Hi, Montana! I have a chance to move to Kalispell.

[intheflow]

It looks gorgeous! My fiance can take an office there, and he has offered to support me for a year or until I can find a job.

So what do I need to know to make an informed decision on whether I should go or not?

Here are specific questions I have:

What is the socio-economic situation there?

I see there is an Indian Reservation nearby. How well do the white and Indian communities interact?

I am trained as a UU minister. Hopefully I could find some side preaching gigs throughout Montana, but figure I'll need a day job, preferably working for peace and social justice issues. What are my job prospects? Is there a network of peace and social justice folks?

Why should I live there?

Why should I avoid living there?

Thanks in advance for any info whatsoever. :hi:

[Erika]

1. I'm not an expert but

I go through their many times in a year . You have absolutely beautiful scenery. Located close to Glacier National Park. Tourism is building up all the time. It is one of the more progressive areas in Montana and you have a mixed religious basis.

You won't see any Indians in Kalispell. They stay in the background. I've never seen an Indian once there other than at tourist stops. There is no big money to be made there. People are fine with a definite western flare. Hope this helps. Write their COC and get their demographics.

[intheflow]

3. No desire to make big money.

But living some place beautiful is high on my to do list. Thanks for the feedback!

[Carolab]

2. Puts you close to Canada...and Jasper National Park.

Jasper is absolutely amazing.

[Kindigger]

4. I spent three winters....

....in Kalispell. My "boyfriend" worked as the computer tech for a lodge at Glacier. I stayed with him in the employee dorms while they closed down the Park. I remember most of the employees were European...came over to work for the summer, and went home in the winter. He worked during the day, so I had plenty of time to explore. I was also there during the summer in 2002 and 03. The computer work moved to corporate headquarters in AZ, and he is now an over-the-road truckdriver.

Prior to his job at Glacier, he owned his own computer biz. He was about the only game in town. He eventually had the whole valley "wired", and was down to infrequent service calls. He filed bankruptcy.

I believe the Indians are near/in Columbia Falls? They have their own community...pretty run down, poor, depressed, and sort of segregated. To find them, you have to go looking for them. In fact, I think they keep all the poor people there (wouldn't want an eyesore for the tourists). The State is pretty much devoid of Social Services. It's a "make it on your own or leave" kind of place.

His brother owns a restaurant there, and the other owns a museum/souvenier shop. The area is pretty much devoid of "real work". You need the money to make your own. It's a slow, laidback place. I remember some cool headshops (got my eyebrow pierced there).

I think alot of people are drawn there expecting to cash in on the tourist trade. It's a place for the overflow from the expensive ski areas. Alot of celebs have 2nd homes in the area. You'll never see them (the homes)...very private, secluded areas.

It is the gateway to Jasper Park via Glacier. Glacier Park doesn't have the significance it once had. Since the weather's gotten weird it is very dry, and the glaciers I remember as a child have all but disappeared. It made me sad to go into the Park :(

My friend told me on the phone this week, that the Governor has ordered alot of land closed to humans this year because it's so very dry. The fires have been horrible the past few years, and residents spend most of their summer indoors, rather than gulp smoke all day. It hangs in the valley forever :( The National Guard, which usually fights the big ones aren't there. The Gov isn't real happy with *.

It's a very tolerant, progressive area, as is most of western MT, but
IMHO, it's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. Apologies to those who do. These are just my observations.

[intheflow]

7. Thanks for your thoughtful answer, dragndust.

I can certainly handle slow and laid back. I can handle poor. The tourists might kill me. Good to know about the head shop! :D :smoke: :thumbsup:

[John Q. Citizen]

5. Hi intheflow. I live a couple of hours South of Kalispell and have been

here since 1993. So let me try to answer your questions based on both my first hand knowledge and reading and talking with folks.

What is the socio-economic situation there?
The Kalispell area is one of the fastest growing parts of the State. While much of central and Eastern MT continue to lose population, The Bozeman area, the Bitteroot Valley and the Kalispell area have been experiencing a boom for the last 5 or 10 years. That said, MT as a whole has very low wages and we are are near first in the country in the number of people who hold down multiple jobs to make ends meet.

I see there is an Indian Reservation nearby. How well do the white and Indian communities interact? Mostly, interactions are fairly good, although, like everywhere, indigenous peoples are vastly over-represented in the state prison population and have much higher rates of poverty and the associated problems poverty creates. The nearby Salish -Kootnai Confederated rez (everyone calls it The Rez)is one of the wealthiest in the nation, due mostly to Hungry Horse reservoir and the large amount of hydro-electric energy produced there. There are definitely Indians living in and around Kalispell, raising families, working, going to school, etc.

I am trained as a UU minister. Hopefully I could find some side preaching gigs throughout Montana, but figure I'll need a day job, preferably working for peace and social justice issues. What are my job prospects? Is there a network of peace and social justice folks?
There are a number of peace and social justice groups (and a lot of environmental justice groups) across MT. The Flathead is known for it's recent conservative shift (in the last 15 years) but seems to be swinging back somewhat to the left now. Just a few of the groups you might want to check out are "Montana Peoples Action" "The Montana Human Rights Network," "The Alliance for the Wild Rockies," and there are many others as well. Montana is a great place to organize because of the small population and the relatively highly educated demographic of our population. With less than 900,000 people in a state which is 4/5 the area of California, it means your work can have quite an impact at the state and local level. In my area, it's quite common to run into your state senator or rep, or even state elected officials down at the bar or at your kids soccer game. There just aren't that many people and the pace is generally more relaxed than in many other places.


Why should I live there?
If you enjoy relatively small town living, outdoor recreation and a ton of wilderness then it may be for you.

Why should I avoid living there?
The winter's length. It's actually getting shorter due to the warming earth but it is still pretty long. Since 2000, we've had three out of four bad fire seasons. Last year's season was short and mild, no big deal at all, but 2000 was really bad.

Have you actually been to Kalispell to check it out? If not, I'd recommend a field trip. Where are you moving from? I moved here from the W. Coast and I love it, but the winters are longer than I'd like and I do miss the ocean sometimes. The state demographic is really white, by and large, (with the exception of the indigenous populations) although there is some diversity in the population centers. Montana has a long progressive history. The Wobblies were very active and strong here and contributed to our rich labor history. Montanan's elected the first woman representitive to the US Congress, Jeanette Rankin, who was also the only person to cast a vote in congress against US entry into both WWI and WWII.

Good luck!

[intheflow]

6. This is very helpful, John Q.

I actually prefer to live in wilderness areas, as I draw a lot of my spiritual strength from nature.

I'm from Massachusetts, originally, so can certainly deal with snow. Denver has snow, but it's like window display snow--very light and melts almost overnight. Nothing like the 3 feet I used to have to shovel through in Massachusetts. I also miss the ocean at times, but the beauty of the Rockies makes up for it.

The reason I asked about the native vs. white relations is that there's a job opening for a director at CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) in Polson that I'm qualified for. CASA deals with kids in foster care/abused/going through the court system. Polson looks to be on the Rez, or at least close enough that I thought many of the kids might be Native American given the high rates of poverty and substance use among indigenous populations in the US and the subsequent social problems that accompany. Hearing about the high imprisonment rates is very useful information. I keep thinking about the Indian kid in Minnesota who went on that shooting spree last month, and figure he might be the kind of demographic I'd be working with (in some ways) when interacting with the Indian population.

The leads on the social action network are also great. I'll have to check them out!

I haven't been up there yet, though my fellow has. He has never steered me wrong in picking beautiful to bring me to. It was he who got me out of Massachusetts after I'd lived my whole life (37 years, at that point) there, bringing me to Colorado. I regretted the move for about a second, and love the West. But I hate living in the "big city" of Denver (which, after living in Boston and spending lots of time in NYC is pretty small in comparison, but still...). Small towns rock, imo. Alhough at 900,000 residents, that seems like the whole state is a small town! LOL!

Thanks again for your thoughtful answer, John Q. :hi:

[Wetzelbill]

8. I am an Indian originally from MT

From the Blackfeet Reservation. About two hours northeast of where you would be. Indians get along pretty well with whites. It just depends. In the summer their are alot of things to do in and around the reservation. Touring Glacier Park, which isn't too far from where you will be, going to rodeos on the reservation, you probably wouldn't want to miss North American Indian Days in Browning, which is going on right now, I think. It's lots of fun, and lots of people from around the country and even the world come to visit. MT can be a great place to live. Just be good to people and you'll be fine.

[intheflow]

9. "Just be good to people and you'll be fine."

Good to hear--especially after seeing this PBS show about white supremicist militia and crazy conservative radio in the area. :scared:




I'm not really scared! :P I think the hiking in Glacier sounds great, and I love rodeos! The job I'm looking at won't hire now for another year, but I'm still a strong contender. Looking forward to going up for the interview in a few months.

Thanks, Wetzelbill. I see you're in Arizona now. You try to keep cool and hydrated during this crazy heat wave, ok? :hi:

[jakesdisdain4GW]

10. Hoping for an update

I realize this thread is well over a year old now. Was just wondering if intheflow ended up in Kalispell and how things are going. I am also considering moving there and would appreciate any input or suggestions.
Thanks!

[newyawker99]

13. Hi jakesdisdain4GW!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Ptah]

11. I was born and raised about three hours east-north-east of Kalispell

One important consideration is the weather.
The weather in Kalispell is similar to the
weather in Seattle.
Wet, cloudy.

[jakesdisdain4GW]

12. Seattle?

I had heard the winters can be sort of overcast, but not that bad. Kalispell only gets about 16 inches of rain per year; Seattle gets over 40. Farther up into the mountains near Glacier and to the west near N. Idaho they get more rain.

[greendog]

14. I live in Kalispell

Winters are overcast. Sometimes overcast for weeks at a time. 20 to 30 degrees normal high temp. Several days every winter go down to -15 to -20 degrees. Daylight is in short supply during the winter months. People with SAD might not do well here.

June tends to be very rainy.

July and August tend to be very dry. Summer high temps range from mid 80s to high 90s. August is "fire season". Expect smoke. Expect restrictions on activities on public lands.

September and October are wonderful. Best time of year.

The economy:

Jobs are pretty easy to find. Jobs with benefits that pay a living wage are fairly rare. Plenty of construction work if you don't mind working outside year round.:scared:

Cost of housing is rising fast.

The Good Stuff:

Glacier is close by. Lot's of wildlife to watch (if that's your thing). The people are pretty nice. Not a lot of crime.