Thompson Falls, Montana

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Thompson Falls
City
Motto(s): 
"Genuine In Nature"[1]
Location of Thompson Falls, Montana
Location of Thompson Falls, Montana
Coordinates: 47°35′48″N 115°20′37″W / 47.59667°N 115.34361°W / 47.59667; -115.34361Coordinates: 47°35′48″N 115°20′37″W / 47.59667°N 115.34361°W / 47.59667; -115.34361
CountryUnited States
StateMontana
CountySanders
Established1910[1]
Area
[2]
 • Total1.59 sq mi (4.13 km2)
 • Land1.59 sq mi (4.13 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[3]
2,556 ft (779 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total1,336
 • Density840.25/sq mi (323.49/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
59873
Area code(s)406
FIPS code30-73825
GNIS feature ID0792090[3]
Websitehttps://thompsonfalls.org/

Thompson Falls is a city in and the county seat of Sanders County, Montana.[5] The population was 1,336 at the time of the 2020 census.[4]

A view of downtown Thompson Falls, Montana

History[edit]

Thompson Falls was named after British explorer, geographer and fur trader David Thompson, who founded a North West Company fur trading post called Saleesh House in 1809.[6] The community is located next to natural waterfalls on the Clark Fork river.[7][8] [9] The arrival of the railroad in 1881 brought the first real activity to the area. Two years later, when the gold rush hit nearby Cœur 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]

The Thompson Falls Dam, in operation since 1915, was constructed atop the original falls.[7]

Geography[edit]

Thompson Falls is located at 47°35′48″N 115°20′37″W / 47.59667°N 115.34361°W / 47.59667; -115.34361 (47.596587, -115.343730)[10] in the Clark Fork Valley at an elevation of 2,419 feet (737 m).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.73 square miles (4.48 km2), all land.[11]

Ecology[edit]

An amphibian, the rough-skinned newt, has a population at Thompson Falls which is noncontiguous with the remainder of the Western US population of the species.[12]

In 2010, a fish ladder was completed consisting of 48 pools, each one foot higher than the last, enabling native fish, including bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) to pass the 913-foot Thompson Falls Dam for the first time in nearly a century.[13]

Climate[edit]

Under the Köppen climate classification, depending on the variant used, Thompson Falls has either an oceanic climate (Cfb) or a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb).

Climate data for Thompson Falls, Montana
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 58
(14) 		71
(22) 		80
(27) 		93
(34) 		99
(37) 		100
(38) 		106
(41) 		107
(42) 		105
(41) 		88
(31) 		74
(23) 		58
(14) 		107
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 35.1
(1.7) 		42.5
(5.8) 		52.3
(11.3) 		62.5
(16.9) 		71.0
(21.7) 		78.4
(25.8) 		87.5
(30.8) 		88.1
(31.2) 		77.0
(25.0) 		61.4
(16.3) 		42.9
(6.1) 		34.8
(1.6) 		61.1
(16.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 28.4
(−2.0) 		33.5
(0.8) 		40.7
(4.8) 		48.3
(9.1) 		55.9
(13.3) 		62.8
(17.1) 		69.2
(20.7) 		69.3
(20.7) 		59.7
(15.4) 		48.0
(8.9) 		35.9
(2.2) 		28.8
(−1.8) 		48.4
(9.1)
Average low °F (°C) 21.6
(−5.8) 		24.5
(−4.2) 		29.0
(−1.7) 		34.1
(1.2) 		40.8
(4.9) 		47.2
(8.4) 		50.9
(10.5) 		50.4
(10.2) 		42.4
(5.8) 		34.5
(1.4) 		28.8
(−1.8) 		22.8
(−5.1) 		35.6
(2.0)
Record low °F (°C) −22
(−30) 		−16
(−27) 		−5
(−21) 		15
(−9) 		24
(−4) 		32
(0) 		35
(2) 		32
(0) 		20
(−7) 		−2
(−19) 		−13
(−25) 		−30
(−34) 		−30
(−34)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.59
(66) 		2.04
(52) 		1.78
(45) 		1.51
(38) 		2.27
(58) 		2.17
(55) 		1.22
(31) 		1.22
(31) 		1.20
(30) 		1.66
(42) 		2.66
(68) 		2.75
(70) 		23.07
(586)
Source 1: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000) [14]
Source 2: The Weather Channel (Records) [15]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1910325—
192050856.3%
1930468−7.9%
194073657.3%
195085115.6%
19601,27449.7%
19701,3566.4%
19801,4789.0%
19901,319−10.8%
20001,3210.2%
20101,313−0.6%
20201,3361.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[16][4]

2010 census[edit]

As of the census[17] of 2010, there were 1,313 people, 618 households, and 362 families living in the city. The population density was 759.0 inhabitants per square mile (293.1/km2). There were 681 housing units at an average density of 393.6 per square mile (152.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% White, 0.2% African American, 1.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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.

2000 census[edit]

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 1,321 people, 549 households, and 357 families living in the city. The population density was 708.5 people per square mile (274.2/km2). There were 619 housing units at an average density of 332.0 per square mile (128.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.74% White, 0.23% African American, 1.44% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the city was $13,245. About 13.6% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 18.6% of those age 65 or over.

Infrastructure[edit]

Thompson Falls Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport located three miles (6 km) southeast of town.

Education[edit]

Thompson Falls is served by the Thompson Falls Public Schools School District. The district has an elementary school, middle school and high school.[19] Students attend Thompson 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]

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "City Hall of Thompson Falls, Montana". City Hall of Thompson Falls, Montana. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Thompson Falls, Montana
  4. ^ a b c "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  5. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  6. ^ "Thompson Falls". Montana Place Names Companion. Montana Historical Society. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Thompson Falls Dam". Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  8. ^ "Profile for Thompson Falls, Montana, MT". ePodunk. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  9. ^ Incredible Journeys, Montana Outdoors
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  11. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  12. ^ C. Michael Hogan (2008) Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa), Globaltwitcher, ed. N. Stromberg "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-05-27. Retrieved 2009-04-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ Rob Chaney (April 29, 2013). "Bull trout still struggle with Thompson Falls fish ladder". The Missoulian. Missoula, Montana. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "Monthly Averages for Thompson Falls, MT". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  16. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  17. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  18. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  19. ^ "Thompson Falls Public Schools Thompson Falls Public Schools". Thompson Falls Public Schools. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  20. ^ "Member Schools". Montana High School Association. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Sports Center / Sports Corner". thompsonfalls.net. Retrieved 2018-06-16.
  22. ^ "Thompson Falls Public Library". Thompson Falls Public Library. Retrieved 13 April 2021.

External links[edit]


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