Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Department originated in 1993 under the Clerk and Recorder's Office. The department is currently housed on the top floor of the old courthouse and employs a staff of six dedicated individuals that provide mapping support for all of the county offices, other organizations at all levels of the government, private organizations and the public. The Addressing Coordinator also resides in the GIS department and handles new address assignment, road naming and re-addressing for unincorporated Flathead County. The Addressing Coordinator maintains the catalog of current and reserved road names.

Data "layers" maintained in the GIS library include land ownership, zoning use, transportation, addresses, election information, district boundaries, hydrology, environmental, geologic, demographic information, and aerial imagery. In addition to supporting the mapping needs of the E911 dispatch center, the Plat Room and Planning & Zoning offices, the GIS Department also provides mapping services to many other government and private agencies, as well as the general public. The mapping data the department maintains facilitates informed decision-making, long-range planning, development review and permitting functions within the county.