Kalispell, County seat in Flathead County, Montana, United States.
Kalispell is the county seat in Flathead County in northwestern Montana, positioned at an elevation of 901 meters (2956 feet). The town covers an area of 32.74 square kilometers (12.64 square miles) between Flathead Lake and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
The Great Northern Railroad reached the area in 1884, when it was still called Ashley. The settlement received its official incorporation in 1892 and grew into the administrative center of the region.
The town takes its name from the Salish language, referring to the flat land positioned above the nearby lake system. Residents use the proximity to Flathead Lake and the mountains for outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and boating throughout the year.
The town offers numerous public facilities, including parks, recreation centers, and administrative buildings. Visitors find access to services and information for trips into the surrounding mountain region and to Glacier National Park.
The original settlement area carried the name Ashley before changing to Kalispell. The term comes from the indigenous Salish language and describes the topographic position of the town above the Flathead lake system.
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