the flathead valley
Northwest Montana & Crown of the Continent
Ease of access and the incredible quality of lifestyle make the Flathead Valley the fastest growing market in Montana and ranks among the highest nationwide. The Flathead is open for business.
WHITEFISH
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
KALISPELL
Kalispell, Montana, is the county seat and was founded in 1887. Surveyors from the Great Northern Railroad located the town site with the first train arriving in in 1892. The railroad established Kalispell as an industrial and trade center. Three museums in town include the Hockaday Museum of Art in the town’s original Carnegie library, the Conrad Mansion Museum, and the Northwest Montana History Museum located in the Central School built in 1894. Kalispell’s three nationally listed historic districts cover more than 80 blocks.
The Great Northern Railway initially followed a route through Columbia Falls and Kalispell. The route west of Kalispell, however, included a difficult climb over the Salish Mountains so the railroad was re-routed to the north with regional headquarters at the south end of Whitefish Lake. The new Whitefish Townsite was surveyed in 1903. Timber, farming, ranching and the railroad were the backbone of the town’s economy— and culture—for the next 50 years. In 1947, the first ski lift was built at what became Big Mountain Ski Area, these days known as Whitefish Mountain Resort. While Whitefish is still a working railroad town, tourism is now the major economic driver. The Stumptown Historical Society is located in the historic train depot. WEBCAMS
COLUMBIA FALLS
Evidence of human use in this area dates back over 10,000 years. The Blackfeet Indians controlled the vast prairies east of the mountains, while the Salish and Kootenai Indians lived in the western valleys. By 1891, the completion of the Great Northern Railway allowed a greater number of people to visit and Glacier National Park was established in 1920 as the country's 10th national park. In 1933, the completion of Going to the Sun Road opened up the park to automobile traffic. WEBCAMS
Columbia Falls was established in 1891 in anticipation of the Great Northern Railroad. It was officially incorporated in 1908 and became a center of several timber mills and agricultural activities. Two lumber mills still remain. The former Columbia Falls Aluminum Company (CFAC) was established in 1955 and became a major employer. The plant closed in 2009. With the town’s proximity to Glacier National Park, tourism is becoming a major economic driver.
MAJOR AREA AMENITIES
Whitefish Mountain Resort at Big Mountain
Routinely ranked in the top 5 resorts in the country. Whitefish Mountain Resort boasts 3,200 acres of terrain, 111 named runs, 12 lifts and 300” average snowfall.
FLATHEAD LAKE
Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi in the lower 48 states, with over 200 square miles of water and 185 miles of shoreline. It measures 27 miles long, and as wide as 9 miles. The major population centers around the lake are Kalispell, Bigfork, and Polson, all of which offer a complete variety of accommodations, groceries, supplies, and recreation.
whitefish LAKE
Whitefish Lake is a stones throw from downtown Whitefish. It stretch 7 miles in length. Boating and fishing are major recreational activities. The lake water is fed by the Haskill Basin watershed, a protected watershed of Glacier National Park. Road access to just over half of the shoreline drives high demand for a scarce number of private residences.
Glacier Park intl (fca)
Enjoy the ease of direct flights to 16 major US cities serviced by 7 major airlines.
LEARN MORE ABOUT GLACIER PARK INTERNATIONAL
Amtrak
The Empire Builder passenger line runs east/west from Chicago to Portland and Seattle. Fortunately, the charm of twice-daily service stops in Whitefish. The alternative beauty of train travel brings national park goers, and ski enthusiasts alike.
BURLINGTON NORTHern SANTE FE RAILWAY
THE EAST/WEST RAIL LINE, OPERATED BY BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE (BNSF) IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST GROSS CARGO LINES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
flathead valley community college
FVCC is your partner in building workforce-ready skills for employers, employees and job seekers in Flathead and Lincoln counties and across the state.
Explore our one and two-year workforce degrees and certificates, short-term career credentials, customized business training and ongoing workforce professional development. Learn More.