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Great Falls, Montana

For the series of waterfalls, see Great Falls (Missouri River).

Great Falls
City and county seat
Flag of Great Falls
Flag
Official seal of Great Falls
Seal
Nickname(s): 
The Electric City, “ The River City”, “The Western Art Capital of The World”
Location within Cascade County and Montana
Location within Cascade County and Montana
Great Falls, Montana is located in the United States
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls, Montana
Location in the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°30′13″N 111°17′11″W / 47.50361°N 111.28639°W / 47.50361; -111.28639
CountryUnited States
StateMontana
CountyCascade
Incorporated1888
Named forGreat Falls of the Missouri River
Government
 • MayorCory Reeves
Area
[1]
 • City and county seat
23.59 sq mi (61.10 km2)
 • Land23.11 sq mi (59.86 km2)
 • Water0.48 sq mi (1.24 km2)
Elevation
[2]
3,330 ft (1,010 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City and county seat
60,442
 • RankUS: 617th
 • Density2,615.07/sq mi (1,009.69/km2)
 • Metro
[3]
84,414 (US: 371st)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP Codes
59401-59406
Area code406
FIPS code30-32800
GNIS ID802113 [2]
Websitegreatfallsmt.net

Great Falls is the third most populous city in the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Cascade County. The population was 60,442 according to the 2020 census.[4] The city covers an area of 22.9 square miles (59 km2)[5] and is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County. The Great Falls MSA's population was 84,414 according to the 2020 census.[3]

Downtown Great Falls

A cultural, commercial and financial center in the central part of the state, Great Falls is located just east of the Rocky Mountains and is bisected by the Missouri River. It is 180 miles (290 km) from the eastern entrance to Glacier National Park in northern Montana, and 264 miles (425 km) from Yellowstone National Park in southern Montana and northern Wyoming. A north–south federal highway, Interstate 15, serves the city.[6]

Great Falls is named for a series of five waterfalls located on the Missouri River north and east of the city.[7] The Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1805–1806 was forced to portage around a 10-mile (16 km) stretch of the river in order to bypass the falls; the company spent 31 days in the area, performing arduous labor to make the portage.[8] Three of the waterfalls, known as Black Eagle, Rainbow and the Great Falls (or the Big Falls), are among the sites of five hydroelectric dams in the area, giving the city its moniker, “The Electric City”.[8] Other nicknames for Great Falls include “The River City” and “Western Art Capital of the World”.[7] The city is also home to two military installations: Malmstrom Air Force Base east of the city, which is the community's largest employer; and the Montana Air National Guard to the west, adjacent to Great Falls International Airport.[9][10] The federally recognized Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana are located in Great Falls.

Great Falls is a popular tourist destination in Montana, with one million overnight visitors annually, who spend an estimated $185 million while visiting, according to the Great Falls Montana Tourism group.[11] Among Montana cities, Great Falls boasts the greatest number of museums, with 10, including the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center near Giant Springs and the C. M. Russell Museum and Original Log Cabin Studio on the city's north side.[12] Great Falls was the largest city in Montana from 1950 to 1970, when it was eclipsed by Billings in the 1970 census;[5] Missoula assumed second place in 2000.

  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Great Falls, Montana
  3. ^ a b "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas". Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  4. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Census.gov". Census.gov. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  6. ^ "Travelmath trip calculator". www.travelmath.com. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Fun Facts | City of Great Falls Montana". greatfallsmt.net. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "National Park Service - Lewis and Clark (Great Falls Portage)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  9. ^ "Malmstrom Air Force Base > Home". www.malmstrom.af.mil. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  10. ^ "Montana". Air National Guard. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  11. ^ "Home". Visit Great Falls Montana. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  12. ^ "Great Falls Museums – 10 Museums. 60 Miles of Trail". Retrieved April 26, 2021.

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