from its found-ing in the late 1800’s to turn of the century Demersville and up through the 1950’s. You will also learn about the life and times of Frank Bird Linderman-author, statesman, and trusted friend Native Americans. On display are genu-ine artifacts over 100 years old including toys, weapons, and tools and an authentic 1900’s ear sawmill. Also there is an extensive collection of Native American Indian artifacts and full size replica of a 1933 forest fire lookout. Inside the mu-seum you’ll also find a Coffee House serving specialty coffees and teas, lunches, home-baked sweets, and wireless Internet service. The museum is operated by the Northwest Montana Historical Society and is located at 124 2nd Avenue East in the heart of downtown Kalispell. Call 406-756-8381 or visit www.yourmuseum.org

The Conrad Mansion is one of the most outstanding ex-amples of luxurious and elegant pioneer living and period architecture in the Pacific Northwest. The mansion sits on the edge of the original town site of Kalispell overlooking the valley and the Swan Mountain Range in close vicinity to the city’s beautiful Woodland Park.

THE MUSEUM AT CENTRAL SCHOOL

THE CONRAD MANSION MUSEUM

Cultural Attractions


a silent auction. 4th of July: An old-fash-ioned ice cream social held at the mansion grounds after the parade. Tea & Tour: Enjoy a personal-ized tour followed by tea, sandwiches, and special desserts served at the original dining room table used by the Conrad for their special guests. Christ-mas at the Mansion: Enjoy the elegance of

the holiday season at the Mansion with music, arts & crafts sale, champagne, and hors d’oeuvres. The Conrad Man-sion grounds are also available for weddings and receptions. The Mansion Museum is open for tours May-Oct 15. A gift shop features period reproductions, antiques, and local artisans work. Located on Woodland Ave in downtown Ka-lispell, across from Woodland Park. 406-755-2166; www.conradmansion.com

Recently restored to serve as the Stumptown Historical Society Museum, this original train station is also still a functioning Amtrak station as well. To this day it remains one of the busiest Amtrak Empire Builder stations on the Great Northern Railway (which crosses from St. Paul, MN to Seattle WA) boarding or departing a little under 200 passengers a day. The property has dual ownership with Stumptown Historical Society owning both the station and the parking lot, while BNSF Railway, who leases offices on the second floor, retains ownership of the platform and track. Visitors are encouraged not only as potential train pa-trons however, but also to come and peruse the Museum with and the historical grounds just outside the building. Both provide interested parties with plenty of eye candy and sense of history. One can try and picture this now resort town and tourist attraction back to when the first of-ficial passenger train arrived on October 4th, 1904.

Charles E. Conrad (a founder of Kalispell) and his wife, Alicia, arrived in the Flathead Valley in 1891 when this lovely town was but a dream and the area a wilderness. Conrad saw a good investment opportunity as well as a permanent home for his family and descendants. Owner-ship and occupation of this beautiful Norman style man-sion remained in the family until 1974, when the Conrad’s youngest daughter, Alicia Conrad McCutcheon Campbell donated the home its and contents to the city of Kalispell to be maintained in perpetuity as a historic site in memory of her parents.

Visiting the Conrad Mansion today provides an extraor-dinary glimpse into the life of this wealthy family that entertained political leaders, pioneers, and artists, as well as family and friends. The structure itself remains unchanged since Washing-ton architect Kirkland Cutter designed and built the home for the Conrads’ in 1895. Arches, long gables, bay win-dows, and massive native stone chimneys punctuated the homes exterior. Architecturally untouched, the mansion’s three floors totaling 13,000 square feet, have been totally restored to their original beauty. The “Great Hall” with its massive sandstone fireplace and golden oak woodwork, the original Chippen-dale dining table, the kitchens custom made stove, imported marble lavatories, sleigh beds, and canopied four-post-ers, all appear as they did when guest arrived over 100 years ago. The beautifully land-scaped grounds invite a stroll with its winding walkways, massive shade trees, old-fashioned gazebo, iron gates, and old-fashioned flowerbeds.Special Events at The Mansion: Death by Chocolate. This is an annual fun and interactive murder mystery with a devious cast of characters. Guest try and solve the mystery while enjoying hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, desserts, and chocolate. Prizes are given for best costume as well as

THE WHITEFISH RAILWAY DEPOT

Photo: Conrad Mansion Museum

Cultural Attractions

- 11 -2017

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCEKalispell Chamber15 Depot Park – Kalispell MT 59901406-758-2800 – www.kalispellchamber.comLakeside-Somers ChamberP.O. Box 177 – Lakeside, MT 59922Whitefish Chamber307 Spokane Ave. #103 – Whitefish MT 59937406-862-3501 – www.whitefishchamber.orgColumbia Falls ChamberP.O. Box 312 – Columbia Falls MT 59912406-892-2072 – www.columbiafallschamber.comBigfork ChamberP.O. Box 237 – Bigfork MT 59911406-837-5888 – www.bigfork.org

Job Service Workforce CenterFLATHEAD/LAKE COUNTY JOB SERVICEP.O. Box 1879 – Kalispell MT 59903

406-758-6200 – wsd.dli.mt.gov/local/kalispell

LICENSINGVehicle Registration Flathead County Treasurer 935 1st Ave W 2nd floor Kalispell, MT 59901 406-758-5690 Hours 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Drivers LicensesDifferent location from Vehicle Regstration 1325 Hwy 2 W Suite E Kalispell , MT 59901 Next to Bojangles Diner 1-866-450-8034 or 406-257-2127 https://doj.mt.gov/driving/driver-licensing/

LIBRARIES 247 1st Ave E Kalispell – 406-758-5820

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTCity of Kalispell Community Development Department P.O. Box 1997 – Kalispell MT 59903Montana West Economic Development44 2nd Avenue WestKalispell, MT 59901www.dobusinessinmontana.comKalispell Small Business Development Center15 Depot Park – Kalispell MT 59901 – 406-758-2802 – www.kalispellsmallbusiness.comService Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)2 Main Street – Kalispell MT 59901

MORE RESOURCESAnimal Control – 406-752-1310Humane Society – 406-752-7297Aging Service – 406-758-5730Health Dept of Flathead County – 1035 1st Ave W Kalispell – 406-751-8100Community Health/Nursing Services: 1035 1st Ave W Kalispell – 406-751-8110

Resources for this publication include: City of Kalispell, Flathead County, Dept. of Fish, Wildlife & Parks Montana and various other private sources. Community Profile from 'Our Facts, Your Future, Dept of Labor & Industry'. No material in this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent of Nelson Publications, Inc. Nelson Publications is not responsible for errors or omissions. Information contained in this publication is based on availability at time of print. Copyright 2014.

This Relocation Guide is published by

NELSON PUBLICATIONS, INC.

Sales Director ........................................................... Hans LeeflangLayout & Design ............................................................Kaylee ZitoCopy Writing and Editing ...........................................Josh GreenPrinted By ..............................................Advanced Litho Printing

PO Box 1681 • Bozeman, Montana 59771406-579-7673 • FAX: 406-586-2095

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Resources


Flathead Lake is one of the 300 largest natural lakes in the world and is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States. Of those large lakes, Flathead is one of the cleanest. Studies at the Biological Station show that water quality in Flathead Lake is among the best in the world. The Lake has a maximum depth of 370’, is 15.5 miles wide and 23.3 miles in length. Flathead Lake has 161 miles of shore-line.

The Lakes major tributaries are the Flathead and Swan Riv-ers. Numerous small streams flow directly into the Lake at its shoreline, particularly on the wetter East Shore.

Kerr Dam is located at the outlet of Flathead Lake in Polson, at the southern end. Regulation of outflow by the dam main-tains the Lake’s level between 2,883 and 2,893 feet above sea level.

Due to it’s massive volume and normally active winds over the surface Flathead Lake does not freeze over most winters, although the bays often have winter ice cover.

Open space on the shoreline includes the National Wildlife Refuge on the North Shore and State land managed by the Biological Station as refuge on the South Shore (Polson Bay).

Wildhorse Island, near Big Arms Bay, is the largest island in the lake, at 2,100 acres, and managed by the Montana De-partment of Fish, Wildlife and Parks as a wildlife refuge. It is noted for its herd of Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep and several wild horses. Native grasses and flowers are abundant.

FLATHEAD LAKE

The Bird Islands near The Narrows are State owned and are managed jointly by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Biological Station as a bird refuge. Geese, osprey, heron, and eagles frequent the Bird Islands.

Flathead Lake Biological Station is currently operated as a year-round academic and research facility mainly dealing with aquatic studies. Average surface temperatures of the lake range from 2.3 C (36 F) in mid-January, to 13.5 C (56 F) in mid-June, to 20.3 C (68 F) in mid-August.

Of the 25 fish species most commonly found in the Flat-head River-Lake ecosystem, 10 species are native and 15 have been introduced. The native species include redside shiner, peamouth minnow, squawfish minnow, largeschale sucker, longnose sucker, sculpin, bull trout, cutthroat trout, pygmy whitefish, and yellow perch are the most common non-natives and have increased in abundance since 1970 whereas native species have declined.

Source: Melissa Holmes of Flathead Bio. Station

All manner of water sports are enjoyed upon Flathead Lake’s 200 square miles of surface. Several state parks and lakeshore communities have boat launches and marinas on the Lake. You can avail yourself of a boat tour or rent one of the many types of watercraft including canoes, kayaks, wind-surfers, seadoos, sailing, and fishing boats. Serious anglers can arm themselves with heavy-duty equipment and probe the 300-foot depth Flathead Lake for trophy sized catches. For license info call MT Dept. of Fish, Wildlife & Parks; 406-444-2535

Photo by J.J.

Recreation & Attractions

- 13 -2017

Big Arm: Camping, a long beach, nature trail, and a yurt rental area are all here. This park is a popular jump-off point to Wild-horse Island, using the ramp to launch your own boat. A nature trail provides excellent bird watching opportunities.West Shore: Glacially carved rock outcrops rise from Flathead Lake to overlooks with spectacular views of the lakeshore and the Swan and Mission Mountains. Considered the most private park on Flathead Lake, this site is distinguished by a mature fir, pine, and larch forest. The beach is rocky but you can still swim.Wildhorse Island: Boat access to this day-use-only primitave park is regulated to protect the 2,000 acre island. Wildhourse has been a landmark rich with history since the Salish-Kootenai Indi-ans were reported to have used it to pasture horses to keep them from being stolen by other tribes. It preserves an endangered Palouse prairie environment, incredible wildlife, and historic resources. Access via boat.Wayfarers: You’ll find this site right outside Big Fork located on the northeast shore of Flathead Lake. A boat launch and nature walks over the rocky shoreline to the cliffs are popular with excel-lent views of the lake.Finley Point: is located in a secluded, mature pine forest near the south end of Flathead Lake. Finley Point offers 16 sites, boat slips, and boat mooring. The kokanee salmon and lake trout fish-ing off Finely Point is often excellent.

Other State Parks in the Flathead Valley:Lake Mary Ronan: Just seven miles west of Flathead Lake off the beaten path, this park provides a quiet opportunity to pick huckleberries and hunt for mushrooms. Lone Pine: Overlooking the magnificent Flathead Valley, this day-sue-only park provides information about the Valley’s cul-tural and natural history with a visitor center providing nature an interpretive programs as well as picnicking, and a self guided nature trail and horse trails. Whitefish Lake: This small park provides a mature forest, a pleasant campground, and a beach. Located on Whitefish Lake and sheltered from the wind, it is ideal for waterskiing. www.fwp.mt.gov/lands/siteYellow Bay: In the heart of Montana’s sweet cherry orchards. The park includes four walk-in tent camping spots and a wide sandy beach for swimming, boat launching, and fishing.Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks

Flathead Lake State ParksN807-29493 Hydro Safety Print_3.75x10_PRS

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In the rugged northern section of the Montana Rockies lies some of the most spectacular and pristine wilderness in the U.S. Jagged peaks carved by glacial ice, hanging valleys that end in towering cliffs and 300 foot waterfalls, hundreds of species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers describes this “Crown Jewel of the Continent”. Almost every species of wildlife native to Montana resides in the park, including grizzly bear, mountain goat and bighorn sheep, wolves, lynx, elk, deer and moose. Glacier has one of the largest remain-ing grizzly populations anywhere in the lower 48 states. The vast variety of wildlife com-bined with the numerous natural predators sets Glacier apart from nearly every other national park. The park has 272 known bird species, 63 different mammals, 23 fish species, five types of amphibians and three types of reptiles. Glacier Park is the vast ecosystem stretching from the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex north to British Colum-bia, Alberta, and Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park. The park contains an unusual diversity of terrain. Wind-swept peaks, rolling grassland, forested hillsides, and alpine tundra, with a climate ranging from rain forest in the west to high mountain desert in the eastern side of the park. There are over 175 named mountains, six are over 10,000 feet. The Continental Divide meanders 106 miles through the backbone of the park. There are 762 lakes in Glacier, with Lake Mc Donald the largest at 6,823 acres, followed by St Mary’s at 3,923 acres. Carved from immense glaciers, both lakes lie at the bottom of deep gorges and offer dra-matic scenery. St Mary’s and McDonald Lakes have excep-tionally beautiful settings that have made them some of the most photographed lakes in the U.S. With over 730 miles of trails, Glacier is a hikers paradise for those seeking wilderness and solitude. The Northern Highline Trail is one of America’s premier hiking trails. Bring your camera, as the height of summer creates a splash of color with the abundance of wildflowers along the trails, on the hillsides and in the valleys. Fall is the best time to photograph wildlife, as they are more apt to be out in the open. Other activities within the park include ranger led walks, horseback riding, cycling, fishing, and camping along with cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing during fall and winter.

The 52 mile ‘Going to the Sun Highway’, a National Historic Landmark spans the width of Glacier, crossing the Continental Divide at 6,646-foot-high Logan Pass. The road passes through every type of terrain in the park from large glacial lakes to ancient cedar forests with numerous viewpoints and pullouts so motorists can stop for extended views and photos. Early morning and early evening gives the best light and time for photographing wildlife and spectacular sights. The road is well worth traveling in both directions, as views from one side are much different than that of the other. The western upper-half presents an un-ending sea of choppy peaks, whereas the opposite outlook is equally dramatic, with the abrupt switch from mountain peaks to Montana plains and prairie.

Photo by J.J.

Photo by J.J.

Glacier National Park

- 15 -2017

The Flathead National Forest encompasses 2.3 million acres. Over 270,000 acres of State of Montana and private land are within the Flathead National Forest boundary. The Bob Mar-shall, Great Bear, and Mission Mountains Wildernesses comprise approximately 46 percent of the Forest’s total land base. The Bob Marshall/Great Bear Wilderness Complex, often referred to as the “Crown Jewel of America’s wilderness areas”, is comprised of 1.5 million acres of high mountain lakes, crystal clear rivers, remote valleys, and high alpine meadows. The “Bob” is home to elk, moose, black bear, mountain goat, mountain sheep, white tail and mule deer, and mountain lion and provides critical habitat for the grizzly bear and gray wolf. The “Bob” is accessible only by trails, making it a true outback experience for hiking, fishing, hunting, horse-backing, pack trips, river floating, and camping.The Mission Mountian Wilderness is also within the Flathead National Forest and encompasses nearly 74,000 acres.

The North Fork of the Flathead River originates 50 miles across the border in British Columbia, Canada. The remote-ness is what brings people to this part of Montana and it’s the scenic beauty that keeps bringing them back. The North Fork of Flathead River divides the Flathead National Forest from Glacier National park. The upper 41 miles above Camas Creek Bridge are classified as Scenic. The lower 17 mile section to Blankenship Bridge and the confluence of the Middle Fork is classified as Rec-reational. Fish in the North Fork run on the small size (8-12”) due to lack of nutrients in the cold water. Before spring runoff, you can catch larger westslope cutthroat trout that migrate from Flathead Lake on the spring spawning runs. Species present: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout, and Mountain Whitefish. None-native Rainbow Trout are becoming increasingly more common in the lower section of the river. Season opening is the third Saturday in May through November 30th. The Middle Fork of the Flathead River originates in the Bob Marshall Wilderness at the confluence of Strawberry and Bowl creeks. Better known for its whitewater than its fishing, the river is perhaps the best whitewater river in Montana, living up to its designation as a Wild and Scenic River. The upper 46 miles from is start to the confluence with Bear Creek is designated as “wild” while the lower 49 miles to the confluence with the North Fork is designated as “recreational”. Rapids with names such as “Jaws” and “Bone-crusher” proved sheer exhilaration. Fish in the Middle Fork run on the small size as well, and species are the same as present in the North Fork. The river is catch and release from cutthroat trout and a daily limit of two for rainbow trout. The best whitewater action can be found during and just after runoff in June and July. Fishing typically picks up in late July through September. Primary access is by horseback and backpack. About 890 miles of trail navigate you around the “Bob”, as it is affectionately called by locals. The headwaters can be accessed by trailhead

near the communities of Seeley Lake to the west or from the south near Ovando. The South Fork of the Flathead River originates at the confluence of Danaher and Youngs creeks and flows north for 57 miles into Hungry Horse Reservoir. The upper 50 miles of the South Fork, from the headwaters to the Spotted Bear River is classified as a Wild River. It is here that the best fishing is found. Wilderness limits apply in the south Fork which is three fish daily and in possession, no fish can be over 12”. The South Fork below Meadow Creek Gorge downstream to the reservoir offers good fishing for the roadside angler with short hikes to the water. There are a few places where an angler can experience fishing as it was at the turn of the century. The South Fork is unique in that, with a few exceptions, it supports an intact native fish assemblage. So come prepared to battle a native Montanan, the westslope cutthroat, in the solitude of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The pristine setting, special fishing regulations, and native fish combine to make the South Fork an increasingly rare resource in the west.Camping: There are 34 developed campsites within the Flathead National Forest with a total of 40 family units available; some have a small daily use fee while others are free. In addition to developed campsites, camping is allowed throughout the Flathead National Forest.Hiking: The Forest has 2,600 miles of hiking trails and 200 miles of designated National Recreation Trails, mostly in desig-nated wilderness areas. The Danny On Memorial Trail is very popular and located within the Big Mountain ski area north of Whitefish. This self-guided trail provides you with an opportu-nity to observe and learn about plants and animals of the high country. Flathead National Forest’s Jewel Basin is a 15,000 acre hiking area and maintained exclusively for hiking and camping. The Jewel Basin is located at the north end of Sawn Mountain Range east of Kalispell and is used heavily everyday throughout the summer.Huckleberry Picking: The Flathead National Forest hosts some of the best huckleberry picking in Montana. Huckleberries are rip from mid-July to October.

THE FLATHEAD RIVER

Flathead National Forest


In the Northwest corner of the Treasure state, near spectac-ular Glacier Park, at the base of Big Mountain lies Whitefish. A small town with big thrills and bigger offerings to those in search of the treasures that give Montana it's nickname as the aforementioned Treasure State. Although Whitefish itself only inhabits less than 6,000 residents, it keeps it's fair share of comer's and goers drawn to it's unmistakable beauty from mountain tops to the depths of it's lakes.

Prided by cultural appreciation, one can visit these moun-tain's and lakes by day and pursue the pleasures of theatre, music, and art by midday and into the night. Rich with history and nostalgia alike, the railroad is not only a tourist attraction but still serves as a heavyweight member of the Amtrak railway service to this day. A museum inside the sta-tion itself commemorates a hundred plus years of what once was a railway station town and has blossomed uniquely into a resort destination as well as a community maintaining small town values.

Locals and tourists alike can find a plethora of international inspired cuisine as well as local hotspots with hometown flavor. It's proximity to the seventh largest town in Montana, Kalispell, allows the comfort of these small town eclectic op-portunities with the conveniences of the city only a few miles away.

The outdoors still remain the major appeal of this town and it's area, with Glacier Park being just 25 miles northeast, and Whitefish Lake's main docking shore literally being on the edge of the little town. Boaters, fisherman, swimmers, waders, watchers, and so on will find the 10 acre lake more than suf-ficient to their needs and wants. Plenty of camping grounds along the state parks ring the shores as well as bicycle paths beyond the beaches.

Big Mountain ski resort is not only a sight for sore eyes but a challenge to skiers, snowboarders, and overall casual lovers of it's 2353 vertical feet and 3000 acres of terrain. It stands as one of the largest year round resorts in the entire North-west offering 13 lifts and five star lodging accompanied with fine dining. All this overlooking Whitefish from just eight miles away.

Whitefish and it's surrounding communities such as Big Fork, Columbia Falls, and the aforementioned Kalispell are also well known for their numerous golf courses and country clubs.

It's no secret why Whitefish is a rapidly growing commu-nity with enough recreation to keep one's Montana treasure seeking urges fresh and exciting, but Whitefish is no one trick pony. The area offers excellent schools with intimate class-room settings to keep students from being neglected. North Valley Hospital is a state of the art medical facility founded in 1905 and remodeled with additions in 2007.

Truly unique in it's unsurpassed beauty and well balanced community full of recreation, cultural activities and attrac-tions, as well as a strong growing economy, Whitefish's appeal is no longer a secret. An extraordinary lifestyle awaits you in this well woven small community with excitement bigger than the mountains that contain the town of Whitefish.

Known as "The Gateway to Glacier Park" this small town

of less than 5,000 residents is just ten miles from Whitefish and still only another 18 miles south of West Glacier Park. It is the last large town on Highway 2 before entering the park, keeping it's tourism appeal in high regard and keeps downtown vibrant with folks from all over taking advantage of the several bars, restaurants, and general stores to stock up on supplies. Not unlike it's neighboring towns Columbia Falls provides it's residents and visitors with an abundance of outdoor activities and events to highlight it's beauty. The city maintains about 28 acres of parkland with playing fields and picnic areas along with the Pinewood Aquatic Center which features a 25 meter competitive swimming pool.

The Meadow Lake Golf Resort is known around Mon-

WHITEFISH

COLUMBIA FALLS

Surrounding Area

Oriental/American CuisineAll Food Cooked to Order with No MSG

Vegetables Fresh DailyUnique Beer & Wine Selection

Health Inspection "A"Dine In • Take Out

Voted Best Chef of the Flathead!

Open 7 Days/Week • 11:00-3:00 & 4:30-9:30892-1585 • 329 9th Street West • Columbia Falls

- 17 -2017

tana as being one of the most beautiful golf courses in the prestigious Flathead Valley area. Big Sky Waterslide offers water slides of all levels and speeds, as well as mini golf, an arcade, and a river ride alternative for those avoiding the Flathead River itself. Other summer ventures include numerous concerts, and Heritage days with a rodeo, parade, street dance, craft fair, car show, basketball tournament, and 5k and 10k runs. Fisherman can travel to the close by Hun-gry Horse Dam and Reservoir or cast out at the aforemen-tioned Flathead River. These local bodies of water are also popular for boating, waterskiing, and even casual rafting. Winter months are don't keep outdoor adventure seekers in hibernation either with miles of prepared snowmobiling trails and of course the many pleasures that Big Mountain resort provides nearby.

Columbia Falls prides itself on being a small town fam-ily oriented community with unique character, but it also boasts a variety of industrial businesses. Plum Creek Tim-ber Company and Stoltze Land and Lumber are among it's largest companies and employers in the area.

Bigfork, “where Flathead Lake begins”, nestles on Bigfork Bay where the Swan River rushes into Flathead Lake. Just a few miles north, the mighty Flathead River flows into the lake. Known as one of the “Best Small Towns in America”, the community is home to more than a dozen art galleries, many containing studios of working artists. In addition to its artistic reputation, Bigfork is known for its scenic beauty, fine restaurants, professional theatre and unique shops. Every spring, melting snows create the Swan River’s “Wild Mile” where kayakers race the rapids during the annual Whitewater Festival. That event opens a summer full of activities in town, on the water and in surrounding moun-tains. The Flathead National Forest contains the Jewel Ba-sin Hiking area as well as miles of national forest trails for hiking, horseback riding and wildlife watching. Perched on the shores of the lake, Eagle Bend Golf Club provides 27 challenging holes just minutes from downtown. The Big-fork Center for the Performing Arts is home to the Bigfork Summer Playhouse, children’s theatre, concerts, plays and performances throughout the year. As a community of just over 1500 full-time residents, Bigfork offers a number of features and services not always found in larger communi-ties. The Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce boasts more than 350 active members, including four banks, financial services, professional services, medical and dental practices, businesses and community service organizations. For more information visit www.bigfork.org

Lakeside and Somers are neighboring communities that

encompass 13 miles of lake frontage along the northwest shore of Flathead Lake. These quaint lakeside communi-ties are home to a variety of shops including art galleries, studios, some excellent restaurants, hardware stores, food stores, motels, bed & breakfasts, and a variety of services. For additional shopping and services, Kalispell, the largest trade center is only minutes away.

Steamers plied the lake until the mid-thirties, making regular stops in Lakeside with passengers and freight. Prior to the 1900’s the town of Lakeside was called “Ston-er” after the first postmaster, who built and operated a hotel where the creek that still bears his name flows into the lake. In 1920 after a few more name changes, the town became known as Lakeside.

Somers began as a company town of the Great Northern Railway. To extend the company’s tracks throughout the west, railroad ties were needed and the timber surrounding Flathead Lake made the north end of the lake an ideal mill site, as well as the start of Somers Lumber Company. The first general store and other historic buildings from the turn of the century are still in use.

Today life in Lakeside and Somers continues to revolve around the lake, and both communities have swimming beaches, boat launches, and a yacht club. Recreational activities are abundant with such activities as hiking, cross-country & downhill skiing, fishing, and of course water sports in the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi out their front door.

BIGFORK

LAKESIDE & SOMERS

Photo by J.J.

Surrounding Area


UTILITIES

HOUSINGAs one of the most desirable areas in the U.S., the Flathead Valley of Northwest Montana has experienced a strong and steady growth during the past decade. The quality of life, recreational environment, unsurpassed beauty, healthy economy, affordable real estate, and reasonable property taxes are attractions that have drawn not only families but also investors, entrepreneurs, new businesses, as well as new industry.

Flathead County surpasses all other counties in Montana in new subdivision growth and single-family home starts. Buyers currently in the market include a very high percent-age of out-of-state such as retirees looking to purchase a lifestyle. Newer homes are more sought after, including larger homes ranging in size from 2,500 to 3,700 sq. ft.

Home sin Whitefish, Somers, Lakeside, and Bigfork vary quite drastically in large part due to lake front property being so highly coveted. Please check with realtors for pricing on these homes in those areas and surrounding communities in the Flathead County.

Year Volume Median Price Avg. Price2005 759 $214,000 $302,1452006 897 $233,500 $349,3982007 686 $241,500 $347,9652008 491 $230,000 $310,3792009 332 $188,500 $244,2022010 530 $189,000 $265,9552011 477 $195,000 $260,5252012 612 $181,000 $267,2912013 1539 $210,150 $286,2302014 1507 $230,000 $295,780Source: kelleyappraisal.net

Water – The cities of Kalispell, Whitefish, and Columbia Falls have full water systems with ground water as primary sources. Whitefish also uses surface water as an important source. Several county areas such as Bigfork, Lakeside, and Somers

Sewer- Kalispell, Whitefish, and Columbia Falls have technically advanced tertiary treatment plants that serve the municipality and surrounding areas. Bigfork, Lakeside, and Somers also have centralized collection and treatment systems. Most treatment in county areas is by septic sys-tem.

Natural Gas – Natural Gas is available in Northwest Montana. Visit the Northwestern Energy website to find specific information about the rate schedules and availabil-ity. www.northwesternenergy.com

CenturyTel – www.flathead.centurytel.net CenturyTel provides a vast array of products and ser-

vices in advanced telecommunications technologies. They are also one of the largest local exchange companies in the United States. 290 North Main, Kalispell; 406-758-1000

Television/Cable CompaniesOptimum; 333 1st Ave E Kalispell; 406-755-7200 also

have community systems.

Community Services & Housing

- 19 -2017

Radio Broadcast –KalispellKAJ-TV Ch 8 & 18 KGEZ RADIO 600AMKALS 97.1 FM KJJR 880 AM, Kalispell Talk LineKBBZ FM 98.5 KKMTKCFW-TV KOFI AM-FMKDBR FM 106.3 KQURK-KERR Radio

Print MediaBigfork Eagle, 8293 Montana Hwy 35, Bigfork; 406-837-5131Hungry Horse News, 926 Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls;

406-892-2151Kalispell Daily Inter Lake, 727 E Idaho St, Kalispell; 406- 755-7000Lake County Leader/Advertiser, 327 Main St, Ste A, Ronan; 406-626-3800Lakeshore County Journal, 8271 Hwy 35, Bigfork; 406-837-2230Whitefish Pilot/North Valley Advertiser, 312 2nd St E, Whitefish; 406-862-3505

AirportGlacier Park International Airport serves as the trans-

portation gateway to the commerce and tourism needs of Northwestern Montana with 21 scheduled flights daily. It is a modern, state of the art operational facility.

There are five major airline partners, Delta Connections service (operated by Skywest Airlines), Horizon Air (Re-gional Carrier for Alaska Airlines), Big Sky, Northwest Air-lines, and United Airlines provide non-stop or direct flights to major airport hubs throughout North America.

Business and leisure travelers will enjoy all the luxuries of a big city airport with the hassles such as traffic jams and long hikes to the terminal. The modern full service terminal building, complete with free Wi-fi service is in a great convenient location.

Terminal Services include: Glacier Grille-soup/sand-wiches/drinks; Banking/ATM; Visitors Information Centre; Gift Gallery; Airport Conference Room (available for rent)

Airlines Reservations:Horizon: 800-547-9308; Big Sky: 800-237-7788; North-

west: 800-225-2525; Delta Connection: 800-221-1212These major car rental companies service the airport:(Area Code 406) Avis: 257-2727; Budget: 755-7500;

Hertz: 758-2220; National: 257-7144;

Other Airport Transportation includes:Kalispell Taxi: 752-4022; Airport Shuttle Service: 752-2842; Flathead-Glacier Transportation Co: 892-

3390; Wildhorse Limosine: 756-2290; Glacier Interna-tional Airport is located at: 4170 Highway 2 East Kalispell, Montana; 406-257-5994

Kalispell City Bus ServiceEagle Transit is operated by Flathead County and is

available to all persons within the greater Kalispell area. In addition to scheduled pick up points, Eagle transit also

accommodates the elderly and persons with disabilities with dial-a-ride. All Eagle Transit vehicles are equipped with lifts from handicap accessibility.

Eagle Transit also provides Intra-county Service. For more information call 406-758-5728

AmtrakAmtrak offers East and West bound service aboard the

Chicago to Seattle Empire Builder. For more information visit www.amtrak.com or call 800-872-7245

TRANSPORTATION & ACCOMMODATIONS

Community Services

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