Thompson Falls | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Thompson Falls | |
| Motto: "Genuine In Nature"[1] | |
 Location of Thompson Falls, Montana | |
| Coordinates:47°35′48″N115°20′37″W / 47.59667°N 115.34361°W /47.59667; -115.34361 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| County | Sanders |
| Established | 1910[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.59 sq mi (4.13 km2) |
| • Land | 1.59 sq mi (4.13 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,556 ft (779 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 1,336 |
| • Density | 838.14/sq mi (323.57/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code | 59873 |
| Area code | 406 |
| FIPS code | 30-73825 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0792090[3] |
| Website | cityofthompsonfalls |
Thompson Falls is a city in and thecounty seat ofSanders County,Montana.[4] The population was 1,336 at the time of the2020 census.[5]
Thompson Falls was named after British explorer, geographer and fur traderDavid Thompson, who founded aNorth West Companyfur trading post calledSaleesh House in 1809.[6] The community is located next to natural waterfalls on theClark Fork river.[7][8][9] The settlement of theOregon Boundary Dispute in 1846, ended joint occupancy with Britain and established the border withBritish North America and made the region firmly American. The arrival of the railroad in 1881 brought the first real activity to the area. Two years later, when the gold rush hit nearbyCœur d'Alene, the town grew to accommodate the men going over the Murray Trail to the mines. In 1885 John Russell bought 40 acres (160,000 m2) and plotted the town site.
Thompson Falls was established in 1910.[1]
TheThompson Falls Dam, in operation since 1915, was constructed atop the original falls.[7]
Thompson Falls is located in the Clark Fork Valley at an elevation of 2,419 feet (737 m). TheClark Fork River flows on the southern side of town. It is next to theCabinet Mountains.
Thompson Falls State Park is 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of town. It offers a boat launch, campsites, and nature trails.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.73 square miles (4.48 km2), all land.[10]
Anamphibian, therough-skinned newt, has a population at Thompson Falls which is noncontiguous with the remainder of the Western US population of the species.[11]
In 2010, a fish ladder was completed consisting of 48 pools, each one foot higher than the last, enabling native fish, includingbull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) to pass the 913-foot Thompson Falls Dam for the first time in nearly a century.[12]
Under theKöppen climate classification, depending on the variant used, Thompson Falls has either anoceanic climate (Cfb) or awarm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb).
| Climate data for Thompson Falls, Montana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1956–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 63 (17) | 71 (22) | 80 (27) | 93 (34) | 99 (37) | 103 (39) | 106 (41) | 107 (42) | 105 (41) | 88 (31) | 74 (23) | 61 (16) | 107 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 34.0 (1.1) | 39.8 (4.3) | 49.4 (9.7) | 58.2 (14.6) | 68.4 (20.2) | 74.5 (23.6) | 86.4 (30.2) | 86.2 (30.1) | 75.4 (24.1) | 58.0 (14.4) | 41.3 (5.2) | 32.9 (0.5) | 58.7 (14.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.1 (−1.6) | 32.3 (0.2) | 39.4 (4.1) | 46.3 (7.9) | 54.9 (12.7) | 61.1 (16.2) | 69.5 (20.8) | 68.8 (20.4) | 59.8 (15.4) | 46.9 (8.3) | 35.3 (1.8) | 28.7 (−1.8) | 47.7 (8.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24.1 (−4.4) | 24.9 (−3.9) | 29.4 (−1.4) | 34.4 (1.3) | 41.4 (5.2) | 47.8 (8.8) | 52.7 (11.5) | 51.5 (10.8) | 44.3 (6.8) | 35.9 (2.2) | 29.4 (−1.4) | 24.5 (−4.2) | 36.7 (2.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −22 (−30) | −16 (−27) | −6 (−21) | 17 (−8) | 24 (−4) | 32 (0) | 35 (2) | 32 (0) | 20 (−7) | 6 (−14) | −7 (−22) | −25 (−32) | −25 (−32) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.34 (59) | 1.94 (49) | 1.99 (51) | 1.65 (42) | 2.09 (53) | 2.19 (56) | 0.88 (22) | 0.89 (23) | 0.97 (25) | 2.16 (55) | 2.64 (67) | 2.31 (59) | 22.05 (560) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.5 (6.4) | 0.6 (1.5) | 1.2 (3.0) | 0.3 (0.76) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.7 (1.8) | 2.5 (6.4) | 7.5 (19) | 15.3 (39) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 17.9 | 14.6 | 16.0 | 15.4 | 13.9 | 13.0 | 6.7 | 5.3 | 7.9 | 13.4 | 16.9 | 17.1 | 158.1 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 7.6 |
| Source:NOAA[13][14] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 325 | — | |
| 1920 | 508 | 56.3% | |
| 1930 | 468 | −7.9% | |
| 1940 | 736 | 57.3% | |
| 1950 | 851 | 15.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,274 | 49.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,356 | 6.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,478 | 9.0% | |
| 1990 | 1,319 | −10.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,321 | 0.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,313 | −0.6% | |
| 2020 | 1,336 | 1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15][5] | |||
As of thecensus[16] of 2010, there were 1,313 people, 618 households, and 362 families living in the city. Thepopulation density was 759.0 inhabitants per square mile (293.1/km2). There were 681 housing units at an average density of 393.6 units per square mile (152.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.9%White, 0.2%African American, 1.6%Native American, 0.5%Asian, 0.6% fromother races, and 2.1% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.6% of the population.
There were 618 households, of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% weremarried couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.4% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.73.
The median age in the city was 46.2 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.6% were from 45 to 64; and 22.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.
As of thecensus[17] of 2000, there were 1,321 people, 549 households, and 357 families living in the city. The population density was 708.5 inhabitants per square mile (273.6/km2). There were 619 housing units at an average density of 332.0 units per square mile (128.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.74%White, 0.23%African American, 1.44%Native American, 0.15%Asian, 0.08% fromother races, and 1.36% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
There were 549 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% weremarried couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,103, and the median income for a family was $31,544. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $18,333 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $13,245. About 13.6% of families and 16.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 18.6% of those age 65 or over.
In 2023, the mayor was Rusti Leivestad.[18]
Thompson Falls is served by theThompson Falls Public Schools School District. The district has an elementary school, middle school and high school.[19]Students attendThompson Falls High School, a Class B school. They are known as the Blue Hawks.[20] It offers eight sports to its students.[21]
Thompson Falls Public Library is located in town.[22]
TheSanders County Ledger is a weekly local newspaper.[23] TheClark Fork Valley Press is a newspaper serving Sanders County and the Clark Fork Valley. It is printed weekly and also has an e-edition.[24]
The FM radio stationKTFZ is licensed in Thompson Falls. It is a satellite for Montana Public Radio.[25]
Montana Highway 200 passes through town from east to west.Secondary Highway 471 intersects 200 at the western edge of town.
Thompson Falls Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport located three miles (4.8 km) southeast of town.[26]
Municipalities and communities ofSanders County, Montana,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Authority control databases: Geographic |
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