The average household size was 2.48, and the average family size was 2.97. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 29,588 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 21.7% were of German, 11.3% Irish, 11.0% Norwegian, 10.3% English and 9.1% United States or American ancestry. 1.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The racial makeup of the county was 96.26% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 1.15% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. There were 34,773 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (3/km 2). The population density was 15 people per square mile (6/km 2). Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (part)Īs of the 2000 United States Census, there were 74,471 people, 29,588 households, and 20,415 families living in the county.

Wildlife includes bobcats, black bears, coyotes, deer, elk, grizzly bears, lynx, mountain lions, and wolves. It is the third-largest county in Montana by land area and second-largest by total area. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,256 square miles (13,610 km 2), of which 5,088 square miles (13,180 km 2) is land and 169 square miles (440 km 2) (3.2%) is water. The western part of Glacier National Park is located in the county.Īccording to the U.S. Several tribes have long used the Flathead Lake, and the Bitterroot Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreilles tribes are represented on the Flathead Reservation. These natural treasures, originated by glaciers, are named for the unique geological formation of a broad flat valley surrounded by mountains at the head of a deep glacial lake.

The county includes much of Flathead Lake, the Flathead Valley, and the Flathead River. Some sources cite the supposed practice of the Salish tribe flattening infants' heads as the origin of the name Flathead, but there is no record of Salish Indians ever having that appearance.

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