Thompson Falls, Montana
Encyclopedia
Thompson Falls is a city in and the county seat
of Sanders County
, Montana
, United States
. The population was 1,321 at the 2000 census.
, who in 1809 founded Saleesh House
, a North West Company
fur trading
post. 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 (161,874.4 m²) and plotted the town site.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land.
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.
Prospect Creek is an uninhabited land and river area in Thompson Falls. While no one lives along the river it is a popular destination for campers.
of 2000, there were 1,321 people, 549 households, and 357 families residing 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.
, a Class B school. It offers eight sports to its students.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Sanders County
Sanders County, Montana
Sanders County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of 2010, the population was 11,413. Its county seat is Thompson Falls.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,321 at the 2000 census.
History
Thompson Falls was named after British explorer, geographer and fur trader David ThompsonDavid Thompson (explorer)
David Thompson was an English-Canadian fur trader, surveyor, and map-maker, known to some native peoples as "Koo-Koo-Sint" or "the Stargazer"...
, who in 1809 founded Saleesh House
Saleesh House
Saleesh House, also known as Flathead Post, was a North West Company fur trading post built near present-day Thompson Falls, Montana in 1809 by David Thompson and James McMillan of the North West Company. It became a Hudson's Bay Company post after that company absorbed the North West Company....
, a North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
fur trading
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
post. 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 (161,874.4 m²) and plotted the town site.
Geography and ecology
Thompson Falls is located at 47°35′48"N 115°20′37"W (47.596587, -115.343730) in the Clark Fork Valley at an elevation of 2419 feet (737.3 m).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land.
An amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
, the rough-skinned newt
Rough-skinned Newt
The rough-skinned newt is a North American newt known for its strong poison.- Toxicity :Many newts produce toxins to avoid predation, but the toxins of the genus Taricha are particularly potent...
, has a population at Thompson Falls which is noncontiguous with the remainder of the Western US population of the species.
Prospect Creek is an uninhabited land and river area in Thompson Falls. While no one lives along the river it is a popular destination for campers.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,321 people, 549 households, and 357 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Education
Local teenagers attend Thompson Falls High SchoolThompson Falls High School
Thompson Falls High School is a high school in Thompson Falls, Sanders County, Montana, United States....
, a Class B school. It offers eight sports to its students.