Columbia Falls, Montana

Columbia Falls (Salish: nq̓éyɫkʷm[4]) is a city in Flathead County, Montana, United States. Also named the “Gateway to Glacier” due to its close proximity to Glacier National Park. The city is improving itself year by year with better infrastructure and places to eat in the downtown area, and places to stay overnight. The population was 4,710 at the 2010 census (though a 2018 estimate puts it at 5,575)

Columbia Falls
City
The sign for Columbia Falls on U.S. Route 2
Location of Columbia Falls, Montana
Coordinates: 48°22′13″N 114°11′20″W
Country United States
State Montana
CountyFlathead
Government
 • MayorDonald Barnhart
Area
 • Total2.20 sq mi (5.70 km2)
 • Land2.20 sq mi (5.69 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
3,087 ft (941 m)
Population
 • Total4,688
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
5,876
 • Density2,672.12/sq mi (1,031.89/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP code
59912
Area code(s)406
FIPS code30-16600
GNIS feature ID0806934
WebsiteCity website

Geography

Columbia Falls is located at 48°22′13″N 114°11′20″W (48.370379, -114.188943).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.05 square miles (5.31 km2), all of it land.[6]

The town is known as nq̓eyɫkʷm in Salish.[7]

History

Despite the name "Columbia Falls", there are no falls on any nearby river.[8] A first settler desired the name "Columbia", and the element "Falls" was tacked onto the name in order to avoid postal repetition with the already-named Columbus, Montana.[9]

The Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls has served veterans since 1896.[10] Its current housing facility was opened by Montana Governor Forrest H. Anderson at an official dedication ceremony in 1970.[11] An E. M. Viquesney statue of a World War I doughboy was moved to the front of the Veterans' Home in 1972. The statue "originally stood in Kalispell in the Main Street median in front of the Flathead County Courthouse."[12]

The aluminum plant northeast of the city was built in the mid-1950s, utilizing the electrical power generated at the new Hungry Horse Dam.[13]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1910601—
19206111.7%
19306374.3%
19406370.0%
19501,23293.4%
19602,13273.1%
19702,65224.4%
19803,11217.3%
19902,942−5.5%
20003,64523.9%
20104,68828.6%
Est. 20195,876[3]25.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
2015 Estimate[15]

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 4,688 people, 1,863 households, and 1,215 families living in the city. The population density was 2,286.8 inhabitants per square mile (882.9/km2). There were 1,994 housing units at an average density of 972.7 per square mile (375.6/km2). The racial makup of the city was 94.4% White, 0.2% African American, 1.8% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8%.[2]

Of the 1,863 households 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.8% were non-families. 28.8% of households were one person and 11% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.

The median age was 35.6 years. 26% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.2% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 3,645 people, 1,400 households, and 966 families living in the city. The population density was 2,402.9 people per square mile (925.9/km2). There were 1,470 housing units at an average density of 969.1 per square mile (373.4/km2). The racial makup of the city was 96.27% White, 0.25% African American, 1.23% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.84%.[16]

Of the 1,400 households 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 25.7% of households were one person and 11.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.06.

The age distribution was 28.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

The median household income was $31,128 and the median family income was $40,794. Males had a median income of $32,109 versus $20,023 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,355. About 12.5% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Columbia Falls has a public library, a branch of the Flathead County Library.[17]

Schools in Columbia Falls SD6: Columbia Falls High school. Columbia Falls Junior High School. Glacier Gateway Elementary School. Ruder Elementary School.

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. Tachini, Pete; Louie Adams, Sophie Mays, Mary Lucy Parker, Johnny Arlee, Frances Vanderburg, Lucy Vanderburg, Diana Christopher-Cote (1998). nyoʻnuntn q̓éymin, Flathead Nation Salish dictionary. Pablo, MT: Bilingual Education Department, Salish Kootenai College. p. 31.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  7. Tachini, Pete (2010). Seliš nyoʻnuntn, Medicine for the Salish language : English to Salish translation dictionary (2nd ed.). Pablo, MT: Salish Kootenai College Press. p. 125. ISBN 9781934594063.
  8. "Geographic names". Forest History Society. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  9. "YESTERDAYS: THE REAL STORY BEHIND THE NAME, 'COLUMBIA FALLS'". Hungry Horse News. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  10. "Montana Veterans' Home - Columbia Falls". Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services - Senior & Long Term Care. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  11. Montana Veterans Home (1970). History and future of Montana Veterans' Home, Columbia Falls, Montana. Columbia Falls, MT. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  12. "Columbia Falls, Montana Viquesney Doughboy Statue". The E. M. Viquesney Doughboy Database. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  13. Ruder, Mel (November 14, 1954). "Anaconda aluminum plant past halfway mark". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (photo). p. 27.
  14. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  15. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  17. "Montana Public Libraries". PublicLibraries.com. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
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