West Glacier, Montana

Last updated

West Glacier, Montana
West Glacier Montana Sign looking east on US2.jpg
Sign for West Glacier on US Route 2
USA Montana location map.svg
Red pog.svg
West Glacier
Coordinates: 48°30′0″N113°58′43″W / 48.50000°N 113.97861°W / 48.50000; -113.97861
Country United States
State Montana
County Flathead
Area
[1]
  Total4.22 sq mi (10.92 km2)
  Land4.14 sq mi (10.73 km2)
  Water0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2)
Elevation
[2]
3,163 ft (964 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total221
  Density53.36/sq mi (20.60/km2)
Time zone UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP codes
59921, 59936
Area code 406
FIPS code 30-79075
GNIS feature ID0793105 [2]

West Glacier is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in eastern Flathead County, Montana, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 221. [3] The town is at the west entrance to Glacier National Park and is located on U.S. Route 2 and a main line of the BNSF Railway. The headquarters complex for Glacier National Park is located nearby. [4]

Contents

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
2010 227
2020 221−2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]

History

U.S. post office at West Glacier West Glacier MT Post Office.jpg
U.S. post office at West Glacier
West Glacier's former Great Northern Railway station, now used by Amtrak West Glacier Train Station.jpg
West Glacier's former Great Northern Railway station, now used by Amtrak

Remote and almost inaccessible, the West Glacier area drew only limited attention by white settlers until the main line of the Great Northern Railway (GNR) reached the northern Rocky Mountains in 1890. The transcontinental GNR was completed on January 6, 1893, at Scenic, Washington. [6]

The railroad established a station named "Belton" at the current West Glacier site, and a small community slowly began to develop in the area. [7] A post office was established at Belton in 1900. The number of homesteaders and other settlers remained small, however, due to the region's rugged, heavily forested terrain.

The community, heavily dependent on tourism, has a small permanent population that expands significantly during the summer tourist season; most area businesses are likewise seasonal—including the 18-hole golf course—and are primarily geared towards travelers. The elevation is 3,169 feet (966 m).

The Swiss-style Belton Chalets in West Glacier, originally built in 1910, was the first Great Northern Railway hotel at Glacier National Park and would welcome guests arriving by train to the park, before they would travel into the park's back-country chalets and tent camps. During the Great Depression, the Belton Chalet housed the crews working on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Over the years, the chalet housed many businesses, while today it is one of Montana's grandest historic hotels. [8] The chalet survives today under new ownership and is a registered National Historic Landmark.

In 1949 the town changed its name from Belton to West Glacier to promote the tourism potential. [7]

Tourism

Railroad tourism

By the early twentieth century a small number of tourists had begun to visit the spectacular mountain landscapes east and north of Belton, and in 1910 that area was set aside as Glacier National Park. [9] As the railway station nearest the area, Belton became a primary gateway to Glacier, and the park headquarters was established there. [4] Currently Amtrak's Empire Builder makes stops daily at the West Glacier station.

Automobile tourism

Travel Alberta Visitors Centre encouraging cross-border tourism Alberta Tourism Centre at West Glacier Montana USA.jpg
Travel Alberta Visitors Centre encouraging cross-border tourism

The growth of tourist traffic through Belton increased substantially in the 1920s and 1930s, largely due to the improvement of automobile routes through the area. U.S. Highway 2 was completed eastward from Belton over Marias Pass in 1930, and the Going-to-the-Sun Road [10] was completed across Glacier Park in 1932. [11] In 1938, a number of tourist-oriented businesses were constructed at the western end of the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Belton, forming the core of a new commercial district for the town. These businesses, owned by the Lundgren family since 1946, remain today.

The town of Belton was renamed "West Glacier" in 1949, to better reflect its geographic location and make it more identifiable to tourists, although the railroad station and chalet complex retained the Belton name.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification, it is a warm summer continental climate (dfb), bordering a continental warm summer Mediterranean climate (dsb).

Climate data for West Glacier, Montana, 19912020 normals, extremes 1948present
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)55
(13)
58
(14)
66
(19)
83
(28)
90
(32)
98
(37)
99
(37)
100
(38)
95
(35)
79
(26)
65
(18)
60
(16)
100
(38)
Mean maximum °F (°C)42.3
(5.7)
44.9
(7.2)
55.5
(13.1)
69.4
(20.8)
80.3
(26.8)
85.7
(29.8)
90.8
(32.7)
90.8
(32.7)
82.7
(28.2)
69.3
(20.7)
52.1
(11.2)
41.7
(5.4)
92.6
(33.7)
Average high °F (°C)29.9
(−1.2)
33.6
(0.9)
42.5
(5.8)
52.6
(11.4)
64.1
(17.8)
70.4
(21.3)
80.2
(26.8)
79.4
(26.3)
68.0
(20.0)
51.7
(10.9)
37.0
(2.8)
29.2
(−1.6)
53.2
(11.8)
Daily mean °F (°C)24.6
(−4.1)
26.5
(−3.1)
33.8
(1.0)
42.0
(5.6)
51.6
(10.9)
57.8
(14.3)
64.9
(18.3)
63.6
(17.6)
54.4
(12.4)
42.3
(5.7)
31.7
(−0.2)
24.5
(−4.2)
43.1
(6.2)
Average low °F (°C)19.3
(−7.1)
19.4
(−7.0)
25.1
(−3.8)
31.4
(−0.3)
39.0
(3.9)
45.1
(7.3)
49.6
(9.8)
47.9
(8.8)
40.8
(4.9)
32.9
(0.5)
26.4
(−3.1)
19.9
(−6.7)
33.1
(0.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C)−7.3
(−21.8)
−3.1
(−19.5)
5.6
(−14.7)
19.9
(−6.7)
27.1
(−2.7)
34.6
(1.4)
39.4
(4.1)
36.9
(2.7)
29.3
(−1.5)
17.4
(−8.1)
7.0
(−13.9)
−1.6
(−18.7)
−16.1
(−26.7)
Record low °F (°C)−35
(−37)
−32
(−36)
−30
(−34)
3
(−16)
13
(−11)
24
(−4)
31
(−1)
26
(−3)
18
(−8)
−3
(−19)
−17
(−27)
−36
(−38)
−36
(−38)
Average precipitation inches (mm)3.54
(90)
2.17
(55)
2.58
(66)
2.15
(55)
2.62
(67)
3.80
(97)
1.39
(35)
1.17
(30)
1.96
(50)
3.05
(77)
3.23
(82)
3.21
(82)
30.87
(784)
Average snowfall inches (cm)32.0
(81)
16.0
(41)
14.0
(36)
3.1
(7.9)
0.5
(1.3)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
2.0
(5.1)
16.2
(41)
31.4
(80)
115.2
(293)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)17.914.515.013.913.614.98.56.89.613.616.317.8162.4
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)13.910.56.21.80.30.00.00.00.01.06.714.254.6
Source: NOAA [12] [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Havre, Montana</span> City in Montana, United States

Havre is the county seat and largest city in Hill County, Montana, United States. Havre is nicknamed the crown jewel of the Hi-Line. It is said to be named after the city of Le Havre in France. As of the 2020 census the population was 9,362.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Northern Railway (U.S.)</span> Defunct American Class I railroad

The Great Northern Railway was an American Class I railroad. Running from Saint Paul, Minnesota, to Seattle, Washington, it was the creation of 19th-century railroad entrepreneur James J. Hill and was developed from the Saint Paul & Pacific Railroad. The Great Northern's route was the northernmost transcontinental railroad route in the U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glacier National Park (U.S.)</span> Park in Montana on the Canadian border

Glacier National Park is an American national park located in northwestern Montana, on the Canada–United States border, adjacent to Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada—the two parks are known as the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. The park encompasses more than 1 million acres (4,000 km2) and includes parts of two mountain ranges, more than 130 named lakes, more than 1,000 different species of plants, and hundreds of species of animals. This vast pristine ecosystem is the centerpiece of what has been referred to as the "Crown of the Continent Ecosystem," a region of protected land encompassing 16,000 sq mi (41,000 km2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake McDonald Lodge</span> United States historic place

The Lake McDonald Lodge is a historic lodge located within Glacier National Park, on the southeast shore of Lake McDonald. The lodge is a 3+12-story structure built in 1913 based on Kirtland Cutter's design. The foundation and first floor walls are built of stone, with a wood-frame superstructure. The lobby is a large, open space that extends to the third story. It has a massive fireplace and a concrete floor scored in a flagstone pattern, with messages in several Indian languages inscribed into it. The rustic lodge was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987 as one of the nation's finest examples of large-scale Swiss chalet architecture. Lake McDonald Lodge is a member of Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Granite Park Chalet</span> United States historic place

Granite Park Chalet is located in the heart of Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana at an elevation of 6,693 feet above sea level. The chalet was built in 1914 by the Great Northern Railway and is a National Historic Landmark contributing property, being one of five structures in the Great Northern Railway Buildings district. From Logan Pass along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, the chalet is a moderate 7.6 miles (12.2 km) hike along the famed Crown of the Continent Highline Trail, usually referred to simply as the Highline Trail. Much of the trail passes through the scenic Garden Wall section of the park, immediately west and parallel to the Continental Divide. The chalet is also accessible via the Loop Trail and the Swiftcurrent Trail. The trails are for hikers and horseback riders only; no vehicle access is provided. Granite Park Chalet is a limited services facility and those that spend the night make use of the full service kitchen to cook their own meals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Many Glacier Hotel</span> United States historic hotel in Glacier National Park

Many Glacier Hotel is a historic hotel located on the east shore of Swiftcurrent Lake in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The building is designed as a series of chalets, up to four stories tall, and stretches for a substantial distance along the lakeshore. The building has a Swiss alpine theme both on the outside and on the inside. The foundation is made of stone, with a wood superstructure. The outside is finished with brown-painted wood siding, and the window framing and balconies have wood sawed in Swiss jigsawed patterns. On the inside, the four-story lobby is surrounded by balconies, whose railings are patterned after Swiss designs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glacier Park Lodge</span>

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sperry Chalet</span> Building in Montana, United States

Sperry Chalet is located about seven miles east of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The chalet was opened in 1914 by the Great Northern Railway and was a National Historic Landmark contributing property, being one of five structures in the Great Northern Railway Buildings National Historic Landmark. Along with Granite Park Chalet, Sperry Chalet is one of the two remaining backcountry chalets in Glacier National Park, both operated by Belton Chalets, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Mary, Montana</span> Census-Designated Place in Montana, United States

St. Mary is an unincorporated community on the western border of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation adjacent to Glacier National Park in Glacier County, Montana, United States. The village is the eastern terminus of the Going-to-the-Sun Road which bisects the park east to west, a distance of 53 mi (85 km).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rising Sun Auto Camp</span> U.S. historic place in Glacier National Park

The Rising Sun Auto Camp, also known as the Roes Creek Auto Camp, East Glacier Auto Camp or simply Rising Sun preserves a portion of the built-up area of Glacier National Park that documents the second phase of tourist development in the park. Rising Sun is located along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, approximately 7 miles (11 km) from the east entrance to Glacier National Park, Montana, United States. Rising Sun is a wayside area that has a National Park Service campground, a camp store and gift shop, picnic area, restaurant, as well as a motel and guest cabins which are managed by the park's concessionaire, Xanterra Parks & Resorts. In the immediate area, there is also a boat dock as well as sightseeing boats which allow visitors to tour Saint Mary Lake, the second largest lake in the park. "The most popular spot for [Glacier] tourists is Rising Sun, an overlook of Goose Island in St. Mary Lake and one of the most photographed spots in the park."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Park Service rustic</span> Style of architecture developed in 20th century for the United States National Park Service

National Park Service rustic – sometimes colloquially called Parkitecture – is a style of architecture that developed in the early and middle 20th century in the United States National Park Service (NPS) through its efforts to create buildings that harmonized with the natural environment. Since its founding in 1916, the NPS sought to design and build visitor facilities without visually interrupting the natural or historic surroundings. The early results were characterized by intensive use of hand labor and a rejection of the regularity and symmetry of the industrial world, reflecting connections with the Arts and Crafts movement and American Picturesque architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belton Chalets</span> United States historic place

The Belton Chalets are a group of historic hotel buildings in the village of West Glacier, Montana, near the western entrance to Glacier National Park. The chalet buildings were built in 1910-11 by the Great Northern Railway (GN) as the first component of the railroad's ambitious program of hotel, road, and trail construction in Glacier. The buildings featured a "Swiss Chalet" architectural style that set the style for much of the Great Northern's building program in Glacier. Ultimately, the site included five buildings, including a dining hall and a hotel facility.

The Glacier Park Company, a subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway (GN), constructed and operated hotels, chalets, and other visitor facilities in Glacier National Park, Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta from the 1910s through 1960. Operating as a concessionaire of the National Park Service, the company operated from a summer base in East Glacier Park, Montana, near the company's flagship Glacier Park Hotel; winter headquarters were in St. Paul, Minnesota. Originally known as the Glacier Park Hotel Company, the corporate name was shortened to Glacier Park Company in 1943.

Babb is a small unincorporated farming and ranching community in Glacier County, Montana, United States, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The community experiences a large influx of tourists in the summer months as it is the gateway to the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Babb as a census-designated place (CDP). It had a population of 174 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Northern Railway Buildings</span> United States historic place

The Great Northern Railway Buildings are a set of five building complexes in or near Glacier National Park in Montana. They were built by the Great Northern Railway during the period of the park's founding to provide a unified tourist experience to visitors to the park, using the Swiss chalet as a building model. The building complexes, each separately listed on the National Register of Historic Places, are:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glacier National Park Tourist Trails</span> United States historic place

The Glacier National Park Tourist Trails, including the Inside Trail, South Circle Trail and North Circle Trail, were established in Glacier National Park to connect a series of tourist camps and hotels established by the Great Northern Railway between 1910 and 1915. Prior to the construction of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, these trails were the primary form of circulation within the park. The trail system includes a number of bridges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Glacier National Park (U.S.)</span>

The following articles relate to the history, geography, geology, flora, fauna, structures and recreation in Glacier National Park (U.S.), the U.S. portion of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis W. Hill</span>

Louis Warren Hill, was an American railroad executive. He was the president and board chairman of the Great Northern Railway, which served a substantial area of the Upper Midwest, the northern Great Plains, and Pacific Northwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regional designations of Montana</span> Overview of the Regional designations of Montana

The Regional designations of Montana vary widely within the U.S state of Montana. The state is a large geographical area that is split by the Continental Divide, resulting in watersheds draining into the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Hudson's Bay. The state is approximately 545 miles (877 km) east to west along the Canada–United States border and 320 miles (510 km) north to south. The fourth largest state in land area, it has been divided up in official and unofficial ways into a variety of regions. Additionally, Montana is part of a number of larger federal government administrative regions.

Samuel L. Bartlett was an American architect who worked in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the early 1900s. He was appointed to the position of architect with the Great Northern Railway in 1905. Bartlett was tasked to bring to reality the vision of Great Northern President Louis W. Hill for great destination hotels in the newly created Glacier National Park (U.S.). Several of the lodges and stations Bartlett designed for the Great Northern are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

References

  1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: West Glacier, Montana
  3. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Glacier National Park". NPS.gov. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  6. Great Northern Railway 2013.
  7. 1 2 "West Glacier". Montana Place Names Companion. Montana Historical Society. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  8. "Belton Chalet - West Glacier". glaciermt.com. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  9. "Glacier National Park -- History and Culture". NPS.gov. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  10. "Going to the Sun Road - status". NPS.gov. National Park Service. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  11. Carr, p. 186.
  12. "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  13. "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved April 25, 2023.