Lake County Montana

Lake County is located in the state of Montana. As of 2000, the population is 26,507. Its County Seat is Polson. Much of Lake County Montana resides within the boundaries of the Flathead Indian Reservation.  From the County Seat of Polson Montana, the Mission Mountain Range borders Lake County to the east, Flathead Lake to the North, the Mission Valley to the south and Irvine Flats to the west. 

Other Popular areas to visit include: The National Bison Range, Ninepipes Wildlife Refuge, Pablo National Wildlife Refuge ,Kerr Dam , Glacier National Park , and The Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Lake County Government

Located in northwestern Montana, Lake County is
Montana's ninth most populous with 26,904 residents, according to the 2001 estimates produced by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Polson, the county seat, is the state's 18th largest city with a population of 4,041, according to the 2000 Census.


According to the Montana Almanac, by authors Andrea Merrill and Judy Jacobson, the county was established in 1923 and was one of the last counties to be formed in Montana.
The authors add Flathead Lake was the inspiration for Lake county's name and Polson was named for Mission Valley stockman David Polson. Lake County is home to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation. The Flathead Reservation was established by the Hellgate Treaty of 1855.

In 1845, Father Pierre Jean DeSmet arrived and helped establish the first permanent mission at St. Ignatius in 1854. Lake County is also home to the Mission Valley and Mission Mountain Range, Flathead Lake, the National Bison Range, Bob Marshall Wilderness and close to Glacier National Park.

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, median income for Lake County households in 2000 was $26,169. The county is 1,653.8 square miles in area; 1,493.8 square miles in land area and 159.9 in inland water area. County residents experience the four distinct seasons.

Lake County Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 26,507 people, 10,192 households, and 7,215 families residing in the county. There are 13,605 housing units at an average density. The racial makeup of the county is 71.38% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 23.79% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 3.70% from two or more races. 2.52% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The median income for a household in the county is $28,740, and the median income for a family is $34,033. Males have a median income of $27,009 versus $19,162 for females. The per capita income for the county is $15,173. 18.70% of the population and 14.00% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.20% of those under the age of 18 and 8.30% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.