Whitefish population increases by 22%
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 1 month AGO
Central Avenue in downtown Whitefish. (Pilot file photo)
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | September 8, 2021 1:00 AM
Whitefish saw an increase of nearly 22% in population in the last decade, according to recently released 2020 Census numbers.
The city gained 1,394 residents for a total population of 7,751, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The city has a population density of about 1,205 people per square mile based on the preliminary Census data.
Columbia Falls now has a population of 5,308 after seeing a 13% increase. Kalispell now has a population of 24,558 following a 23% increase over the previous Census.
Flathead County added 13,400 residents or a roughly 15% increase for a total population of roughly 104,000. Flathead is now the fourth largest county in Montana.
Montana saw growth with a total population count now of 1,084,225. This works out to about 9.6% growth or about 98,400 new residents in the state since 2010.
The state has a population density of 7.4 persons per square mile.
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