Columbia Falls is a city in Flathead County, Montana, United States. Also named the “Gateway to Glacier” due to its close proximity to Glacier National Park. The city is improving itself year by year with better infrastructure and places to eat in the downtown area, and places to stay overnight. The population was 4,710 at the 2010 census
Geography
Columbia Falls is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all of it land. The town is known as nq̓eyɫkʷm in Salish.
History
Despite the name "Columbia Falls", there are no falls on any nearby river. A first settler desired the name "Columbia", and the element "Falls" was tacked onto the name in order to avoid postal repetition with the already-named Columbus, Montana. The Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls has served veterans since 1896. Its current housing facility was opened by Montana Governor Forrest H. Anderson at an official dedication ceremony in 1970. An E. M. Viquesney statue of a World War Idoughboy was moved to the front of the Veterans' Home in 1972. The statue "originally stood in Kalispell in the Main Street median in front of the Flathead County Courthouse." The aluminum plant northeast of the city was built in the mid-1950s, utilizing the electrical power generated at the new Hungry Horse Dam.
Demographics
2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 4,688 people, 1,863 households, and 1,215 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 1,994 housing units at an average density of. The 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%. 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.
At the 2000 census there were 3,645 people, 1,400 households, and 966 families living in the city. The population density was 2,402.9 people per square mile. There were 1,470 housing units at an average density of 969.1 per square mile. The racial makup 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%. 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.
