Columbia Falls, Montana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Columbia Falls
City
View of the Flathead River from River's Edge Park.
Location of Columbia Falls, Montana
Country	United States
State	Montana
County	Flathead
Area
• Total	2.25 sq mi (5.82 km2)
• Land	2.24 sq mi (5.81 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	3,081 ft (939 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,308
• Density	2,366.47/sq mi (913.55/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP code	59912
Area code(s)	406
FIPS code	30-16600
GNIS feature ID	2410202
Website	City website

Columbia Falls is a city in Montana, United States. It is located along the Flathead River in Flathead County. In 2020, about 5,308 people lived there. Columbia Falls is known as one of the best and safest places to live in Montana.

History of Columbia Falls

The area where Columbia Falls is today was first settled in 1891. People moved there because they expected the Great Northern Railway to arrive soon. The city of Columbia Falls officially became a city on April 26, 1909.

The first people who lived here wanted to name the post office "Columbia." But the name "Falls" was added to avoid confusion. There was already another town called Columbus, Montana.

The Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls has helped veterans since 1896. A new building for the home opened in 1970. It was dedicated by Montana Governor Forrest H. Anderson. A statue of a World War I soldier, called a "doughboy," was moved to the front of the Veterans' Home in 1972. This statue used to be in Kalispell.

Geography of Columbia Falls

Columbia Falls is located very close to the Flathead National Forest. It is about 15 miles (24 km) from Kalispell. It is also only about 17 miles (27 km) from Glacier National Park.

The city covers a total area of about 2.05 square miles (5.31 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Population and People

How Many People Live Here?

In 2010, there were 4,688 people living in Columbia Falls. These people lived in 1,863 households. About 35% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.47 people.

The average age of people in the city was 35.6 years old. About 26% of the residents were under 18 years old.

Arts and Culture

St. Richard's Church in Columbia Falls, a historic building.

Annual Celebrations

• Heritage Days: This is a yearly celebration of the town's history. It happens on the last weekend of July. Fun activities include a parade, a carnival, a basketball tournament, and a car show. There is also a rodeo and a unique event where wild horses run through town.
• Night of Lights Parade: This is a holiday parade held every December. It's a festive event with many lights.

Community Gatherings

• Public Library: Columbia Falls has a public library. It is part of the Flathead County Library system.
• Columbia Falls Community Market: This is a farmers market held every Thursday evening. It runs from May to September. You can find live music, food trucks, local produce, and even a rock-climbing wall!

Parks and Recreation

Fun Places to Play

• River's Edge Park: This large park has over 900 feet (274 meters) of riverfront along the Flathead River. It covers 28 acres (11 hectares). The park has paved walking trails, open grassy areas, bathrooms, and a special pond for family fly fishing.
• Pinewood Park Aquatic Center: This is a public swimming pool facility. It also has a basketball court, a play area for children, picnic tables, and swings.

The city also takes care of several smaller neighborhood parks. There are baseball fields and a soccer field for sports.

Education in Columbia Falls

Local Schools

Columbia Falls School District Six serves the area. About 2,400 students attend schools in this district. The schools include:

• Columbia Falls High School
• Columbia Falls Junior High School
• Glacier Gateway Elementary School
• Ruder Elementary School

In 2019, voters approved a plan to improve the schools. This plan will fund a new Glacier Gateway Elementary School. It will also add a large new section to Ruder Elementary School. Security at the Junior High School will be upgraded. New sports fields will also be built.

The mascot for Columbia Falls High School is the Wildcats.

Libraries

The ImagineIF library serves the area. It also has branches in nearby Bigfork, Kalispell, and Marion.

Transportation

Getting Around

• Highways: U.S. Highway 2 goes right through Columbia Falls. The North Fork Road (S-486) starts here and goes all the way to the Canadian border.
• Air Travel: Commercial flights are available at Glacier Park International Airport. This airport is about 8 miles (13 km) south of Columbia Falls.
• Train Service: Amtrak's Empire Builder train serves the Columbia Falls area. You can catch the train at stops in nearby Whitefish and West Glacier.

Media

Local News and Radio

• Newspaper: Columbia Falls has its own newspaper called Hungry Horse News.
• Radio Stations: Two commercial radio stations are located in Columbia Falls.
  • KHNK 95.9 FM plays country music.
  • KRVO 103.1 FM plays adult alternative music.

These stations broadcast to the Kalispell-Flathead Valley area.

Notable People

Many interesting people have connections to Columbia Falls:

• Douglas Cordier, an educator and politician
• Paul Grilley, a yoga teacher
• Anthony Kurta, a retired US Navy Admiral
• Braxton Mitchell, a member of the Montana House of Representatives
• Matt Regier, a politician and businessman
• Glenn Roush, a politician
• Mel Ruder, a Pulitzer Prize winner and former publisher of The Hungry Horse News
• Gloria Jean Siebrecht, a paleontologist who studies fossils

Points of Interest

Places to Visit

• St. Richard's Church: This church was built in 1891. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Soldier's Home Historic District: Built in 1895, this facility provides housing and support for veterans and their spouses.
• Flathead River Bridge (also known as the Red Bridge): A well-known bridge over the Flathead River.

See also

In Spanish: Columbia Falls (Montana) para niños