Editing Thompson Falls, Montana

{{short description|City in Montana, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Thompson Falls
| settlement_type                 = [[City]]
| nickname                        = 
| motto                           = "Genuine In Nature"<ref name="cityofthompsonfalls.com">{{cite web|url= http://www.cityofthompsonfalls.com/|title= City Hall of Thompson Falls, Montana |publisher= City Hall of Thompson Falls, Montana |access-date= October 27, 2012}}</ref>

<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline                   = Thompson Falls, Montana.jpg
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = Downtown Thompson Falls
| image_flag                      = 
| image_seal                      = 
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map                       = Sanders_County_Montana_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Thompson_Falls_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location of Thompson Falls, Montana
| image_map1                      = 
| mapsize1                        = 
| map_caption1                    = 
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = United States
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Montana]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Montana|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Sanders County, Montana|Sanders]]
| government_footnotes            = 
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = 
| leader_name                     = 
| leader_title1                   = 
| leader_name1                    = 
| established_title               = Established
| established_date                = 1910<ref name="cityofthompsonfalls.com"/>

<!-- 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_magnitude                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 4.13
| area_land_km2                   = 4.13
| area_water_km2                  = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi                = 1.59
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 1.59
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est                  = 
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
| pop_est_footnotes               = 
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 1336
| population_density_km2          = 323.57
| population_density_sq_mi        = 838.14

<!-- General information -->
| timezone                        = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
| utc_offset                      = -7
| timezone_DST                    = MDT
| utc_offset_DST                  = -6
| elevation_footnotes             = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_m                     = 
| elevation_ft                    = 2556
| coordinates                     = {{coord|47|35|48|N|115|20|37|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code                     = 59873
| area_code                       = [[Area code 406|406]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 30-73825
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 0792090<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|792090}}</ref>
| website                         = {{URL|https://cityofthompsonfalls.com/}}
| footnotes                       = 
| name                            = 
}}

'''Thompson Falls''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Sanders County, Montana|Sanders County]], [[Montana]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population was 1,336 at the time of 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>

==History==
Thompson Falls was named after British explorer, geographer and fur trader [[David Thompson (explorer)|David Thompson]], who founded a [[North West Company]] [[Fur trade|fur trading]] post called [[Saleesh House]] in 1809.<ref name="mhs">{{cite web |title=Thompson Falls|url=http://mtplacenames.org/ |website=Montana Place Names Companion |publisher=Montana Historical Society |access-date=April 9, 2021}}</ref> The community is located next to natural waterfalls on the [[Clark Fork (river)|Clark Fork]] river.<ref name = "thompsonfallsdam">{{cite web|url=http://www.thompsonfallschamber.com/2013/02/thompson-falls-dam/|title=Thompson Falls Dam|access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=27835|title= Profile for Thompson Falls, Montana, MT|publisher= ePodunk|access-date= October 27, 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://fwp.mt.gov/mtoutdoors/HTML/articles/2007/davidthompson.htm Incredible Journeys], Montana Outdoors</ref> 
The settlement of the [[Oregon Boundary Dispute]] in 1846, ended joint occupancy with Britain and established the border with [[British North America]] and made the region firmly American. The arrival of the railroad in 1881 brought the first real activity to the area. Two years later, when the gold rush hit nearby [[Coeur d'Alene, Idaho|Cœur d'Alene]], the town grew to accommodate the men going over the Murray Trail to the mines. In 1885 John Russell bought {{convert|40|acre|m2}} and plotted the town site.

Thompson Falls was established in 1910.<ref name="cityofthompsonfalls.com"/>

The [[Thompson Falls Dam]], in operation since 1915, was constructed atop the original falls.<ref name = "thompsonfallsdam"/>

==Geography==
Thompson Falls is located in the Clark Fork Valley at an elevation of {{convert|2419|ft|m}}. The [[Clark Fork River]] flows on the southern side of town. It is next to the [[Cabinet Mountains]].

[[Thompson Falls State Park]] is {{convert|2|mi}} northwest of town. It offers a boat launch, campsites, and nature trails.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.73|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 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=December 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012 }}</ref>

===Ecology===
An [[amphibian]], the [[rough-skinned newt]], has a population at Thompson Falls which is noncontiguous with the remainder of the Western US population of the species.<ref>C. Michael Hogan (2008) ''Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa)'', Globaltwitcher, ed. N. Stromberg {{cite web |url=http://www.globaltwitcher.com/artspec_information.asp?thingid=43182 |title=Rough-Skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa ) - - GlobalTwitcher.com |access-date=April 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527153302/http://www.globaltwitcher.com/artspec_information.asp?thingid=43182 |archive-date=May 27, 2009 }}</ref>

In 2010, a fish ladder was completed consisting of 48 pools, each one foot higher than the last, enabling native fish, including [[bull trout]] (''Salvelinus confluentus'') to pass the 913-foot Thompson Falls Dam for the first time in nearly a century.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bull trout still struggle with Thompson Falls fish ladder  |author=Rob Chaney |newspaper=The Missoulian |location=Missoula, Montana |date=April 29, 2013 |url=https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/bull-trout-still-struggle-with-thompson-falls-fish-ladder/article_46e6d990-b0ec-11e2-a278-0019bb2963f4.html |access-date=January 4, 2021}}</ref>

===Climate===
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], depending on the variant used, Thompson Falls has either an [[oceanic climate]] (''Cfb'') or a [[warm-summer humid continental climate]] (''Dfb'').

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Thompson Falls, Montana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1956–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 63
 | Feb record high F  = 71
 | Mar record high F  = 80
 | Apr record high F  = 93
 | May record high F  = 99
 | Jun record high F  = 103
 | Jul record high F  = 106
 | Aug record high F  = 107
 | Sep record high F  = 105
 | Oct record high F  = 88
 | Nov record high F  = 74
 | Dec record high F  = 61
 | year record high F = 
 | Jan high F = 34.0
 | Feb high F = 39.8
 | Mar high F = 49.4
 | Apr high F = 58.2
 | May high F = 68.4
 | Jun high F = 74.5
 | Jul high F = 86.4
 | Aug high F = 86.2
 | Sep high F = 75.4
 | Oct high F = 58.0
 | Nov high F = 41.3
 | Dec high F = 32.9
 | year high F = 58.7
 | Jan mean F = 29.1
 | Feb mean F = 32.3
 | Mar mean F = 39.4
 | Apr mean F = 46.3
 | May mean F = 54.9
 | Jun mean F = 61.1
 | Jul mean F = 69.5
 | Aug mean F = 68.8
 | Sep mean F = 59.8
 | Oct mean F = 46.9
 | Nov mean F = 35.3
 | Dec mean F = 28.7
 | year mean F = 47.7
 | Jan low F = 24.1
 | Feb low F = 24.9
 | Mar low F = 29.4
 | Apr low F = 34.4
 | May low F = 41.4
 | Jun low F = 47.8
 | Jul low F = 52.7
 | Aug low F = 51.5
 | Sep low F = 44.3
 | Oct low F = 35.9
 | Nov low F = 29.4
 | Dec low F = 24.5
 | year low F = 36.7
 | Jan record low F  = -22
 | Feb record low F  = -16
 | Mar record low F  = -6
 | Apr record low F  = 17
 | May record low F  = 24
 | Jun record low F  = 32
 | Jul record low F  = 35
 | Aug record low F  = 32
 | Sep record low F  = 20
 | Oct record low F  = 6
 | Nov record low F  = -7
 | Dec record low F  = -25
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 2.34
 | Feb precipitation inch = 1.94
 | Mar precipitation inch = 1.99
 | Apr precipitation inch = 1.65
 | May precipitation inch = 2.09
 | Jun precipitation inch = 2.19
 | Jul precipitation inch = 0.88
 | Aug precipitation inch = 0.89
 | Sep precipitation inch = 0.97
 | Oct precipitation inch = 2.16
 | Nov precipitation inch = 2.64
 | Dec precipitation inch = 2.31
 | year precipitation inch = 22.05
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 17.9
 | Feb precipitation days  = 14.6
 | Mar precipitation days  = 16.0
 | Apr precipitation days  = 15.4
 | May precipitation days  = 13.9
 | Jun precipitation days  = 13.0
 | Jul precipitation days  = 6.7
 | Aug precipitation days  = 5.3
 | Sep precipitation days  = 7.9
 | Oct precipitation days  = 13.4
 | Nov precipitation days  = 16.9
 | Dec precipitation days  = 17.1
 | year precipitation days = 158.1
 | Jan snow inch = 2.5
 | Feb snow inch = 0.6
 | Mar snow inch = 1.2
 | Apr snow inch = 0.3
 | May snow inch = 0.0
 | Jun snow inch = 0.0
 | Jul snow inch = 0.0
 | Aug snow inch = 0.0
 | Sep snow inch = 0.0
 | Oct snow inch = 0.7
 | Nov snow inch = 2.5
 | Dec snow inch = 7.5
 | year snow inch = 15.3
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 2.3
 | Feb snow days  = 1.0
 | Mar snow days  = 0.5
 | Apr snow days  = 0.2
 | May snow days  = 0.0
 | Jun snow days  = 0.0
 | Jul snow days  = 0.0
 | Aug snow days  = 0.0
 | Sep snow days  = 0.0
 | Oct snow days  = 0.1
 | Nov snow days  = 1.2
 | Dec snow days  = 2.3
 | year snow days = 7.6
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=mso
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 13, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00248211&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 13, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 325
|1920= 508
|1930= 468
|1940= 736
|1950= 851
|1960= 1274
|1970= 1356
|1980= 1478
|1990= 1319
|2000= 1321
|2010= 1313
|2020= 1336
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<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 2010, there were 1,313 people, 618 households, and 362 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|759.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 681 housing units at an average density of {{convert|393.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.6% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 618 households, of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.4% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.73.

The median age in the city was 46.2 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.6% were from 45 to 64; and 22.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<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 2000, there were 1,321 people, 549 households, and 357 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|708.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 619 housing units at an average density of {{convert|332.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.74% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.23% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.44% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.08% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.36% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.98% of the population.

There were 549 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,103, and the median income for a family was $31,544. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $18,333 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,245. About 13.6% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 18.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
In 2023, the mayor was Rusti Leivestad.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor's Page |url=https://cityofthompsonfalls.com/mayors-page |publisher=City of Thompson Falls |access-date=November 19, 2023}}</ref>

==Education==
Thompson Falls is served by the [[Thompson Falls Public Schools]] School District. The district has an elementary school, middle school and high school.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.thompsonfalls.net/site/default.aspx?PageID=1|title= Thompson Falls Public Schools Thompson Falls Public Schools |publisher= Thompson Falls Public Schools |access-date= October 27, 2012}}</ref>
Students attend [[Thompson Falls High School]], a Class B school. They are known as the Blue Hawks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Member Schools |url=https://www.mhsa.org/memberschools |publisher=Montana High School Association |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> It offers eight sports to its students.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thompsonfalls.net/domain/161|title=Sports Center / Sports Corner|website=thompsonfalls.net|language=en|access-date=June 16, 2018}}</ref>

Thompson Falls Public Library is located in town.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thompson Falls Public Library |url=http://thompsonfallspubliclibrary.org/ |publisher=Thompson Falls Public Library |access-date=April 13, 2021}}</ref>

==Media==
The ''[[Sanders County Ledger]]'' is a weekly local newspaper.<ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=https://www.scledger.net/about |publisher=Sanders County Ledger |access-date=January 3, 2024}}</ref> The ''[[Clark Fork Valley Press]]'' is a newspaper serving Sanders County and the Clark Fork Valley. It is printed weekly and also has an e-edition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Latest News |url=http://clarkforkvalleypress.mt.newsmemory.com/landing.php |publisher=Clark Fork Valley Press/Mineral Independent |access-date=August 31, 2023}}</ref>

The FM radio station [[KTFZ]] is licensed in Thompson Falls. It is a satellite for Montana Public Radio.<ref>{{cite web |title=KTFZ |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=763553 |publisher=FCC |access-date=November 19, 2023}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
[[Montana Highway 200]] passes through town from east to west. [[List of secondary highways in Montana|Secondary Highway 471]] intersects 200 at the western edge of town.

[[Thompson Falls Airport]] is a county-owned, public-use airport located {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} southeast of town.<ref>{{cite web |title=THM (KTHM) Thompson Falls |url=https://nfdc.faa.gov/nfdcApps/services/ajv5/airportDisplay.jsp?airportId=thm |publisher=FAA |access-date=August 31, 2023}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
* [[Curtis Cochran]], member of the [[Montana House of Representatives]] 
* [[Jennifer Fielder]], former member of the [[Montana Senate]]
* [[Greg Hinkle]], former member of the Montana Senate
* [[Pat Ingraham]], former member of the [[Montana House of Representatives]]
* [[Marc Racicot]], 21st [[List of governors of Montana|governor of Montana]] and former chair of the [[Republican National Committee|RNC]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://cityofthompsonfalls.com/}}

{{Sanders County, Montana}}
{{Montana county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Thompson Falls, Montana|*]]
[[Category:Cities in Sanders County, Montana]]
[[Category:County seats in Montana]]
[[Category:1910 establishments in Montana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1910]]
[[Category:Cities in Montana]]