About the town of Hamilton Montana:

Hamilton, Montana is located in south-western Montana in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley along US Highway 93. Hamilton, Montana is the Ravalli County seat of Government and the largest town in the Bitterroot valley.

Highway 93 (North and South) follows the Bitterroot river through the center of the valley and joins Interstate 90 in Missoula. This scenic highway runs from the center of Arizona into the middle of Ontario Canada. It is such an interesting highway, ripe with history, western culture, and scenic beauty that National Geographic Magazine chose to feature the highway in a three part feature article. Hamilton is located near the south end of the Bitterroot Valley. Further to the south of Hamilton, along Highway 93, you will find: Darby Montana, and up over Lost Trail Pass into Idaho: Salmon Idaho. To the north, also along Highway 93 you will find (in this order): Corvallis, Victor, Stevensville, Florence, Missoula Montana. All in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley.

Hamilton is both a very popular traveler's destination and great place to live. This is a paradise for people who love the outdoors, nature, gardening and community. Hamilton has both the small-town feel of rural Montana, and quick access to city services in nearby Missoula.

Hamilton is the largest town in the Bitterroot Valley, which is the location of the fantastic book, "A River Runs Through It", by Norman Maclean. This book is a wonderful story of family and fly fishing, that encapsulates the vast beauty of the Bitterroot Valley. A must read for anyone interested in the area.

A Chronology of Early Bitter Root Valley History

 

1743	It is possible that the La Verendrye brothers were the first white men in the valley. Historical data shows them traveling through southeast Montana.
1805	Lewis and Clark come into the valley over Lost Trail Pass. They work their way down the Bitterroot River to present day Lolo, and head out of the valley up Lolo Pass.
1809	David Thompson builds the Saleesh House trading post at Thompson Falls. He mapped the country and kept a journal.
1824	Alexander Ross, a Hudson Bay trapper comes up the Bitter Root river from Hell's Gate (present day Missoula). They traveled up the Bitterroot valley, through the Sula basin heading for the Snake river. Men, women and children in the party were stranded by snow in what came to be know as "Ross's Hole". They called the valley, "The Valley of Troubles." Ross's diary describes the trip, including the Medicine Tree on the East Fork. Alexander Ross, commanded of a party of 64 men. He apparently saw the skull and horns of a bighorn ram half imbedded in the Medicine tree about five feet off ground
1832	John Work, trapper for Judson Bay Co. kept a diary which listed a trip through the Lolo trail.
1833	Warren Angus Ferris, trapper with the American Fur Co. wrote a series of articles on the Northwest. He describes the Medicine Tree on the East Fork.
1841	Father De Smet establishes St. Mary's Mission in present day Stevensville.
1845	Father Ravalli comes to St. Mary's Mission, establishes a flour mill, and grows wheat and potatoes.
1850	Major John Ownens purchases the Mission property and starts building a fort and trading post.
1952	Captain John Mullan establishes winter quarters near Corvallis. He grazes stock in the winter used for the Gov. I.J. Stevens road survey from he Atlantic to the Pacific coast.
1855	Governor I.J. Stevens negotiates Council Grove Treaty (near Hell Gate), with the Salish Tribes.
1956	Frank J. Woody and others bring an ox team and wagon over the trail.
1862	Daughter is born to Mrs. George Dobbin near Stevensville.
1864	Montana Territory is created. Sidney Edgerton is appointed Governor.
1866	Tom Harris settles in a ranch at Three Mile District, northeast of Fort Owen.
1868	W.N. Smith settles at Sweathouse Creek (present site of Victor)
1877	Battle of the Big Hole
1887	The first train chugged into Victor. It was a steam engine pulling a tender, superintendents private car, and a passenger coach with 25 aboard.
1890	Marcus Daly founds Hamilton
1896	Calamity Jane runs a cafe on Main Street.
1897	February 27: the Bitter Root National Forest, comprised of 1,155,868 acres was created. It was one of the first National Forests to be created in the United States.
1901	Montana State Board of Health begins investigaing Spotted Fever in the valley
1906	Big Ditch Boom starts. Scientists show that Spotted Fever is caused by ticks.
1913	Hamilton Fairgrounds established
1927	Rocky Mountain Lab is built on east side of the river.

Compiled by the fine local folks at: HamiltonMontana.net

Hamilton Montana History

Salish Indians

This valley was once home to the Bitterroot Salish Indian Tribe. The tribe was noted for their friendly nature. In 1877, Chief Joseph and his tribe of Nez Perce passed through Ravalli county on their way to Canada in order to escape confinement to a reservation. The Salish were relocated to their current Flathead reservation under the Treaty of Hellgate.

The Bitterroot valley was also home to Nez Perce and Kootenai tribes.

Lewis and Clark

Lewis and Clark came into the valley September 4th, 1805. The valley that we, today, find to be a mecca of gardens and recreation, was a cold inhospitable place to the Corp of Discovery as they made their way to the Pacific.

Lewis and Clark entered the Bitterroot valley on a cloudy, drizzly day, September 4th, 1805. The expedition, along with Sacajawea and her young infant, had just come down over Lost Trail Pass, where they had lost the trail in the sleet and snow, even though they were being led by a local Indian guide named Tobe.

The expedition had traversed the Continental Divide twice coming from the area of Dillon, Montana over into the Lemhi Valley and Salmon, Idaho. After determining that the Salmon River was, indeed, impassable--as they had been told by their Indian guides, they had headed north for Montana again.

On the morning of September 4th, everything was wet and frozen, and the ground was covered with snow. They followed the Bitterroot river drainage into the valley where they met a village of Flathead which they reported as having 33 lodges, some 440 people and 500 horses.

The expedition purchased 13 more horses from the Flatheads. On September 6th the expedition set off down the valley following the Bitterroot river to Lolo Creek. At Lolo Creek they named their camp, "Travellers Rest." Hunters sent up Lolo Creek from the Travellers Rest camp met three Flatheads, one of whom agreed to accompany the Expedition as a guide over the Bitterroot mountains and introduce them to his people who lived on the other side at a place where they could build dougouts and sail to the ocean.

The next day the Expedition headed up Lolo Pass following the Nez Perce trial, and eventually out of Montana.

St. Mary's Mission

St. Mary's mission in the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville was the first permanent white settlement in Montana. It was founded by Jesuit priest, Father Pierre DeSmet in 1841. It closed in 1850 and later burned. Father Josphe Giorda re-established the mission in 1866.

Arrival of Father Ravalli

The St. Mary's Mission, in Stevensville, is one of the earliest locations of European settlers in the Montana territories. Founded by Father DeSmet, who sowed the first wheat crops there in 1841. Four years later, in 1945 Father Ravalli arrived with stones to build a flour mill for grinding the wheat into flour. A friend in Belgium had given Father Ravalli two 12-inch burr stones for his mission in the new world. The stones were shipped up the Columbia drainage to Lewiston, Idaho, and then brought over the mountains by mule trail into the Bitterroot Valley to the Saint Mary's Mission.

After his arrival, Father Ravalli started building his flour mill. Lumber for the mill was whip-sawed - an amazing endeavor by hand! The stones were put in place and the first flour ground that year. The over shot water wheel turned the stones by water power. A French-Canadian named Biledot was the first mill wright for the new mill which could produce four bushels of coarse ground flour a day.

In 1852 the mission and mill was purchased by Major John Owens who made a notation in his journal that he had ground 175 pounds of flour in 6 hours. By 1857 John Owens started constructing a new mill, and the old stones were sent to St. Ignatius.That mill was still being operated until October 1865, and it burnt down in 1889.

First White Women

Mrs. George Dobbins was, apparently, the first white woman to settle in the valley. She arrived in 1861. In 1962 she had a daughter, Lauretta. The Dobbins ranch was located in present day Stevensville, which is approx 30 miles north of the Hamilton Montana townsite.

In 1864 the R.W Nichols family came over the Gibbons Pass trail from the Big Hole country. Because of a late payment of wage for some work, this family was late in leaving Bannock. In those days being late for the weather could often mean the difference between life and death. They were caught by a snow storm which turned the four day trip into 16 grueling days of snowcovered steep trails. But they made it. The Nichols pitched their tent at the south edge of present day Hamilton. They were really in rough shape and verylow on supplies. They were assisted by James Tolton, who was the first settler they encountered in the valley. He told them about the grist mill in Stevensville. So two of the travel weary members of the Nichols party now took the journey to Stevensville for supplies. This took them took eight more days. But they were successful. They returned with 23 pounds of flour and 15 pounds of bran which they bought at a price of 15 cents a pound.

The family built a cozy dirt-roof log cabin and settled in for the winter. Although life was still hard, game was plentiful, and there was plenty of grass for their livestock. This seems to be the first record of a settler in what we now know as Hamilton Montana.

Early Census Information

The 1860 the U.S. Census lists 258 people living in 53 households as "free inhabitants" in the Bitterroot Valley.

The "Bitter Root" valley, as it was then called, was in the county of Spokane, territory of Washington. Most of the men listed themselves as farmers, but there were also packers, herders, Indian agents, black smiths, millers, harness makers, a tinsmith, and Jesuit missionary. There were a number of folks who listed themselves as French-Canadians, and there were also southern Indians, and quite a Irish.

In 1864 a territorial census was taken before Montana was divided into districts. The Bitterroot Valley was now Missoula county. As the census taker, a man named James Tufts, had to travel, mostly by horseback and mule, finding the scattered inhabitants such as miners and prospectors seeking gold. The end result was more an estimate of population.

By 1890 the first Federal census was taken in the area and found 1,377 people living in Corvallis. The Skalkaho township had a whopping population of 1,045. This was also the year that Marcus Daly started plotting his new "city".

A Rand McNally map of 1890 shows Grantsdale with the greatest population, followed by Stevensville, and Victor. Marcus Daly was soon to change those numbers with his famous "town plat.

The census shows the following populations:

• Como - 60
• Darby - 20
• Florence - 40
• Grantsdale - 500
• Hamilton - 50
• Riverside - 50
• Stevensville - 400
• Victor - 200

City Founders

Hamilton Montana has had wild booming prosperous times, and corresponding busts. Calamity Jane lived here for awhile, running a cafe on Main Street, and the Ravalli County Fairgrounds once covered 40 acres!

The city of Hamilton was founded in 1890 by an Irish immigrant and copper magnate, Marcus Daly. Daly came into the valley and founded a 22,000 acre stock farm. He decided it would be a good thing to have a town nearby, so he laid out his own 'city' along the Northern Pacific Railway route, with plots for churches, schools, parks and businesses. The town was named after his employee, James Hamilton, who surveyed the first plats.

Marcus Daly who was one of Montana's colorful "Copper Kings." Daly was an Irish immigrant who made his fortune in the mines of Butte and founded the Anaconda Mining Company. He established the town of Anaconda with his smelter. Daly came to the Bitterroot valley in search of timber for his mines--and this he found in abundance. He built a mill to process the timber and formed a company town around the mill for the workers. He built a beautiful summer home in the valley in 1887 and accumulated large tracts of land for his hobby of breeding and racing thoroughbred horses. This large ranch was named the Bitter Root Stock Farm.

The town of Hamilton was incorporated in 1894. By the time Daly died in 1900, Hamilton was the commercial center of the Bitterroot Valley and the seat of Ravalli County.

Old Fashion Romance

In 1871 a young Irish foreman was working for the Walker Brothers of Salt Lake City. O onen a sunny afternoon, at a mine site near Ophir, Utah, he was busy showing recently discovered diggings to a crowd of miners. There was a young lady by the name of Margaret, a daughter of one of the miners, in the crowd. She had a curious streak to her nature, and was very excited about the diggings. In order to see better she edged too close to the pit and leaned over! Her feet gave out from under her, and she slipped over the edge, landing in the arms of the unsuspecting Irishman.

The result was red faces and apologies, but it lead to a wedding! On a fine day in 1872 in Salt Lake City at the Joseph Walker home, the young gentleman, Marcus Daly and our clumsy lady, Margaret Evans, were married. Marcus's pet name for his wife was "Maggie," and he dooted over her his whole life as is evidenced by the fine home with exotic furnishing that he created for his bride near Hamilton Monta. This is now seen as a historical mansion: The Daly Mansion. This storybook marriage lasted until Marcus Daly died in 1900. They had three daughters and a son.

Apple Boom

The years from 1907 to 1911 in the Bitterroot valley were termed the "Apple Boom." Many other towns in the west had their boom days fueled by mining discoveries, but Hamilton received its heritage from the enthusiasm of slick salesmen who took advantage of an extensive irrigation network conceived by Marcus Daly. Enticed by the promise of fertile land and a good climate for growing fruit trees, many unsuspecting farmers came to the valley to give it a go. From 1907 to 1911 the town's population jumped from 1,800 to 3,000.

Bust

By 1915 all the easily accessible timber had been cut from the valley and The Anaconda Copper Mining Company Mill closed. Two years after that the financial problems of the irrigation ditch builders reached a head and the Apple Boom went bust. Many orchard farmers became disillusioned and moved away.

The local economy remained shakey until 1927 when the Rocky Mountain Laboratory was established to research the cause of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Contrary to other parts of the nation, Hamilton enjoyed considerable growth during the depression years of the thirties until World War II.

Hamilton and Ravalli County are currently experiencing another economic boom. The valley has been discovered as an outdoor paradise by urban professionals escaping the rat race. The valley currently boasts 35,156 residents.

Colorful Hamilton

In the 1890's Hamilton was a roaring frontier town. The town hosted twenty one saloons and a very popular "red light district," otherwise known as the "badlands."

The Sanborne Fire Insurance maps of Hamilton during 1892 and 1893 title numerous female boarding houses on the north side of town. Houses of ill fame were outlawed in Montana in 1895, but apparently it took several more years for the news to reach Hamilton!

In June, 1912, the city council reviewed a petition to rid the city of a particular house on North 3rd Street that was being used for immoral purposes. After a lively discussion a majority of the council indicated that it would take no stand. They felt that if the house were removed the inmates would simply move to another location and it was best to keep the "fleas" in one place.

The Madams of the north end were Mammy Smith, and Kate Mitchell. Regular dancing events were held in the sporting houses. The girls (among them, French Lil, Netty, and Big Lil) put on a lively show and were quite talented singing and playing the piano. It is said that the girls behaved themselves very properly when going to town, and never frequented the many saloons.

There was also a darker side to the "row." Opium dens caused more trouble than the houses of ill repute. both amongst proper Hamilton citizens and the girls themselves. At least one young lady committed suicide, and the headlines of the day reflected a definite sadness through the town over the event.

In 1913 there was an attempt to turn Mammie's house into a chapel. As you can well imagine, Mammie stormed into the Hamilton newspaper office voicing loud objections. Here's her colorful quote: "They are saying I'm rich! Who could get rich in Hamilton? I came here with $6,000 and I only have a little more after all these years. Byt the time the city gets its 'rake off', and I pay the girls' fines and doctor bills! Well, I believe in the Lord - but my rooms into Faith Rooms!"

Calamity Jane

Calamity Jane was once a "Bitterrooter". Calamity Jane was Jane Burke, born Mary Jane Canary in Missouri in 1852. An article from the Bitter Root Times of 1896 recounts that Jane Burke and her husband ran a cafe on Main Street. A few days before leaving town Calamity had a good fill of whiskey and got involved in a big fight where she broke windows, kicked over tables and blackened both eyes of her cook. She boasted that she wanted to take on the strongest and biggest "Bitter Rooter!"

* Research for these articles through "It Happened in the Bitter Root" by Ada Powell. Available at the Hamilton Library.

The Big Ditch

The big ditch was built in Hamilton as a project to sell land for apple orchards. The resulting "Big Ditch Boom" ran from 1906 to 1915. From 1907 to 1911, during the height of this promotion, the population of Hamilton grew from 1,800 people to a whopping 3,000.

It all began when Marcus Daly decided to develop an extensive ditch irrigation network. The scheme was further fueled by speculators from the east who helped build the ditch and then sold off land to hungry farmers with promise of future riches. Mostly the farmers tried to grow apples, which really do grow well in the valley - just not every single year, like they do further north in the lowlands of Idaho and Washington.

Today the big ditch system still serves the valley, and many think that it is responsible for the wonderful well water that is easily accessible to subdivisions around town. The ditch is managed by a local ditch company, and runs happily through multiple neighborhoods.

Hamilton Fair Grounds

The beginning of the Hamilton Fair Grounds was a colorful tent city in 1913.

Ravalli County purchased the present day fairgrounds from the Stock Farm for $9,750 on June 6, 1913. The area was just under 40 acres.

The project was managed by J.E. Totman, president, James F. Torrence, secretary and H.H. Grant, treasures. The first project was to construct a grandstand and race track. A two-year loan for $3,000 was acquired from a local bank and a flurry of activity in sued in preparation for the first fair in October.

Today the Safeway building is located on the ground where the old grandstand stood. Part of the uncovered grandstand was moved to the new ground location and is still there today.

The week before the fair in 1913, huge tents were effected giving an appearance of a white tent city. Tents measuring over 300 feet in length housed fair exhibits. Altogether there were 5 large tents.

The paddocks on the east side of the fairground contained 30 box stalls, and there were 2 sheds for the sulkies. The race track was a half mile circular track marked by tall white posts for the furlongs. It was quite a sight for the new, flourishing town on Hamilton.

There was a twelve-round boxing event held in the Lucas Opera House. It was the feather-weight championship of the northwest.

Tickets for the "Great Ravalli County Fair" were $1.50 for four days. If you couldn't afford the full season ticket, a day pass was available for fifty cents. According to the records, the first fair was well attended, making it a success. The Ravalli County Fair remains an annual event today in the 21st century.

Rocky Mountain Labs

The Rocky Mountain Labs have always been a controversial part of history for Hamilton Montana. Early settlers of the valley were plagued with a deadly disease of unknown origin that seemed to be concentrated on the west side of the Bitterroot River. It was known locally as “black measles” because of its severe dark rash, and folk wisdom of the day suggested that infection occurred from drinking the melted snow water that gushed out of the west side canyons during spring run off. Fatal in nearly 4 out of 5 adult cases, local residents appealed to the state governor for help.

Montana had been granted statehood in 1889, and in 1901, the Montana State Board of Health was created. Its first priority was to bring health scientists to the Bitterroot Valley to investigate the cause, treatment and prevention of spotted fever. In 1906 scientists showed that the disease was transmitted by the bite of the Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni). A vaccine was eventually cultivated.

To continue the research, the lab was built in Hamilton in 1927 on the east side of the river. Until that time, infection had only occurred on the west side, and residents were concerned that bringing ticks across the river and cultivating the germ would spread the infection valley wide. What if some of the ticks being tested got loose in town! In order to alleviate fears, a small moat was dug around the perimeter of the facility. Since that time the lab has expanded it's research to cover infectious diseases, and bio terrorism research, and is even more suspect by local residents. On the plus side, the lab has the highest security and safety practices possible in place, and brings high paying jobs to the area, enhancing the local economy both through the economic boon to the economy and the high quality of scientists it employs.

The Medicine Tree

The Medicine Tree is a half hour drive north of Hamilton on U.S. Highway 93. This towering 300-year-old ponderosa pine has been a sacred site for the Salish-Kootenai tribes for many generations and tribal members still make regular pilgrimages to the tree, leaving personal tokens such as scarves and feathers. For generations the tree has been quite a landmark for residents of all races and seems to have stood as a monument to a certain religious tolerance. Stories abound of white settlers enjoying large gatherings of tribes making offerings to the tree, and travelers over Lost Trail Pass have noted the graceful presence of gifts hanging from the tree branches.

According to legend of the local tribes Coyote was warned about an monstrous bighorn sheep creating terror near the south end of the Bitterroot Valley. Coyote had been killing monsters all over the valley, and set off to encounter the ram. Coyote tricked the creature into charging a small tree to show his strength, and the ram's large curled horns sank into the tree, trapping it so Coyote could cut off it's head with three swift strokes of his flint knife.

Coyote then stood by the tree and said: "In the generations of human beings to come, there will be no such wicked creatures. This tree will be a place for human beings to leave offerings of their prized possessions, and to give thanks, and to pray for their well-being, for good fortune and good health. Those who are not sincere and serious in making their wishes will have misfortune and even death."

Apparently, on March 11, 1824, Alexander Ross, in command of a party of 64 men under the Hudson Bay Company, discovered the skull and horns of a bighorn ram half imbedded in the tree about five feet off ground. No sign of the bones remain today, however.

There are other stories of the tree magically helping native American's fleeing trouble through the valley, so it is no surprise that when the government started making plans to widen Highway 93 past the tree in a way that would destroy it, there was a loud outcry of protest that stopped the expansion. However, the tree still must have felt the effect of the highway so nearby, and started showing signs of illness during the 1990's. On September 25th, 2001, an enormous storm swept through the valley and snapped the tree 20 feet above its base around 8 p.m. Road crews quickly removed the tree to clear the road, and it's graceful towering branches, holding centuries of flowing offering was gone.

The Salish tribes decided to keep the trunk standing until Mother Nature herself completes the job of removing the rest of the tree from the valley. The next year, the road department moved forward on its plans to widen that section of Highway 93 but did it in a way that left the trunk standing. Travelers through the valley can still stop and leave an offering for good luck

Hamilton Montana Population & Census Information

As of 2005, Hamilton has an estimated population of 4,443 (up from 3,705 in the census of 2000). This is in the City Limits, but Hamilton spills vigorously into the surrounding county more than doubling the immediate population. Hamilton is a well-planned town, with lots of pleasant living space for the population. Lots are large, with numerous county subdivisions having lots of half to one acre. Throughout the countryside numerous 5-10 acre lots are springing up with new building.

The census of 2000 found 3,705 people living in Hamilton, Montana.

These people composed 1,772 households, with 855 families actually residing in the city.

Hamilton has a population density of 619.3/km² (1,603.6/mi²).

In Hamilton there were 1,915 housing units at an average density of 320.1/km² (828.8/mi²).

The population of Hamilton is mostly white, with the racial makeup of the city as follows:

96.22% White
0.11% African American
0.89% Native American
0.78% Asian
0.22% from other races
1.78% from two or more races
Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of the population.

Of the 1,772 households
22.3% had children under the age of 18 living at home.
Only 36.3% were married couples living together
9.5% of households have a female householder with no husband present
51.7% were non-families.
47.6% of all households were made up of single individuals
24.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
The average household size was 1.95
The average family size was 2.81.
Ages in the Hamilton City Population:
20.2% under the age of 18
6.8% from 18 to 24
24.0% from 25 to 44
20.6% from 45 to 64
28.3% who were 65 years of age or older
median age was 44 years.
If you are looking for a date, it is best to be a guy! The census found that for every 100 females in Hamilton there were 82.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.9 males.

Hamilton Income Levels
The median income

for a household in the city was $22,013
for a family was $30,665
for Males $25,795
for females $22,138 for females.
The per capita income for the city was $14,689.

Number of families below the poverty Line: 14.3%

Number of individuals below poverty line: 17.8%

Number under age 18 below poverty line:

Number over age of 65 below poverty line: 28.4%

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.0 km² (2.3 mi²), all land.

Elevation:

The elevation of Hamilton is 3572 feet. Hamilton is located on the valley floor, with the nearby Bitterroot Mountains raising up creating fabulous views to the west. Hikers can quickly rise in elevation several thousand feet. Lost Trail Pass (dividing Idaho and Montana) is 7014 feet in elevation.

Hamilton Geographical Location
Hamilton is located at 46°14'54?N, 114°9'35?W (46.248412, -114.159852)GR1.

Recreation:

The Hamilton area is a great recreation area for fishing, hunting, boating and hiking. Vast areas of wilderness abound just to the west of the Bitterroot valley with miles of pristine forest, wildlife and views. The Bitterroot River runs through the valley, close to town, creating favorite hiking trails and picnic areas for residents. The town of Hamilton boasts numerous hunting, fishing and outfitting businesses who can show travelers the best local haunts. The local newspaper reports water levels, the hatch, and the latest on fishing activity as a regular feature.

The Bitterroot River was known to the Salish Indians as "Ootlashoot", which can be translated as Spitlem seukn or "waters of the bitter root. The bitter root itself is a beautiful, low growing flower, with an edible root that is bitter in it's raw state, but quite tasty when mixed in the traditional ways with deer fat and moss, and a staple food of the local tribes.

A favorite recreational sport in the valley is mountain biking with the local area sporting hundreds of miles of trails and dirt roads. During the winter the outlaying area holds fine cross country skiing trails, and a nearby downhill ski area on Lost Trail Pass.

Living in Hamilton Montana:

Hamilton is a great spot to live in Montana. People who like city life would prefer Bozeman, Montana, or Missoula, Montana, but those of us who enjoy a small-town feel love Hamilton. Here are some of the things we love about Hamilton:

Traffic moves slow through town! What's the hurry anyway? Speed limit on First Street though the heart of Hamilton is 25 MPH, a nice, moderate pace. Driving through town is calm and easy, giving us plenty of time to check out the local businesses and see a friend or two driving by.

Active community participation. Hamilton has an active volunteer fire department, historical society, library, fair grounds, choir, theater groups and more.
Friendly neighborhoods. Our small-town neighborhoods are people friendly, a great place to get to know your neighbors. We still have block parties and talk with each other over the fence!

Weather

We love the weather in the Bitterroot Valley. Although our temperatures can run from a low of 20 below zero, to a high 105, the average days are quite moderate. More important than the temperatures is the comfortably low humidity, and fantastically fresh air flowing in over the mountains. Like all of Big Sky Montana, we are blessed with lots of sun; more often than not we can say it is a lovely day!

Job Opportunities

Although we have a saying that if you want to live rich in the Bitterroot Valley you have to bring it with you, we do have a growing economy and several large businesses offering job opportunities. The Hamilton area is also a fantastic spot to start your own business as we have a very health and active Chamber, and a friendly and opened business Climate.

Hamilton Montana Real Estate

Hamilton is a fantastic place to live - and that is reflected in our booming real estate market. Please contact any of our great Realtors and Associates to be shown through properties for sale in Hamilton, and throughout the entire Bitterroot Valley. There is also a thriving number of people who prefer For Sale By Owner, and you can keep track of available homes for sale on HamiltonMontana.com.

Bitterroot National Forest

The Bitterroot National Forest manages much of the mountainous lands on either side of the valley. One of the most beautiful features of the valley is the view of Blodgett Canyon to the west of Hamilton. These awesome cliffs are a sight to see as they catch the early sun on a clear day.

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot Valley is named after a delicate flower which grows in the valley and was a staple food of the local native tribes. Another, still popular, edible local plant is the morels mushroom which sends crowds of happy morels addicts out into the woods each spring in gathering hunts. The Bitterroot River gained its first fame as a primary location in the book "A River Runs Through It"by Norman Maclean: a haunting tale of family and fly fishing.

Fly fishing is still a popular sport along the Bitterroot River, as well as numerous other streams in the area. Boating and kayaking are also often regularly enjoyed on the Bitterroot River.

Wilderness Area

The Bitterroot National Forest is a spectacular 1.6 million acre forest in southwestern Montana and Idaho. Half of the Bitterroot National Forest is composed of the protected Selway Bitterroot, Frank church River of No Return, and the Anaconda Pintler wilderness areas. These highly glaciated and rugged peaks are popular hiking, hunting and fishing grounds filled with elk, deer, moose, bear, and numerous smaller species.

Fishing and Hunting

The Hamilton Montana area boasts some of the best hunting and fishing areas in the world (or so we like to think). There is easy access out of Hamilton into miles of trails filled with big game, and ripe with fish.

Lost Trail Pass

Lost Trail Pass is famous from the Lewis and Clark Expedition. As they came over the pass from Idaho into Montana, they lost the trial and spent several miserable days in heavy snow storms. And this was just the first of their miseries. As winter was closing in the unhappy expedition sloshed through the Montana mountains, finally reaching Oregon in a state of near starvation.

Local Hot Springs

The Hamilton Montana area has many natural hot springs, both public and private.

This expansive, big sky, valley contains the Bitterroot river which runs south from the border of Idaho northward to Missoula where it joins the Clark River.

The Bitterroot Valley is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts providing a great richness of wildlife and outdoor opportunities. This valley borders the two largest Federal wilderness areas in the US: the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. Hunting and fishing is abundant. Fresh air, pleasant climate and beautiful scenery make this a backpacker's paradise. Hundreds of rafters enjoy the Bitterroot river in the summer. Cross country and downhill skiing are popular activities in the winter.