Whitefish, Montana
Encyclopedia
Whitefish is a city in Flathead County
, Montana
, United States
. The population was 5,032 at the 2000 census. It is home to a ski resort
on Big Mountain called Whitefish Mountain Resort
. Montana Governor
Brian Schweitzer
hails from Whitefish.
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.
The Great Northern Railway was built through what is now Whitefish in 1904, which sparked development of the town. Early employers were the railroad and nearby logging industries. By the late 1940s, with the successful construction of a ski resort on Big Mountain (a collaboration between outside developers and local businessmen) the tourism sector was becoming increasingly important.
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 being headed to the ski resort on Big Mountain. Whitefish was also called Stumptown as the area was cleared for the train station.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), of which, 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.67%) is water.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 5,032 people, 2,229 households, and 1,203 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,138.5 people per square mile (439.6/km²). There were 2,652 housing units at an average density of 600.0 per square mile (231.7/km²). 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.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. 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.
, joined the board of directors for the resort. Foley began to buy commercial property in Whitefish around 2006, including several of the town's most popular restaurants, the private jet facility at the local airport, and a voting majority of shares in Winter Sports, Inc., the private company which runs Whitefish Mountain Resort
on Big Mountain. Wealthy investors like Foley and others who have taken an interest in Whitefish have encountered a negative reaction from some local residents who fear that the town will be irreversibly changed by outsiders. However, Whitefish's economy is heavily influenced by tourism
.
Flathead County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail * Flathead National Forest * Glacier National Park * Kootenai National Forest * Lolo National Forest * Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,032 at the 2000 census. It is home to a ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
on Big Mountain called Whitefish Mountain Resort
Whitefish Mountain Resort
Whitefish Mountain Resort is a ski resort located at The Big Mountain in northwestern Montana, located west of Glacier National Park in the Flathead National Forest...
. Montana Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Brian Schweitzer
Brian Schweitzer
Brian David Schweitzer is an American politician from the U.S. state of Montana. Schweitzer is its 23rd and current governor, serving since January 2005. Schweitzer currently has one of the highest approval ratings among governors in the nation, with polls regularly showing a rating of above 60...
hails from Whitefish.
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.
The Great Northern Railway was built through what is now Whitefish in 1904, which sparked development of the town. Early employers were the railroad and nearby logging industries. By the late 1940s, with the successful construction of a ski resort on Big Mountain (a collaboration between outside developers and local businessmen) the tourism sector was becoming increasingly important.
In 2006, over 68,000 passengers embarked and disembarked through the historic Whitefish Depot
Whitefish (Amtrak station)
Whitefish, Montana is the busiest station stop for the Amtrak Empire Builder in Montana based on ridership. In addition to the Empire Builder, Amtrak's Thruway Motorcoach also links the station to Kalispell and Missoula, Montana, USA. A car rental agency operates a window within the station, so...
, a stop on Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Empire Builder
Empire Builder
The Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before...
line, with some percentage of those being headed to the ski resort on Big Mountain. Whitefish was also called Stumptown as the area was cleared for the train station.
Geography
Whitefish is located at 48°24′42"N 114°20′24"W (48.411772, -114.339865), at an altitude of 3,028 feet (923 m). It is on the western side of the continental divide, near Glacier National Park.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), of which, 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.67%) is water.
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,032 people, 2,229 households, and 1,203 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,138.5 people per square mile (439.6/km²). There were 2,652 housing units at an average density of 600.0 per square mile (231.7/km²). 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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. 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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Attractions
- Whitefish Mountain ResortWhitefish Mountain ResortWhitefish Mountain Resort is a ski resort located at The Big Mountain in northwestern Montana, located west of Glacier National Park in the Flathead National Forest...
- Stumptown Museum
- Great Northern Brewing CompanyGreat Northern Brewing CompanyGreat Northern Brewing Company is a traditional “gravity flow” brewery located in the northernmost block of downtown Whitefish, Montana. The brewery opened in 1995 under the stewardship of Minott Wessinger, the great-great grandson of Henry Weinhard. It is approximately and has a maximum annual...
Controversy
Some long-time residents of the town have expressed dissatisfaction with the changing of the name of the local ski resort from "Big Mountain Ski and Summer Resort" to "Whitefish Mountain Resort". The name was changed in June 2007, after Bill Foley, chairman of Fidelity National Financial, Inc.Fidelity National Financial
Fidelity National Financial , headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, USA , is a Fortune 500 company that provides real estate and financial services...
, joined the board of directors for the resort. Foley began to buy commercial property in Whitefish around 2006, including several of the town's most popular restaurants, the private jet facility at the local airport, and a voting majority of shares in Winter Sports, Inc., the private company which runs Whitefish Mountain Resort
Whitefish Mountain Resort
Whitefish Mountain Resort is a ski resort located at The Big Mountain in northwestern Montana, located west of Glacier National Park in the Flathead National Forest...
on Big Mountain. Wealthy investors like Foley and others who have taken an interest in Whitefish have encountered a negative reaction from some local residents who fear that the town will be irreversibly changed by outsiders. However, Whitefish's economy is heavily influenced by tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
.
Newspapers
- The Whitefish Pilot
- Whitefish Area News, from the Flathead Beacon
AM radio
- KERRKERRKERR is a radio station licensed to serve Polson, Montana. The station is owned by Anderson Radio Broadcasting, Inc. It airs a Country music format....
750, Anderson Radio Broadcasting, Inc. - KJJRKJJRKJJR is a radio station licensed to serve Whitefish, Montana. The station is owned by Bee Broadcasting, Inc. It airs a News/Talk format....
880, Bee Broadcasting, Inc.Bee Broadcasting, Inc.Bee Broadcasting, Inc., also known locally as the "Bee Broadcasting Radio Network", is a regional radio broadcasting company, based in Kalispell, Montana. The stations they operate cover the entire Flathead Valley area of northwestern Montana, including all of Glacier National Park... - KOFIKOFIKOFI is a radio station licensed to serve Kalispell, Montana. The station is owned by KOFI, Inc. It airs an Oldies music and News/Talk radio format.The station was assigned these call letters by the Federal Communications Commission....
1180, KOFI, Inc. - KSAM 1240, Bee Broadcasting, Inc.
- KQJZKQJZKQJZ is a radio station licensed to serve Evergreen, Montana, USA. The station is owned by Anderson Radio Broadcasting, Inc.KQJZ broadcasts a smooth jazz music format to Kalispell, Montana, and The Flathead....
1340, Anderson Radio Broadcasting, Inc.
FM radio
- KUKL-FM 91.7, University of Montana-Missoula
- KQRKKQRKKQRK is a commercial radio station in Ronan, Montana, USA, broadcasting to the Kalispell-Flathead Valley area of Montana. KQRK airs an active rock music format.-External links:*...
92.3, Anderson Radio Broadcasting, Inc. - KHNKKHNKKHNK is a commercial radio station in Columbia Falls, Montana, broadcasting to the Kalispell-Flathead Valley, Montana, area. KHNK airs a country music format....
95.9, Bee Broadcasting, Inc. - KALS 97.1, Kalispell Christian Radio Fellowship
- KBBZKBBZKBBZ is a commercial radio station in Kalispell, Montana, broadcasting to the Kalispell-Flathead Valley, Montana, area. KBBZ airs a classic rock music format....
98.5, Bee Broadcasting, Inc. - KKMTKKMTKKMT is a radio station licensed to serve Pablo, Montana, serving the Polson and Kalispell areas. The station is owned by Anderson Radio Broadcasting, Inc. It airs a Top 40 format....
99.7, Anderson Radio Broadcasting, Inc. - KIBGKIBGKIBG is a radio station broadcasting a Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Bigfork, Montana, USA, the station serves the Kalispell-Flathead Valley area. The station is currently owned by Anderson Radio Broadcasting, Inc.-History:...
100.7, Anderson Radio Broadcasting, Inc. - KXZI-LPKXZI-LPKXZI-LP is a radio station licensed to serve Kalispell, Montana. The station is owned by Scott Johnston and the broadcast license is held by The Cross Works Ministries...
101.9, Scott Johnston - KANB-LPKANB-LPKANB-LP is a radio station broadcasting a religious format. Licensed to Kalispell, Montana, USA, the station is currently owned by Flathead Adventist Radio, Inc....
102.3, Flathead Adventist Radio - KRVOKRVOKRVO is a commercial radio station in Columbia Falls, Montana, broadcasting to the Kalispell-Flathead Valley, Montana area on 103.1 FM.KRVO airs an adult album alternative music format branded as “The River”. It is owned by Rose Communications, and operated by Bee Broadcasting, Inc. All Bee...
103.1, Bee Broadcasting, Inc. - KQJZKQJZKQJZ is a radio station licensed to serve Evergreen, Montana, USA. The station is owned by Anderson Radio Broadcasting, Inc.KQJZ broadcasts a smooth jazz music format to Kalispell, Montana, and The Flathead....
103.5, Anderson Radio Broadcasting, Inc. - KZMNKZMNKZMN is a radio station licensed to serve Kalispell, Montana. The station is owned by KOFI, Inc. It airs a Classic rock music format....
103.9, KOFI, Inc. - KWOL-FMKWOL-FMKWOL-FM is a commercial radio station in Whitefish, Montana, broadcasting to the Kalispell-Flathead Valley, Montana, area. KWOL airs an oldies music format....
105.1, Bee Broadcasting, Inc. - KDBRKDBR-External links:**...
106.3, Bee Broadcasting, Inc.
Television
- KCFW (NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
), Channel 9 - KAJJ-CA (CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
), Channel 18 - K26DD (TBNTrinity Broadcasting NetworkThe Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
), Channel 26 - K29AA (PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
), Channel 29 - KEXI-LP (PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
), Channel 35 - KCFW-DT (NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
), Channel 38 - KTMF-LP (ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
), Channel 42
Notable residents
- Drew BledsoeDrew BledsoeDrew McQueen Bledsoe is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2001. During the 1990s, he was considered the face of the Patriots franchise...
, professional football player - Bob BrownBob Brown (Montana politician)Bob Brown was the Secretary of State for Montana and the Republican nominee for governor in 2004.As a young man, Brown was elected to Montana Legislature. Brown spent two years in the State House, 23 in the Senate and his final year in the Legislature as president of the Senate...
, Secretary of State of Montana - Murray CravenMurray CravenMurray Dean Craven is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1982–83 and 1999–2000.-Playing career:...
, former NHL hockey player - Dennis CrossDennis CrossDennis Cross was an American actor who was the lead star of the syndicated television series The Blue Angels, fictional stories of daredevil United States Navy pilots which aired from 1960-1961...
(1924–1991), actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity... - David GrahamDavid Graham (golfer)Anthony David Graham is a former professional golfer from Australia.Born in Windsor, Australia, Graham turned professional in 1962 at age 16 and spent much of his career in the United States, playing on the PGA Tour. Turning age 50 in 1996, he joined the Senior PGA Tour, later known as the...
, retired professional golfer - Sierra FellersSierra FellersSierra Fellers is a professional skateboarder, who skates for Foundation Skateboards, Venture Trucks, Circa Footwear, FKD Bearings, Bones Wheels, Nixon Watches, Spirit Skateshop and CCS magazine...
, professional skateboarder, born in Whitefish - Steve HoweSteve Howe (baseball player)Steven Roy Howe was an American left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees....
, former MLB pitcher - Phil JacksonPhil JacksonPhilip Douglas "Phil" Jackson is a retired American professional basketball coach and player. Jackson is widely considered one of the greatest coaches in the history of the National Basketball Association . His reputation was established as head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 1989 through 1998;...
, current coach of the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, former coach of the Chicago BullsChicago BullsThe Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, and former player for the New York KnicksNew York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. Has won most championships in the US National Basketball Association. - Dorothy M. JohnsonDorothy M. JohnsonDorothy Marie Johnson was an American author best-known for her Western fiction.-Early life:...
, Western author - Tim KasherTim KasherTim Kasher is a musician from Omaha, Nebraska, and is the frontman of indie rock groups Cursive and The Good Life, both of which are on the Omaha based record label Saddle Creek Records. Prior to those bands, Kasher was in a band called Slowdown Virginia...
, indie rock musician/frontman for CursiveCursive (band)Cursive is an American indie rock band from Omaha, Nebraska, on Saddle Creek Records.-History:The band was formed in 1995 by Tim Kasher, Matt Maginn, Steve Pedersen , and drummer Clint Schnase. In 1997, they released Such Blinding Stars for Starving Eyes. After a couple years of touring, the band...
and The Good LifeThe Good Life (band)The Good Life is an indie rock band on Saddle Creek records.Started as a solo project of Cursive's frontman Tim Kasher, The Good Life quickly grew to become its own established group. The original intent of The Good Life was to provide Tim Kasher with a vehicle to perform songs that did not fit...
, during the recording of The Game of MonogamyThe Game of MonogamyThe Game of Monogamy is the first solo album by Cursive and The Good Life frontman Tim Kasher. It was released on 5 October 2010 in the UK....
in 2010. - Ross M. LenceRoss M. LenceRoss Marlo Anthony Lence, Ph.D. Indiana University , B.A. University of Chicago , was a professor of Political Science at the University of Houston from 1971-2006, where he was John and Rebecca Moores Scholar and held the Ross M. Lence Distinguished Teaching Chair...
, political scientist and author - John MorrisonJohn Morrison (Montana Politician)John Morrison is a Montana attorney, businessman, and political leader. He served as the elected Montana State Auditor, Insurance Commissioner and Securities Commissioner from 2001-2009. In 2006, he was a candidate for the U.S. Senate...
, Montana state auditor - Terry MoultonTerry MoultonTerry Moulton is a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 23rd district since 2011. He was previously a member of the Wisconsin Assembly, representing the 68th district from 2005 to 2009....
, Wisconsin politician - Brian SchweitzerBrian SchweitzerBrian David Schweitzer is an American politician from the U.S. state of Montana. Schweitzer is its 23rd and current governor, serving since January 2005. Schweitzer currently has one of the highest approval ratings among governors in the nation, with polls regularly showing a rating of above 60...
, Governor of Montana - Garry TallentGarry TallentGarry Wayne Tallent , sometimes billed as Garry W. Tallent, is an American musician and record producer, best known for being the longtime bass player in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band....
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player in Bruce SpringsteenBruce SpringsteenBruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
's E Street BandE Street BandThe E Street Band has been rock musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972.The band has also recorded with a wide range of other artists including Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Tom Morello, Sting, Ian... - Constance TowersConstance Towers-Early life:Towers was born in Whitefish, Montana, the daughter of Ardath L. and Harry J. Towers. According to her official Web site, a contract from Paramount Pictures was offered to her at age 11 but was declined...
, singer and actress