Editing Columbia Falls, Montana

{{Short description|City in Montana, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Columbia Falls
| settlement_type                 = [[City]]
| motto                           = 
| image_skyline                   = Flathead River.jpg
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = View of the Flathead River from River's Edge Park.
| image_map                       = Flathead_County_Montana_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Columbia_Falls_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location of Columbia Falls, Montana
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = {{flag|Montana}}
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Montana|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Flathead County, Montana|Flathead]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes            = 
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = Mayor
| leader_name                     = 
| leader_title1                   = City Manager
| leader_name1                    = 
| established_title               = 
| established_date                = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 5, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2                  = 5.82
| area_land_km2                   = 5.81
| area_water_km2                  = 0.01
| area_total_sq_mi                = 2.25
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 2.24
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 5308
| population_density_km2          = 913.55
| population_density_sq_mi        = 2366.47
<!-- General information -->
| timezone                        = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
| utc_offset                      = &minus;7
| timezone_DST                    = MDT
| utc_offset_DST                  = &minus;6
| elevation_footnotes             = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft                    = 3081
| coordinates                     = {{coord|48|22|30|N|114|11|07|W|region:US-MT_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code                     = 59912
| area_code                       = [[Area code 406|406]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 30-16600
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 2410202<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410202}}</ref>
| website                         = [http://www.cityofcolumbiafalls.org City website]
| footnotes                       = 
| name                            = 
}}

'''Columbia Falls''' is a city along the [[Flathead River]] in [[Flathead County, Montana|Flathead County]], [[Montana]], United States. The population was 5,308 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 2, 2021}}</ref> Columbia Falls has been ranked as one of the best and safest places to live in Montana.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Flynn|first=Liz|date=2019-10-06|title=The 20 Best Places to Live in Montana|url=https://moneyinc.com/best-places-to-live-in-montana/|access-date=2020-11-27|website=Money Inc|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-01|title=Montana's 10 Safest Cities of 2020|url=https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-montana/|access-date=2020-11-27|website=SafeWise|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The 10 Safest Cities In Montana For 2020|url=https://www.homesnacks.com/cities/safest-places-in-montana/|access-date=2020-11-27|website=HomeSnacks|language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
The area that would become the city of Columbia Falls was first settled in 1891, in anticipation of the arrival of the [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway.]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Columbia Falls History|url=https://flatheadgenweb.weebly.com/columbia-falls.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214195830/https://flatheadgenweb.weebly.com/columbia-falls.html |archive-date=December 14, 2021 }}</ref> On April 26, 1909, the city of Columbia Falls was officially incorporated.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Columbia Falls Heritage Days "Official" Website - History|url=http://cfallsheritagedays.com/history.html|access-date=2021-12-14|website=cfallsheritagedays.com}}</ref>

The first residents requested the name "Columbia" for the U.S. Post Office, but the element "Falls" was ultimately tacked onto the name in order to avoid any confusion with the already-named [[Columbus, Montana]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hungryhorsenews.com/local_news/20171113/yesterdays_the_real_story_behind_the_name_columbia_falls | title=YESTERDAYS: THE REAL STORY BEHIND THE NAME, 'COLUMBIA FALLS' | publisher=Hungry Horse News | access-date=4 July 2019}}</ref>

The [[Soldiers' Home Historic District|Montana Veterans Home]] in Columbia Falls has served [[veteran]]s since 1896.<ref>
{{Cite web
| title = Montana Veterans' Home - Columbia Falls
| work = Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services - Senior & Long Term Care
| access-date = February 6, 2014
| url = http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/sltc/services/vethome/MVHHP.shtml
}}</ref> Its current housing facility was opened by Montana Governor [[Forrest H. Anderson]] at an official dedication ceremony in 1970.<ref>{{Cite book
| last = Montana Veterans Home
| title = History and future of Montana Veterans' Home, Columbia Falls, Montana
| location = Columbia Falls, MT
| access-date = February 6, 2014
| date = 1970
| url = https://archive.org/details/historyfutureof10057mont/History_and_future_of_Montana_Veterans%27_Home_Columbia_Falls_Montana
}}</ref> 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, Montana|Kalispell]] in the Main Street median in front of the [[Courthouse Historic District (Kalispell, Montana)|Flathead County Courthouse]]."<ref>{{Cite web
| title = Columbia Falls, Montana Viquesney Doughboy Statue
| work = The E. M. Viquesney Doughboy Database
| access-date = February 6, 2014
| url = http://doughboysearcher.weebly.com/columbia-falls-montana.html
}}</ref>

== Geography ==
The City of Columbia Falls is located about a mile from the [[Flathead National Forest]] boundary, 15 miles from [[Kalispell, Montana|Kalispell]] and 17 miles from [[Glacier National Park (U.S.)|Glacier National Park.]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Community Profile|url=https://www.cityofcolumbiafalls.org/community/page/community-profile|access-date=2020-12-06|website=City of Columbia Falls Montana|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Columbia Falls to Flathead NF distance|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/flathead/recreation/ohv/recarea/?recid=77693&actid=93}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.05|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=July 2, 2012|access-date=December 18, 2012|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1910= 601
|1920= 611
|1930= 637
|1940= 637
|1950= 1232
|1960= 2132
|1970= 2652
|1980= 3112
|1990= 2942
|2000= 3645
|2010= 4688
|2020= 5308
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 14, 2016}}</ref><ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
}}

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] there were 4,688 people, 1,863 households, and 1,215 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|2286.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,994 housing units at an average density of {{convert|972.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|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%.<ref name ="2010 Census">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref>

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 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 3,645 people, 1,400 households, and 966 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,402.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,470 housing units at an average density of {{convert|969.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] 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%.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>

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.

==Arts and culture ==
[[File:ST. RICHARD'S CHURCH, COLUMBIA FALLS, FLATHEAD COUNTY.jpg|thumb|upright|St. Richard's Church in Columbia Falls]]

Heritage Days is an annual celebration of the town's history and heritage. It occurs on the last weekend of July. Activities include Boogie to the Bank, Wildcat Endowment Auction, a parade and carnival, basketball tournament, a barn dance, car show, rodeo, and the running of wild horses through town on Highway 2.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.columbiafallschamber.org/heritage-days/|title=Heritage Days}}</ref>

Night of Lights Parade is an annual December holiday parade.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Night of Lights 2018|url=https://www.columbiafallschamber.org/event/night-of-lights-parade-2018/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce|language=en-US}}</ref>

Columbia Falls has a [[public library]], a branch of the Flathead County Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://publiclibraries.com/state/montana/ | title=Montana Public Libraries | publisher=PublicLibraries.com | access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref>

Columbia Falls Community Market is a [[Farmers' market|farmers market]] held weekly every Thursday from 5pm - 8pm from the second Thursday in May until the last Thursday in September.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Columbia Falls Community Market|url=https://www.columbiafallschamber.org/community-market/|access-date=2020-12-04|website=Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="The Market">{{Cite web|title=The Market|url=https://www.cfcommunitymarket.com/the-market|access-date=2020-12-04|website=web1|language=en}}</ref> The market offers live music, food trucks, local produce, locally brewed beer and a rock-climbing wall.<ref name="The Market"/><ref>{{Cite web|last=PETERSON|first=CHRIS|date=2020-06-17|title=Community Market sees leadership change|url=https://hungryhorsenews.com/news/2020/jun/17/community-market-sees-leadership-change-10/|access-date=2020-12-04|website=Hungry Horse News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Perez|first=Vanessa|date=2020-05-14|title=Columbia Falls Community Market opens for season|url=https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/columbia-falls-community-market-opens-for-season|access-date=2020-12-04|website=KECI}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation ==
River's Edge Park has over {{convert|900|ft|m|abbr=on}} of river frontage on Flathead River and occupies {{convert|28|acre|ha|abbr=on}}. The park has paved walking trails, open meadows, bathroom facilities and a family fly fishing pond.<ref>{{Cite web|title=River's Edge Park|url=https://www.cityofcolumbiafalls.org/recreation/page/river%E2%80%99s-edge-park|access-date=2020-11-26|website=City of Columbia Falls Montana|language=en}}</ref>

Pinewood Park Aquatic Center is a public swimming facility located on 4th Ave West. The park also has a basketball court, children's play area, picnic tables and swings.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pinewood Park Aquatic Center|url=https://www.cityofcolumbiafalls.org/recreation/page/pinewood-park-aquatic-center|access-date=2020-12-04|website=City of Columbia Falls Montana|language=en}}</ref>

The city maintains several other small neighborhood parks, baseball fields, and a soccer field.<ref name="city rec">{{cite web |title=Recreation |url=https://www.cityofcolumbiafalls.org/recreation |publisher=City of Columbia Falls |access-date=1 July 2024}}</ref>

== Government ==
The government system of Columbia Falls consists of a City Council with six councilmen and a mayor, elected to four-year terms.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mayor & City Council|url=https://www.cityofcolumbiafalls.org/citycouncil|access-date=2020-11-26|website=City of Columbia Falls Montana|language=en}}</ref>

In June 2020, Columbia Falls voters elected to implement a 3% resort tax on all luxury items and services within city limits, more than 50% of the tax revenue is slated to go toward public safety funding.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-15|title=Columbia Falls Resort Tax Takes Effect|url=https://flatheadbeacon.com/2021/10/15/columbia-falls-resort-tax-takes-effect/|access-date=2021-12-14|website=Flathead Beacon|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=PETERSON|first=CHRIS|date=2021-09-30|title=Columbia Falls resort tax goes into effect Oct. 1|url=https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2021/sep/30/columbia-falls-resort-tax-goes-effect-oct-1/|access-date=2021-12-14|website=Daily Inter Lake|language=en}}</ref>

==Education==
Schools in Columbia Falls School District Six include [[Columbia Falls High School]], Columbia Falls Junior High School, Glacier Gateway Elementary School, and Ruder Elementary School. School District Six has an approximately 2,400 students.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Columbia Falls School District 6 – Home of the Wildcats|url=http://cfmtschools.net/|access-date=2021-01-07|language=en}}</ref> In 2019 voters approved a $37 million school bond which will fund a new Glacier Gateway Elementary School, a 25,000 square foot addition to the Ruder Elementary School, a security upgrade for the Junior High School and new multi-use sports fields.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-09|title=Columbia Falls School Bond Projects Moving Forward|url=https://flatheadbeacon.com/2020/06/09/columbia-falls-school-bond-projects-moving-forward/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Flathead Beacon|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-09|title=Columbia Falls Voters Approve $37 Million School Bond|url=https://flatheadbeacon.com/2019/10/09/columbia-falls-voters-approve-37-million-school-bond/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Flathead Beacon|language=en-US}}</ref>

Columbia Falls High School's mascot is the Wildcats.<ref>{{cite web |title=Member Schools |url=https://www.mhsa.org/memberschools |publisher=Montana High School Association |access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref>

The area is served by the ImagineIF library, which also has branches in Bigfork, Kalispell, and Marion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Locations and Hours |url=https://imagineiflibraries.org/about-us/locations-and-hours/ |publisher=ImagineIF Libraries |access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref>

== Transportation ==
[[U.S. Route 2|U.S. Highway 2]] runs through Columbia Falls. The North Fork Road (S-486) begins at the junction to U.S. Highway 2 in Columbia Falls and runs to the [[Canada–United States border|Canadian border.]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=North Fork Road Study|url=https://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/northfork/faqs.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509051129/http://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/northfork/faqs.shtml |archive-date=May 9, 2010 |access-date=|website=}}</ref>

Commercial airline service is offered at [[Glacier Park International Airport]] located approximately 8 miles south of Columbia Falls.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Driving Distance from FCA to Columbia Falls, MT|url=https://www.travelmath.com/drive-distance/from/FCA/to/Columbia+Falls,+MT|access-date=2021-01-07|website=www.travelmath.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Glacier Park International Airport|url=https://www.columbiafallschamber.org/member-business/glacier-park-intl-airport/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce|language=en-US}}</ref>

The Columbia Falls area is served by [[Amtrak|Amtrak's]] Chicago-Portland/Seattle ''[[Empire Builder]]'', with stops located nearby in [[Whitefish, Montana|Whitefish]] and [[West Glacier, Montana|West Glacier.]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Airport & Amtrak make Columbia Falls and Glacier Park Accessible|url=https://www.columbiafallschamber.org/amtrak-glacier-airport/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Media ==
Columbia Falls is served by ''Hungry Horse News''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hungry Horse News|url=https://hungryhorsenews.com/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=hungryhorsenews.com}}</ref> The city is also part of the Missoula [[media market]], which covers a seven-county area of northwestern Montana.

[[KBCK (FM)|KBCK]] 95.9 FM, (Outlaw Country) and [[KRVO]] 103.1 FM are commercial radio stations located in Columbia Falls, broadcasting to the Kalispell-Flathead Valley, Montana, area. KBCK airs a country music format and KRVO airs an [[adult album alternative|adult alternative]] format.<ref>{{Cite web|title=95.9 Outlaw Country|url=https://www.959outlaw.com/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=95.9 Outlaw Country|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=KRVO The River 103.1 FM Columbia Falls MT USA|url=https://www.streamingthe.net/KRVO-The-River-103.1-FM-Columbia-Falls-MT/p/43232|access-date=2021-01-07|website=StreamingTheNet|language=en}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Douglas Cordier]], educator and politician
* [[Paul Grilley]], yoga teacher<ref name=brunson>{{cite news |title=Reagan's future son-in-law originally from Martin City|author=Mark Brunson|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/kalispell-daily-inter-lake-apr-13-1984-p-1/ |newspaper=[[Daily Inter Lake]] ([[Kalispell, Montana]])|date=April 13, 1984 |access-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Anthony Kurta]], retired US Navy Admiral<ref>{{Cite web|title=Anthony M. Kurta > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography|url=https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/602728/anthony-m-kurta/|access-date=2021-01-21|website=www.defense.gov}}</ref>
* [[Braxton Mitchell]], member of the [[Montana House of Representatives]]
* [[Matt Regier]], politician and businessman<ref>{{Cite web|title=Matt Regier - Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC|url=https://meic.org/legislators/matt-regier/|access-date=2020-11-28|website=meic.org}}</ref>
* [[Glenn Roush]], politician<ref>{{Cite web|title=Glenn Roush Obituary (1934 - 2020) - Great Falls Tribune|url=https://www.legacy.com/amp/obituaries/greatfallstribune/196298529|access-date=2021-01-21|website=www.legacy.com|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Mel Ruder]], [[Pulitzer Prize]] winner and publisher emeritus of ''The Hungry Horse News''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mel Ruder: Montana's first Pulitzer winner, dies at 85|url=https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/mel-ruder-montana-s-first-pulitzer-winner-dies-at-85/article_f80d5770-6e73-5f35-bef9-8ad313125a9a.html|access-date=2020-11-27|website=Helena Independent Record|date=November 20, 2000 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Gloria Jean Siebrecht]], [[Paleontology|paleontologist]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gloria Jean Siebrecht |url=http://www.cutbankpioneerpress.com/obituaries/article_d9b4a1a4-57b8-11ec-a747-6f99fb0c1bdb.html |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=Golden Triangle News |date=December 8, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

== Points of interest ==
*[[St. Richard's Church (Columbia Falls, Montana)|St. Richard's Church]]. Built in 1891 and listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=NPGallery Asset Detail|url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/80002414|access-date=2021-01-07|website=npgallery.nps.gov}}</ref>
* [[Soldiers' Home Historic District|Soldier's Home Historic District]]. Built in 1895 the facility houses and provides subsistence to veterans and their spouses.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Military.com|first=31 Jul 2020|date=2020-07-31|title=Montana State Veteran Benefits|url=https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/montana-state-veterans-benefits.html|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Military.com|language=en}}</ref> 
*[[Flathead River Bridge]] (also known as the Red Bridge)

==See also==
* [[List of cities and towns in Montana]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Columbia Falls, Montana}}
* {{official website|http://www.cityofcolumbiafalls.org}}
* [http://www.columbiafallschamber.org Chamber of Commerce]

{{Flathead County, Montana}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Montana]]
[[Category:Cities in Flathead County, Montana]]