Lake County, Montana

Founding: 1923
Parent counties: Flathead and Missoula
Namesake: Flathead Lake
Seat: Polson (1923–)
Land area: 1,490 square miles
Population (2020): 31,134
Population (historic): 9,541 (1930); 13,490 (1940)
Periods of population growth: pre-1930–1950; 1960–2020
Subdivisions: Two cities; one town; 21 CDPs
National Register listings: 10
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,175 (9.8%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 38.4%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 13%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 9.7%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $754
Average outbuilding value (1930): $590

Average farmhouse size (1940): 3.8 rooms

Number of farms (1930): 1,197
Sources of settlement: Montana, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri
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Polson

 
Namesake: David Polson, local rancher
Founding: 1898 (post office); 1909 (platting); 1910 (incorporation)
Population (2020): 5,148
Population (historic): 1,132 (1920); 1,455 (1930); 2,156 (1940)
Periods of population growth: pre-1920–2020
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 372 (13.9%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. *St. Ignatius Catholic Mission (1891–1893). 300 Bear Track Avenue. Gothic Revival.