Montana Main Street Fall 2008 Edition – Flathead County

American Indians were the first inhabitants of the Flathead Valley. The predominant tribes of the area were the Kootenai, the Upper Pend D’ Oreille (the Kalispell Indians) and the Salish (the Flatheads). Traders and fur trappers made their way into the area in the early 1800’s with Joseph House setting up the first fur trading post between 1810 and 1811. Homesteaders didn’t come to the area until the 1870’s and 1880’s; most of them were immigrants from Europe who were looking to make a new start in a new land.

The discovery of gold, copper, quartz, oil and coal attracted miners and prospectors to the area now known as Glacier National Park. Despite these natural resources, timber has been one of the area’s base industries for the last several decades. A more recent arrival is the tourism and recreation industry which brings in thousands of people who enjoy the area’s natural beauty and bodies of water.

In this issue of Main Street Montana our focus is on the diverse economy in the Flathead Valley and how that diverse economy has helped sustain the area through various economic cycles. We’ll take a look at companies that are based in Flathead County and why they choose to stay. You’ll also learn how community leaders are working to bring in new opportunities while at the same time preserving the natural beauty and the quality of life that make the Flathead Valley so attractive.

Keith Kelly, Commissioner Department of Labor & Industry

Full Edition: http://dli.mt.gov/pub/mainstreet/mstreet092008.pdf