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Whitefish
City
Looking north from downtown Whitefish
Seal
Motto: "Montana's outdoor recreation playground"
Location of Whitefish, Montana
Coordinates: 48°24′42″N 114°20′24″W / 48.41167°N 114.34000°W / 48.41167; -114.34000
Country	United States
State	Montana
County	Flathead
Government
• Mayor	John Mhulfeld
• City Manager	Dana Smith
Area
• Total	12.32 sq mi (31.92 km)
• Land	6.95 sq mi (18.00 km)
• Water	5.37 sq mi (13.91 km)
Elevation	3,028 ft (923 m)
Population
• Total	6,357
• Estimate	8,295
• Density	1,193.35/sq mi (460.72/km)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP code	59937
Area code(s)	406 Exchanges: 862,863
FIPS code	30-79825
GNIS feature ID	0793219
Website	Official website

Whitefish (Salish: epɫx̣ʷy̓u, "has whitefish") is a town in Flathead County, Montana, United States. The population was 6,357 at the 2010 census.

History

Long before the first Europeans came to Whitefish, native American tribes inhabited the area, most notably the Kootenai, the Pend d’Oreille, and the Bitterroot Salish. The Kootenai lived in the area for more than 14,000 years, inhabiting the mountainous terrain west of the Continental Divide, and traveled east of the divide for occasional buffalo hunts. Though trappers, traders, and waves of westward immigrants passed through the area during the second half of the century, it wasn’t until 1883 that the first permanent settler, John Morton built a cabin on the shore of Whitefish Lake, just west of the mouth of the Whitefish River. Morton was joined by the local logging industry forefathers—including the Baker and Hutchinson brothers—in the early 1890s. Logging crews “boomed-up” their logs behind a dam built at the river mouth by the Boston & Montana Commercial Company, which, when opened, created a rush of water that helped float the logs down the river to Kalispell.

The Great Northern Railway was built through what is now Whitefish in 1904, which sparked the development of the town. 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. Early residents of the town worked for the railroad and nearby logging industries. In 2006, over 68,000 passengers embarked and disembarked through the historic Whitefish Depot, a stop on Amtrak's Empire Builder line, with some percentage of those headed to the ski resort on Big Mountain.

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 U.S. Forest Service enabling them to build cabins and trails in the Hell Roaring Creek region. Great Falls businesspeople Ed Schenck and George Prentice recognized the area’s potential and, after World War II, began efforts to develop a full-fledged ski resort on the mountain with local people donating labor, preparing the slopes, even giving up free time to help push through an all-weather mountain road. On December 14, 1947, Schenck, Prentice, and a thousand townsfolk stood on the newly christened ski resort's slopes to watch the brand new T-Bar lift bring their community vision to life.

The town started a curfew siren in 1919 that they called the "ding-dong ordinance," which continues to this day. This siren used to also go off for fire or ambulance calls. The historic siren was restored onto the new city hall.

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 km) 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.

The historic district of Whitefish is a neighborhood called "The Avenues" 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 schools, restaurants, a playhouse, and fine arts center within a short walk. Many houses in this neighborhood are on the historic registry. Most homeowners in this neighborhood go all out with decorations for Halloween and Christmas.

Whitefish has been ranked as a top place to live and to visit on certain publication's lists. In 2020, the New York Times listed Whitefish, Montana as one of the top 52 places to visit in the world. Whitefish's downtown has been rated as the most beautiful in the State of Montana by one publication.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Whitefish has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. Large seasonal temperature differences typify this climatic region, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters.

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,032 people, 2,229 households, and 1,203 families living in the city. The population density was 1,138.5 people per square mile (439.6/km). There were 2,652 housing units at an average density of 600.0 per square mile (231.7/km). The racial makeup of the city was 95.97% White, 0.14% African American, 1.11% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.93% of the population.

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 husband 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 years of age. 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 per capita income for the city was $24,098. About 13.8% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.9% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,357 people, 2,982 households, and 1,562 families living in the city. The population density was 988.6 inhabitants per square mile (381.7/km). There were 4,086 housing units at an average density of 635.5 per square mile (245.4/km). The racial makeup of the city was 95.8% White, 0.5% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population.

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.

Arts, culture and sports

It is also well known for its environmentalism, with an extensive system of protected trails and forests designed to purify the town's water. It is consistently ranked one of the top places for skiing in the United States. The town has been labeled as a "national model of resistance" against hate and racism.

Whitefish is also known as a favorite location for U.S. Military Special Operations and CIA, for retirement, business, and to hold conferences and retreats. Many local former CIA, Navy SEAL and Marine Corps special operators have been active in nonprofits to stop human trafficking, to bring those that profit from this illegal activity to justice and children home to their parents, and stopping the international use of children as soldiers.

A writer's haven

Dorothy M. Johnson began writing as a student at Whitefish High School in 1918. She went on to one of the most respected female writers in the western genre, including the books The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Hanging Tree, and A Man Called Horse. Johnson also taught creative writing at the University of Montana and at her request, her grave at the Whitefish Cemetery says simply "Paid in Full."

Whitefish hosts the Montana Writing Retreat rated in the Top 3 writers workshop in the United States. Other authors in Whitefish include Lara Munson, the author of Willa’s Grove and Denis Foley, a screenwriter and novelist. The Whitefish Review is a nonprofit organization that publishes fiction, non-fiction, poetry, art, photography, and interviews, with a slant toward mountain culture.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Whitefish 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.

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.

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.

The Glacier Twins is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit baseball team that was started in the 1960s and is sponsored by the Whitefish chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 276. The games are played Memorial Field at 1135 E Second St, Whitefish, MT 59937.

The Whitefish Bike Retreat is a unique hostel on the Whitefish trail system that has become a mecca for mountain biking enthusiasts from across the United States.

Government and politics

Whitefish's government system consists of a city council with six councilmembers and a mayor and city manager. As of March 2020, the mayor was John Muhlfeld and the current city manager is Dana Smith.

Whitefish is considered to be more moderate than other areas of Montana. Although Flathead Country voted Republican in the 2020 Presidential election, Whitefish voted Democrat "up and down the ballot" as reported by the Montana Free Press. In 2020, the Mayor, John Muhlfeld, ran successfully for re-election on a platform that included sustainable economic development and low taxes.

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.

Whitefish High School is home to numerous state championship teams; the most recent is the girl's 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.

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. 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 Kalispell Regional Medical Center is the county's largest hospital and serves the area.

Transportation

U.S. Route 93 and MT 40 run through Whitefish. Commercial airline service is available at Glacier Park International Airport along U.S. Route 2.

The Whitefish Amtrak station is served by Amtrak's Chicago–Portland/Seattle Empire Builder, as well as intercity buses to Kalispell and Missoula. The station is Amtrak's busiest in Montana. The Whitefish Amtrak station is owned by Stumptown Historical Society and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

Museums and other points of interest

• Great Northern Brewing Company
• Alpine Theatre Project
• Whitefish Theatre Company

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., owner of the San Francisco 49ers
• Pat Donovan, former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman, now lives in Whitefish, originally from Helena
• Sierra Fellers, professional skateboarder, born in Whitefish
• David Graham, retired professional golfer
• Steve Howe, former MLB pitcher
• Kyle Aaron Huff, Mass murderer
• Phil Jackson, former coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks
• Dorothy M. Johnson, Western author
• Tim Kasher, indie rock musician/frontman for Cursive and The Good Life
• Gary Knopp, member of the Alaska House of Representatives
• Ross M. Lence, political scientist and author
• Deric McCabe, actor
• Frank B. Morrison, Jr., Montana Supreme Court justice
• John Morrison, Montana state auditor
• Terry Moulton, Wisconsin politician
• Mick Mulroy, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
• Julia Roberts , actress
• Brian Schweitzer, Governor of Montana
• Richard B. Spencer, white supremacist, originally from Boston, MA
• Kiefer Sutherland , actor
• Constance Towers, singer and actress
• Maggie Voisin, freestyle skier
• Ryan Zinke, former United States Secretary of the Interior

References

1. "Official Website of Whitefish Montana". Official Website of Whitefish Montana. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
4. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. 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)
7. https://www.whitefishchamber.org/history
8. https://www.whitefishchamber.org/history
9. "Whitefish History : Online History". Whitefish History : Online History. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
10. "Area history WHITEFISH Montana". Great NW Montana Promotions, LLC. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
11. "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2006, State of Montana" (PDF). Amtrak. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
12. "A Little History of a Big Mountain | Whitefish Montana Lodging, Dining, and Official Visitor Information". explorewhitefish.com. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
13. "Whitefish Working Out Kinks with Restored City Hall Siren". Flathead Beacon. May 24, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
14. 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. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
15. https://montanaliferealty.com/6-best-whitefish-neighborhoods/
16. https://montanaliferealty.com/6-best-whitefish-neighborhoods/
17. Wiley, Melissa (January 10, 2020). "Where to go in 2020: US destinations on New York Times 52 Places List". Business Insider. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
18. Spencer, Veronika J. (September 9, 2020). "The Most Beautiful Towns in Montana". Culture Trip. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
19. "Whitefish Lakeside lifestyle". www.bestplacesinusa.com. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
20. "Best U.S. Towns With Fewer Than 10,000 Residents". www.farandwide.com. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
21. "52 Places to Go in 2020". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
22. https://www.insider.com/beautiful-main-streets-best-every-state-2019-10#missouri-along-broadway-boulevard-in-sedalia-one-can-find-the-historic-hotel-bothwell-from-the-1920s-which-is-said-to-be-haunted-25
23. Climate Summary for Whitefish, Montana
24. "Whitefish, MT (59937) Monthly Weather". The Weather Channel. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
25. "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". NOAA. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
26. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved July 14, 2016.
27. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
28. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
29. https://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/amphtml/Environment/2019/0621/When-water-demand-rises-this-Montana-town-invests-in-forests
30. https://skiwhitefish.com/skimag-ranking/
31. https://www.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/how-the-tiny-montana-ski-town-of-whitefish-defeated-its-neo-nazi-trolls-and-became-a-national-model-of-resistance-225557686.html?guccounter=1
32. https://www.mtpr.org/post/hundreds-gather-against-hate-whitefish
33. https://www.sungazette.com/opinion/editorials/2020/12/freedom-of-speech-yes-but-not-when-it-is-intended-to-incite-violence/
34. https://www.flatheadevents.net/09/22/2018/mt-special-forces-association-annual-fundraiser-banquet/
35. https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a14000041/cia-private-armies/
36. https://flatheadbeacon.com/2018/09/12/local-nonprofit-offers-elite-soldiers-much-needed-break/
37. https://newstalk955.com/montanans-leading-fight-against-human-trafficking/
38. https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2018/12/24/retired-marine-man-hunter-now-tracking-montana-runaways/
39. https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/08/child-soldier-crisis-kids-are-cheap-yemen-isis-my-star-sky/
40. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/froglogic-podcast-ep-39-michael-mulroy-eric-oehlerich/id1071889417?i=1000475362356
41. "Dorothy M. Johnson, Author Of 'Liberty Valance,' Is Dead". The New York Times. AP. November 13, 1984. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
42. https://glaciermt.com/listing/montana-writing-retreat
43. "Whitefish Review : Nonprofit : Mountain Culture Literary Journal : Whitefish, Montana". www.whitefishreview.org. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
44. "Whitefish Chamber of Commerce". Whitefish Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
45. "Taste of Whitefis". Whitefish Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
46. "Taste of Whitefish". All Trips. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
47. "Whitefish Winter Carnival". 2018 Whitefish Winter Carnival. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
48. https://www.underthebigskyfest.com
49. http://www.whitefishartsfestival.org
50. https://www.whitefishchamber.org/events/details/whitefish-trail-hootenanny-08-28-2020-48902
51. https://www.whitefishlegacy.org/event/whitefish-trail-run/
52. "World Indoor Golf Championships". Whitefish Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
53. https://crownofthecontinent.net/entries/the-glacier-challenge-whitefish-montana-2020-event-canceled-2021-dates-tba/9622fddb-0a2a-4d78-b744-9cec33f6fa0b
54. https://www.glaciertwinsbaseball.org/about-us.html
55. https://www.glaciertwinsbaseball.org
56. http://www.whitefishbikeretreat.com
57. "Contact Mayor and Council - City of Whitefish, Montana". City of Whitefish. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
58. "City Manager - City of Whitefish, Montana". City of Whitefish. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
59. https://missoulian.com/news/local/whitefish-votes-to-shift-direction-of-city-council-to-the-left/article_86a960b8-0d9e-11e1-a191-001cc4c03286.amp.html
60. https://montanafreepress.org/2020/11/05/how-montanans-voted-precinct-by-precinct/
61. https://flatheadbeacon.com/2019/04/29/whitefish-mayor-seeking-third-term/
62. "Whitefish School District". Whitefish School District. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
63. "White Fish School District Overview". White Fish School District.
64. "Whitefish Pilot". 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
65. Read, Richard (October 24, 2020). "Coronavirus bears down on a small Montana town". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
66. https://www.newlight.ge/en/page/djulia-robertsis-yofili-saxli-montanas-tbaze-iyideba-12-milionad
67. https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/kiefer-sutherlands-house-3/view/google/

External links

• Official City website
• Whitefish Chamber of Commerce
• Official Whitefish Travel Planning and Visitor Information
• Template:Curlie

v t e Municipalities and communities of Flathead County, Montana, United States
County seat: Kalispell
Cities	Columbia Falls Kalispell Whitefish
CDPs	Batavia Bigfork Coram Essex Evergreen Forest Hill Village Helena Flats Hungry Horse Kila Lakeside Little Bitterroot Lake Marion Martin City Niarada‡ Olney Pinnacle Polebridge Rhodes Snowslip Somers West Glacier
Other communities	Apgar Lake McDonald
Indian reservation	Flathead Indian Reservation‡
Ghost town	McCarthyville
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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