Whitefish, Montana
Whitefish | ||
---|---|---|
![]() Looking north from downtown Whitefish | ||
FIPS code 30-79825 | | |
GNIS feature ID | 0793219[3] | |
Website | Official website | |
[4] |
Whitefish (
History
Archaeological records indicate that native American tribes shared hunting grounds in the area, most notably the
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Whitefish_Depot.jpg/230px-Whitefish_Depot.jpg)
The Great Northern Railway originally built its line south of Whitefish. When GN rerouted in 1904 to avoid the steep Haskell Pass, preferring a longer but more shallow route via Eureka, the development of what is now Whitefish was sparked. The town incorporated in 1905.[9]
The area was originally known as Stumptown due to the abundant amount of timber that had to be cleared to build the town and railroad and because tree stumps were left in the streets throughout downtown.
Skiing has been part of the Whitefish area for more than 50 years. In 1937, the Whitefish Lake Ski Club obtained a special permit from the
The town started a curfew siren in 1919 that they called the "ding-dong ordinance". The historic siren was restored to the new city hall.[16]
Geography
The town is located on the western side of the continental divide, near Glacier National Park. Whitefish Lake is a 5.2 square miles (13 km2) natural lake with maximum length 5.8 miles (9.3 km) and width 1.4 miles (2.3 km) and is 233 feet (71 m) at its deepest. The Whitefish River bisects the town of Whitefish as it courses south by southeast to briefly join the Stillwater River before its flows enter the Flathead River.[17]
The historic district of Whitefish is a neighborhood called "The Avenues".[18] This neighborhood is bordered by East 2nd Street to the north, Kalispell Avenue to the west, East 7th Street to the south, and Pine Avenue to the east. It is next to downtown, with many of its houses on the historic registry.
Climate
According to the
Climate data for Whitefish, Montana, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1941–2014 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 50 (10) |
63 (17) |
74 (23) |
79 (26) |
89 (32) |
95 (35) |
103 (39) |
100 (38) |
94 (34) |
80 (27) |
69 (21) |
47 (8) |
103 (39) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 43.1 (6.2) |
46.8 (8.2) |
59.4 (15.2) |
73.5 (23.1) |
82.6 (28.1) |
87.8 (31.0) |
94.0 (34.4) |
92.8 (33.8) |
84.9 (29.4) |
71.4 (21.9) |
52.2 (11.2) |
41.7 (5.4) |
95.3 (35.2) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 29.0 (−1.7) |
33.9 (1.1) |
42.8 (6.0) |
53.2 (11.8) |
63.5 (17.5) |
69.8 (21.0) |
80.6 (27.0) |
80.0 (26.7) |
68.7 (20.4) |
52.6 (11.4) |
37.5 (3.1) |
28.9 (−1.7) |
53.4 (11.9) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 22.4 (−5.3) |
25.1 (−3.8) |
32.8 (0.4) |
41.6 (5.3) |
51.2 (10.7) |
57.4 (14.1) |
65.4 (18.6) |
64.1 (17.8) |
54.4 (12.4) |
41.7 (5.4) |
30.8 (−0.7) |
23.4 (−4.8) |
42.5 (5.8) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 15.9 (−8.9) |
16.4 (−8.7) |
22.7 (−5.2) |
29.9 (−1.2) |
38.9 (3.8) |
45.0 (7.2) |
50.2 (10.1) |
48.2 (9.0) |
40.2 (4.6) |
30.9 (−0.6) |
24.0 (−4.4) |
17.9 (−7.8) |
31.7 (−0.2) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | −7.2 (−21.8) |
−3.4 (−19.7) |
6.8 (−14.0) |
19.6 (−6.9) |
27.2 (−2.7) |
34.0 (1.1) |
40.3 (4.6) |
37.8 (3.2) |
29.4 (−1.4) |
17.5 (−8.1) |
7.0 (−13.9) |
−2.7 (−19.3) |
−14.9 (−26.1) |
Record low °F (°C) | −26 (−32) |
−27 (−33) |
−15 (−26) |
11 (−12) |
19 (−7) |
28 (−2) |
32 (0) |
30 (−1) |
19 (−7) |
−2 (−19) |
−13 (−25) |
−33 (−36) |
−33 (−36) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.84 (47) |
1.26 (32) |
1.27 (32) |
1.61 (41) |
1.99 (51) |
3.20 (81) |
1.40 (36) |
0.89 (23) |
1.25 (32) |
1.45 (37) |
1.70 (43) |
2.07 (53) |
19.93 (508) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 16.5 (42) |
7.0 (18) |
8.0 (20) |
1.6 (4.1) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.4 (1.0) |
8.3 (21) |
21.2 (54) |
63.1 (160.35) |
Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 16.3 (41) |
15.6 (40) |
13.4 (34) |
3.6 (9.1) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.6 (1.5) |
4.3 (11) |
12.1 (31) |
18.9 (48) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 13.3 | 8.8 | 10.2 | 10.0 | 12.2 | 14.2 | 7.5 | 6.3 | 7.5 | 9.2 | 10.3 | 12.5 | 112.0 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 9.7 | 5.8 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 4.3 | 9.1 | 35.1 |
Source 1: NOAA[20] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima, snow depth 1981–2010)[21] |
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1890 | 640 | — | |
1900 | 446 | −30.3% | |
1910 | 417 | −6.5% | |
1920 | 574 | 37.6% | |
1930 | 575 | 0.2% | |
1940 | 858 | 49.2% | |
1950 | 1,025 | 19.5% | |
1960 | 1,519 | 48.2% | |
1970 | 3,349 | 120.5% | |
1980 | 3,703 | 10.6% | |
1990 | 4,368 | 18.0% | |
2000 | 5,032 | 15.2% | |
2010 | 6,357 | 26.3% | |
2020 | 7,751 | 21.9% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[22][6] |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Big_Mountain_summit.jpg/220px-Big_Mountain_summit.jpg)
2000 census
As of the
There were 2,229 households, out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no male present, and 46.0% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20, and the average family size was 2.86.
The population was spread out in the city, with 21.6% under 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% 65. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,038, and the median income for a family was $41,009. Males had a median income of $36,298 versus $19,583 for females. The
2010 census
As of the
There were 2,982 households, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.6% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10, and the average family size was 2.77.
The median age in the city was 40.1 years. 19.6% of residents were under 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.2% were from 25 to 44; 28.9% were from 45 to 64, and 14.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.
2019 American Community Survey Estimate
As of 2019, according to the Census' American Community Survey estimates,[25] of 2019, there were 7,714 people, 3,332 households in the city. The median age was 41 years old. The median yearly salary was 52,037 dollars, the home average value was 364,500 dollars, 54.7% had a college degree, and 9.5% were veterans who served in wartime higher than the national average. The population was 97% White, 2% Hispanic, and 1% Native American.[25]
Arts and culture
Whitefish is known for its environmentalism, with an extensive system of protected trails and forests designed to purify the town's water.[26] It has been ranked one of the top places for skiing in the United States.[27] The town has been labeled as a "model of resistance" against hate and racism.[28][29][30]
Annual cultural events
Huckleberry Days Arts Festival is an annual arts festival featuring 100 artists and food vendors. The event includes a huckleberry dessert bake-off contest.[31]
The Taste of Whitefish is an annual event that has been held for more than twenty-five years. The event features over twenty-five restaurants, caterers and beverage companies offering samples of their specialties.[32][33]
The Whitefish Winter Carnival is an annual winter festival celebrating winter topics with a parade, "penguin plunge" into Whitefish Lake, and snow sculptures. It is held the first weekend in February each year.[34]
Under the Big Sky Music Festival takes place annually in Whitefish. The festival explores the breadth and legacy of America, with both traditional and contemporary takes on America's rich musical traditions, across two stages in naturally formed amphitheaters on a local ranch.[35]
The Whitefish Arts Festival (WAF) occurs over the 4th of July weekend and is a tradition going back over forty years. It is a favorite throughout the Northwest and maintains a long tradition of high-quality arts and fine crafts. Artists from across the country are represented in the WAF. Metal sculptures, paintings and photography, woodworking, pottery, jewelry, clothing, and home decorations are just some of the featured fine arts. All of the art is handmade.[36]
The annual Whitefish Trail Hootenanny occurs in downtown Whitefish to celebrate and support the public land and trails that ring the town. It includes live music and local culinary specialties to raise funds to protect public land.[37]
Every year Whitefish hosts a songwriter retreat called Nashville Heads West. This retreat brings Nashville-based songwriters to Whitefish to River Meadow Ranch for one week of writing songs with the added inspiration "of being under Montana's big sky."[38]
Sports
The Whitefish Trail Legacy Run is an annual ultra trail race to celebrate the unique public trail system. It includes a 50-kilometer ultra-marathon and a 1/2 marathon, a 10-kilometer, and a 5-kilometer race. It takes place in the first week of October in conjunction with the Oktoberfest celebration.[39]
The World Indoor Golf Championship has been held in Whitefish for over sixteen years and is a 9-hole "miniature golf" tournament in downtown Whitefish.[40]
The Glacier Challenge is a six-leg, multi-sport relay covering 50 miles of Montana. The race features six legs of running, biking, canoeing, and kayaking covering almost 50 miles in and around Whitefish. A triathlon has recently been added to include the first three legs of the Glacier Challenge. Participants enter as a solo team, partner duo, or group team. The 50 miles race consists of an 8-mile run, kayak, road bike, mountain bike, canoe, and 3.1-mile run. There are also food vendors, activities for children, and music.[41]
Government and politics
Whitefish's government system consists of a city council with six council members and a mayor and city manager. As of March 2020, the mayor was John Muhlfeld and the current city manager is Dana Smith.[42][43]
Education
The Whitefish School District serves Whitefish. Schools in the district include Muldown Elementary School, Whitefish Middle School. Whitefish High School and Whitefish Independent High School. Whitefish School District offers students K-12 a wide range of academic supplements, for example, online Virtual High School and dual credit opportunity through Flathead Valley Community College.[44] Whitefish High School is known as the Bulldogs.[45]
Whitefish High School is home to numerous state championship teams; the most recent is the girls' cross country team. They have won four consecutive titles. Other state athletic accomplishments have been made in football, girls' and boys' golf, volleyball, boys' and girls' basketball, boys' and girls' track and field, girls' softball, boys' and girls' tennis, speech, and debate.[46]
Whitefish Community Library is a public library in the town.[47]
Media
Whitefish is part of the Missoula media market, which covers a seven-county area of northwestern Montana. The city's main newspaper is The Whitefish Pilot, while the Flathead Beacon, a regional newspaper for the Flathead Valley based in Kalispell, publishes Whitefish Area News.[48] Three radio stations are licensed to Whitefish, all owned by Bee Broadcasting, Inc.: KJJR 880 AM, KSAM 1240 AM, and KWOL-FM 105.1.
Infrastructure
Medical
The
North Valley Hospital is a private nonprofit general medicine and surgical Critical Access Hospital located in Whitefish and is affiliated with Kalispell Regional Medical Center.[50][51]
Transportation
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Whitefish_Montana_Downtown_Looking_North_US93.jpg/220px-Whitefish_Montana_Downtown_Looking_North_US93.jpg)
The
Museums and other points of interest
Notable people
- David Booth, professional hockey player, now lives in Whitefish, originally from Washington, MI
- Bob Brown, Montana Secretary of State
- Murray Craven, former NHL player
- Adrianne Curry-Rhode, former model, actress, first season winner of America's Next Top Model in 2003
- Edward J. DeBartolo Jr., former owner of the San Francisco 49ers
- Pat Donovan, former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman, now lives in Whitefish, originally from Helena
- Kaitlyn Farrington,[52] professional snowboarder, 2014 gold-medal Women's Half Pipe
- David Graham, retired professional golfer
- Steve Howe, former MLB pitcher
- Kyle Aaron Huff, mass murderer
- Dorothy M. Johnson, Western author
- Gary Knopp, member of the Alaska House of Representatives
- Ross M. Lence, political scientist and author
- Braxton Mitchell, politician
- Frank B. Morrison, Jr., Montana Supreme Court justice
- John Morrison, Montana state auditor
- Terry Moulton, Wisconsin politician
- Jake Sanderson,[53] professional hockey player
- Brian Schweitzer, Governor of Montana
- Richard B. Spencer, white supremacist
- Constance Towers, singer and actress
- Maggie Voisin, freestyle skier
- Ryan Zinke, former United States Secretary of the Interior
References
- ^ "Official Website of Whitefish Montana". Official Website of Whitefish Montana. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
- ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Whitefish, Montana
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ 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, Montana: Bilingual Education Department, Salish Kootenai College. p. 161.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
- ^ Mantor, Cassidy (October 26, 2023). "A History of Whitefish". Western Home Journal. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ a b "History - Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, MT". www.whitefishchamber.org. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Whitefish". Montana Place Names Companion. Montana Historical Society. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "Whitefish History : Online History". Whitefish History : Online History. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
- ^ "Area history WHITEFISH Montana". Great NW Montana Promotions, LLC. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
- ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2006, State of Montana" (PDF). Amtrak. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 10, 2008. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
- ^ "A Little History of a Big Mountain | Whitefish Montana Lodging, Dining, and Official Visitor Information". explorewhitefish.com. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- ^ ENGLAND, WHITNEY (December 7, 2022). "75 years on Big Mountain: Decades of memories made at the resort that helped shape Whitefish". Whitefish Pilot. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ "Nooq Cabin". uncrate.com. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ "Whitefish Working Out Kinks with Restored City Hall Siren". Flathead Beacon. May 24, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
- ^ Whitefish Lake Institute (2015). Whitefish Area Water Resources Report: A Status of the Whitefish Lake Watershed and Surrounding Area (PDF) (Report). Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "6 Best Whitefish Neighborhoods". Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Whitefish, Montana Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Whitefish, MT". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Missoula". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved July 14, 2016.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
- ^ a b "Census profile: Whitefish, MT".
- ^ "When water demand rises, this Montana town invests in forests - CSMonitor.com". www.csmonitor.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "2021 SKI Magazine Ranking". October 30, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "How the town of Whitefish defeated its neo-Nazi trolls — and became a national model of resistance". www.yahoo.com. January 19, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ Ouellet, Nicky (January 8, 2017). "Hundreds Gather Against Hate In Whitefish". www.mtpr.org. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Freedom of speech, yes, but not when it is intended to incite violence". Williamsport (Penn.) Sun-Gazette. December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Whitefish Chamber of Commerce". Whitefish Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
- ^ "Taste of Whitefis". Whitefish Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
- ^ "Taste of Whitefish". All Trips. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
- ^ "Whitefish Winter Carnival". 2018 Whitefish Winter Carnival. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
- ^ "Under The Big Sky". Under the Big Sky. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Whitefish Arts Festival – July 2-4, 2021". www.whitefishartsfestival.org. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Whitefish Trail Hootenanny". Crown of the Continent. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- ^ "Retreat brings songwriters to Whitefish for inspiration". April 11, 2021.
- ^ "Whitefish Legacy Partners". Whitefish Legacy Partners. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "World Indoor Golf Championships". Whitefish Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
- ^ "The Glacier Challenge | Whitefish, Montana **2020 Event Canceled- 2021 Dates TBA** | Crown of the Continent Geotourism". crownofthecontinent.net. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Contact Mayor and Council - City of Whitefish, Montana". City of Whitefish. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ^ "City Manager - City of Whitefish, Montana". City of Whitefish. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ^ "Whitefish School District". Whitefish School District. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
- ^ "Member Schools". Montana High School Association. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "White Fish School District Overview". White Fish School District.
- ^ "Whitefish Community Library". Whitefish Community Library. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
- ^ "Whitefish Pilot". 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ Read, Richard (October 24, 2020). "Coronavirus bears down on a small Montana town". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- ^ "North Valley Hospital FAQs | About Us | North Valley Hospital". www.krh.org. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
- ^ "KRH Family | Kalispell Regional Healthcare". www.krh.org. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
- ^ "'Finding Solace with Olympic Gold Medalist Kaitlyn Farrington'". explorewhitefish.com. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
- ^ "Jake Sanderson at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg/40px-Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg.png)
- Official City website
- Whitefish Chamber of Commerce
- Official Whitefish Travel Planning and Visitor Information
- Whitefish, Montana at Curlie