West Kootenai, Montana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Kootenai, Montana
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 West Kootenai, Montana
Location in Montana
West Kootenai, Montana
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| County | Lincoln |
| Area | |
| • Total | 16.14 sq mi (41.79 km2) |
| • Land | 16.07 sq mi (41.63 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,780 ft (850 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 422 |
| • Density | 26.25/sq mi (10.14/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| Area code(s) | 406 |
| FIPS code | 30-79105 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2583864 |
West Kootenai is a special kind of community in Lincoln County, Montana, United States. It's called a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area that the government counts as a community for statistics, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town.
In 2020, about 422 people lived in West Kootenai.
A Former Boarding School
West Kootenai was once home to a boarding school just for boys. It was built there because the area is quite remote and quiet. The school is no longer open today.
Where is West Kootenai?
West Kootenai is located in the northern part of Lincoln County, Montana. It sits on the western side of Lake Koocanusa, which is a very large lake formed by the Kootenai River.
The community is also inside the huge Kootenai National Forest. To the north, West Kootenai shares a border with Canada. Specifically, it borders the Regional District of East Kootenay in British Columbia.
You can't cross the border directly from West Kootenai. To get there by road, you have to come from the south using West Kootenai Road. The city of Eureka, Montana is about 30 miles (48 km) away by road, even though it's only about 11 miles (18 km) away in a straight line.
Land and Water Area
The West Kootenai CDP covers a total area of about 16.14 square miles (41.8 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 16.07 square miles (41.6 square kilometers), is land. The rest, a small part of about 0.06 square miles (0.2 square kilometers), is water.
Local Lakes
There are a few named lakes in the West Kootenai area. Tooley Lake is located right along West Kootenai Road. If you travel a bit further down a dirt road, you can find Alkali Lake.
