Whenever I visit the area, I try to take a few photos of the disappearing rural countryside.
Story: Flathead open space bond on ballot. By Michael Jamison of the Missoulian
The disappearing rural landscape of Flathead County. Photo taken Sept. 2008 a few miles south of Kalispell, Montana. Copyright Ralph Maughan
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Buffalo Field Campaign Blog Demarcated Landscapes
October 13, 2008 at 11:16 AM
I drove through Kalispell this year and was shocked at how poorly planned and developed that city is. In fact, the whole section of 93 from Kalispell to Darby is quite sad.
October 13, 2008 at 11:21 AM
I agree Mike. It is basically sprawl from Darby, Montana a couple hundred miles north to the border of British Columbia.
You can tell when you are approaching customs — the trophy homes built randomly along the highway come to an end. Once in B.C., all that ugly development immediately disappears.
This is one reason why the economy is in the toilet. An economy has to do something besides build homes for the relatively well off (or at least those who could secure some kind of mortgage).
October 13, 2008 at 2:08 PM
Nice pic BTW. Did you get a chance to head into Glacier? Amazing colors on the east side this fall. Lots and lots of bear activity.
Good point about the economy. It seems the only thing keeping it afloat was the housing market. That’s a hollow shell.
October 13, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Mike,
No. I didn’t go to Glacier. I went up to Fernie, BC and down into the headwaters of the North Fork of the Flathead. I wanted to see where the big coal pit mine would be.
Then I went north and explored around the Bull River.
October 13, 2008 at 7:26 PM
Beautiful photo!
The really sad part is often the developers put in horrendous suburban sprawl for everyone else (to line their pockets), then they go find the beautiful land (that’s left) to live on themselves.
October 13, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Open fields…ahhh… such a calming picture.