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Polson, Montana nčmqnétkʷ kwataqnuk
Town
Polson and Flathead Lake
Location of Polson, Montana
Coordinates: 47°41′17″N 114°9′24″W / 47.68806°N 114.15667°W / 47.68806; -114.15667
Country	United States
State	Montana
County	Lake
Government
• Mayor	Eric Huffine
Area
• Total	4.66 sq mi (12.07 km)
• Land	4.49 sq mi (11.63 km)
• Water	0.17 sq mi (0.44 km)
Elevation	2,927 ft (892 m)
Population
• Total	5,148
• Density	1,146.04/sq mi (442.53/km)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP code	59860
Area code	406
FIPS code	30-58750
GNIS feature ID	0775341
Website	www.cityofpolson.com

Polson (Montana Salish: nčmqnétkʷ, Kutenai: kwataqnuk) is a city in Lake County, Montana, United States, on the southern shore of Flathead Lake and within the Flathead Indian Reservation. The population was 5,148 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Lake County. In 1898 the city was named after pioneer rancher David Polson. It was incorporated in 1910.

Geography

U.S. Route 93 passes through town. Pablo National Wildlife Refuge is just to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.17 square miles (10.80 km), of which 4.14 square miles (10.72 km) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km) is water.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,488 people, 1,991 households, and 1,150 families living in the city. The population density was 1,084.1 inhabitants per square mile (418.6/km). There were 2,506 housing units at an average density of 605.3 per square mile (233.7/km). The racial makeup of the city was 74.7% White, 0.2% African American, 15.7% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 8.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.

There were 1,991 households, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.2% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 40 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 19.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,041 people, 1,739 households, and 1,052 families living in the city. The population density was 1,490.9 inhabitants per square mile (575.6/km). There were 1,977 housing units at an average density of 729.4 per square mile (281.6/km). The racial makeup of the city was 78.25% White, 0.15% African American, 16.11% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 4.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population.

There were 1,739 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,870, and the median income for a family was $30,833. Males had a median income of $21,113 versus $19,210 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,777. About 16.0% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

Polson has a continental climate (Köppen Dfb). However, its proximity to Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater body of water in the western United States, moderates its weather, meaning its winters are less cold and its summers generally less hot than adjacent areas of the same continental type.

Government

Polson uses a city commission consisting of six commissioners and the city mayor. In 2022 Eric Huffine was sworn in as mayor.

Education

Polson School District educates students from kindergarten through 12th grade. In the 2021-2022 school year, Polson had 1,152 students in grades kindergarten to 8th grade. Polson High School had 511 students. The school's team name is the Pirates.

North Lake County Public Library is located in Polson.

Media

Newspapers

• Flathead Beacon
• Lake County Leader
• Valley Journal

AM radio

• KERR
• KGEZ
• KJJR
• KOFI
• KQJZ-AM

FM radio

• KALS
• KANB-LP
• KBBZ
• KDBR
• KHNK
• KIBG The Big 100
• KKMT Star 99
• KQJZ-FM
• KQRK
• KRVO
• KUKL-FM
• KWOL-FM
• KXZI-LP
• KZMN

Television

Digital stations:

• KCFW (NBC), Channel 9
• KEXI-LD (Montana PBS), Channel 35
• K26DD-D (TBN), Channel 26
• KAJJ-CD (CBS), Channel 39
• KEXI-LD (Montana PBS), Channel 35
• KTMF-LD (ABC), Channel 36

KPAX Missoula, Montana

• K11HO-D Physical Channel 11, Display Channel 8, Polson

KTMF Missoula, Montana

• K14LT-D Physical Channel 14, Display Channel 23, Polson

KECI Missoula, Montana

• K16GJ-D Physical Channel 16, Display Channel 13, Polson

Infrastructure

A hydro-electric concrete gravity-arch dam was built in 1938 in Polson at river mile 72 of the Flathead River. The Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam is operated by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Formerly known as the Kerr Dam, it was renamed in 2015.

Polson Airport is a public use airport located one mile west of town.

Gallery

• Some clouds over Flathead Lake in Polson Montana
• KwaTuqNuk resort in Polson
• Polson, southern end of Flathead Lake

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Polson, Montana
3. Adam N. Johnson, Regina Sievert and Michael Durglo et al. Indigenous Knowledge and Geoscience on the Flathead Indian Reservation, Northwest Montana: Implications for Place-Based and Culturally Congruent Education. Journal of Geoscience Education. Vol. 62(2):187-202. DOI: 10.5408/12-393.1 https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1163600.pdf
4. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
6. "Polson". Montana Place Names Companion. Montana Historical Society. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
7. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. "Climatography of the United States NO.81" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
12. "Monthly Averages for Polson, MT". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
13. Niemeyer, Kristi (January 12, 2022). "New Polson officials sworn in". Valley Journal. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
14. "Mayor and City Commission - Polson Montana". City of Polson. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
15. "Polson School District #23". Polson School District. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
16. "Polson Elem". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
17. "Polson High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
18. "North Lake County Public Library". North Lake County Public Library. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
19. "flatheadbeacon.com". flatheadbeacon.com. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
20. "leaderadvertiser.com". leaderadvertiser.com. December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
21. "valleyjournal.net". valleyjournal.net. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
22. "750 AM - 93.9 FM KERR Country". Retrieved July 11, 2024.
23. ^ "smoothkqjz.com". smoothkqjz.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
24. "The Big 100.7 FM KIBG". Retrieved July 11, 2024.
25. "star99hits.com". star99hits.com. September 15, 2013. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
26. "Q Country 99.7 KQRK". qcountry997.com. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
27. "K11HO-D TV Query Results - Video Division (FCC) USA". Fcc.gov. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
28. "K14LT-D TV Query Results - Video Division (FCC) USA". Fcc.gov. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
29. "K16GJ-D TV Query Results - Video Division (FCC) USA". Fcc.gov. Retrieved July 11, 2024.

External links

• Polson travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Official website
• Photos of Polson

v t e Municipalities and communities of Lake County, Montana, United States
County seat: Polson
Cities	Polson Ronan
Town	St. Ignatius
CDPs	Arlee Bear Dance Big Arm Charlo Dayton Elmo Finley Point Jette Kerr Kicking Horse Kings Point Lake Mary Ronan Lindisfarne Pablo Ravalli Rocky Point Rollins Swan Lake Turtle Lake Woods Bay
Unincorporated community	Proctor
Indian reservation	Flathead Indian Reservation‡
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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