Columbia Falls and the Gateway to Glacier
Columbia Falls is located in Northwestern Montana located along the Flathead River. Columbia Falls is a charming town with local retail, lodging and restaurants.
Population: 5,876 as of July 1st, 2019 (source US Census Bureau)
Elevation: 3087 ft
Weather/Climate
- Average January High: 28 degrees
- Average January Low: 13.5 degrees
- Average July High: 80.7 degrees
- Average July Low: 49.9 degrees
- Average Rainfall: 15.17 inches
- Average Snowfall: 63.3 inches
City of Columbia Falls
- City Hall
- 130 6th Street West, Columbia Falls, MT 59912
- 406-892-4391
- Hours: M-F 7am-6pm
- Mayor: Donald Barnhart
- City Manager/Planning Director: Susan Nicosia
- City Council Members
- Darin Fisher
- Doug Karper
- Jenny Lovering
- John Piper
- Paula Robinson
- Mike Shepard
- Columbia Falls Police Department
- Chief of Police, Clint Peters
- Non-Emergency Phone: 406-892-3234
- 130 6th Street West, Columbia Falls, MT 59912
- Columbia Falls Fire Department:
- Fire Chief, Karl Weeks
- Non-Emergency Phone: 406-892-3911
- 624 1st Ave West, Columbia Falls, MT 59912
- www.cityofcolumbiafalls.org
Flathead County
- 800 S Main Street, Kalispell, MT 59901
- www.flathead.mt.gov
- 406-758-5571
- County Commissioners:
- District 1: Brad W. Abell
- District 2: Pamela Holmquist
- District 3: Randy Brodehl
Local News
Discover life and the culture of the Flathead Valley with our local online newspapers. They make it easy to check out what’s going on before you have a chance to visit or relocate. Here are 3 local papers that you’ll find helpful:
Major Employers
- Weyerhauser
- Xanterra
- F. H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Company
- Kalispell Regional Health
- North Valley Hospital
- Meadow Lake Resort
- School District 6
Cost of Living Indexes 2021 (% based off national average)
| Columbia Falls | Coram | Essex | Hungry Horse | West Glacier | |
| Overall | 100.10% | 90.00% | 105.30% | 73.60% | 119.50% |
| Groceries | 103.10% | 102.10% | 104.70% | 95.60% | 108.30% |
| Housing (homeowner) | 121.90% | 89.30% | 98.00% | 98.00% | 98.00% |
| Utilities | 79.70% | 78.40% | 139.70% | 36.70% | 182.70% |
| Transportation | 73.50% | 74.40% | 75.90% | 80.00% | 78.40% |
| Health | 98.00% | 98.00% | 74.20% | 74.40% | 74.40% |
| Miscellaneos | 100.90% | 100.70% | 99.80% | 101.90% | 102.00% |
| Median Home Cost | $281,000 | $206,500 | $322,900 | $84,800 | $422,400 |
Source: Montana West Economic Development
Nearby Cities and Communities and Distance from Columbia Falls:
- Bigfork, MT (35 miles)
- Coram, MT (10 miles)
- Evergreen, MT (14 miles)
- Hungry Horse, MT (7 miles)
- Kalispell, MT (17 miles)
- Martin City, MT (8 miles)
- Polebridge, MT (35 miles)
- West Glacier, MT (19 miles) – West Entrance to Glacier National Park
- Whitefish, MT (10 miles)
- Columbia Falls is the #2 Safest City in Montana according to SafeWise! See the full report here: https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-montana/
- Columbia Falls is rated as one of the top 500 cities to start a small business! See the full report here: https://lendedu.com/blog/best-cities-small-business/
Updated January 2021
