Polson, Montana

Polson is located in northwestern Montana, 69 miles (111 kilometers) north of Missoula and 204 miles (328 kilometers) east of Spokane, Washington. The city is located on the Flathead Indian Reservation, on the south shore of Flathead Lake. Polson is the seat of Lake County, and is home to 4,041 people.

The community was named after pioneer rancher David Polson and incorporated in 1910. Ranching, lumber, and the steamboat industry formed the foundation of the city's early economy. Today, Polson is a trading center for nearby farming areas and is home to many cherry orchards. The Polson-Flathead Historical Museum offers a trip down memory lane, with displays like buggies and wagons, a jail cell, and a c. 1881 trading post. The Miracle of America Museum is another major attraction, offering Indian artifacts, farm equipment, and classic cars and tractor displays. The museum also contains a recreated land office, general store, a 1912 school, and other buildings common to a pioneer village. The People's Center is managed by area Salish, Pen d'Oreille, and Kootenai tribes, and tells the story of local Natives through museum exhibits, educational programs, and reservation tours. Polson's past and present are both celebrated during annual events like the Cherry Festival, the Northwest Montana Polka Festival, the Outdoor Art Festival, and Polson Festival Days.

If you love the water, then you'll love living next to Flathead Lake. One of the largest natural freshwater lakes in Western America, Flathead is 28 miles (45 kilometers) long and 15 miles (24 kilometers) wide. The lake is even reputed to have its own "Flathead Monster," with sightings that date back for more than 100 years. Wild Horse Island is a wilderness area located on the western shore of the lake, and is home to bald eagles, bighorn sheep, and – you guessed it – wild horses. A large state park is situated along Big Arm Bay, and offers a pebble beach for swimming and sunbathing. Other pastimes include fishing, boating, water-skiing, scuba diving, picnics, and camping. The Polson Country Club is another favorite lakeside attraction, and offers 27 holes of golf along with outstanding lake and mountain views.

Outdoor enthusiasts can also enjoy whitewater rafting on the Flathead River, or go bird-watching at the Ninepipes and Pablo Wildlife Refuges. Also pay a visit to the National Bison Range near Moiese, where you'll find herds of bison, elk, and antelope. The broad Mission Valley lies to the south of Polson, and is bordered by the snowcapped Mission Mountains. Many other wilderness areas are located just a few hours outside of the city, including Flathead National Forest, Rattlesnake National Recreation Area, and Glacier National Park.

See our 6 Jobs in Polson, Montana

Discuss This Article

Have something you'd like to say? Tell us what you think! Read and post comments for this article.

Find a Job in Polson

Choose your career:

MedHunters is the world's biggest healthcare job board. Our job directory has 16,171 jobs with 2,164 hospitals and other direct employers.

We want you to find your next job on MedHunters. Need Help? Call us at 1-888-884-8242, email us at info@medhunters.com or sign up now.