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Kalispell is a city in Flathead County, Montana, USA. The population was 14,223 at the 2000 census.
A 2004 estimate placed its population at 17,381. It is the county seat of Flathead County. Kalispell
is the largest city and commercial center of Northwest Montana.
Kalispell, MT History:
Founded in 1891 by James J. Hill as part of the westward expansion of the Great Northern
Railroad, the City of Kalispell continues to grow in population and stature. Kalispell is
the largest city in Northwest Montana and serves as the county seat and commercial hub of
Flathead County. The City is considered a secondary trade center with a trade area of
approximately 130,000. Kalispell is host to the Flathead Valley Community College with a
fall 2004 enrollment of 1900 (1240 full time equivalent) students. Kalispell also serves
as the medical center for northwest Montana with Kalispell Regional Hospital named one of
the top 100 hospitals in the nation with a 100 bed facility, a physician staff of 139
doctors and the ALERT program, the nations second oldest helicopter ambulance service in
the nation.
The original town site, named Demmersville in honor of Jack Demmers, was founded in 1887
along the Flathead River, southeast of present-day Kalispell. However, Demmersville soon
became a ghost town when surveyors from the Great Northern Railroad arrived in the area to
locate the town site for what is present-day Kalispell. It was the Great Northern Railroad
that helped put Kalispell on the map and nurtured the town's economic growth.
On December 31, 1891, railroad graders and track layers reached the center of Main Street.
The next day, New Year's Day 1892, the first locomotive officially arrived. A big
celebration was held at which time a silver spike was driven in the center tie. Citizens
contributed the silver coins that were melted and molded into a spike, which was driven
in by the two oldest settlers in residence in the valley.
Though pioneers and settlers moving West helped make Kalispell the thriving hub that it is,
the Native Americans have a deep rooted history that goes back much further than the arrival
of the first white men. Archeological evidence shows that Native Americans inhabited Montana
more than 14,000 years ago. Many of the place names used to describe the area's features
today belong to the Salish, Blackfoot, Kutenai and Kalispel Tribes.
Kalispell Businesses Wanted
Have a computer or internet related business in Kalispell, Montana ?
We would like to talk to you about becoming a reseller of our services.
Contact Us to request more information or a copy of
our resellers agreement.
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