RAVALLI COUNTY
County Offices
205 Bedford Street
Hamilton 406-802-7188
https://ravalli.us/
Chamber of Commerce
105 East Main Street
Hamilton 406-363-2400
https://bitterrootchamber.com/
Ravalli County is part of a north/south mountain valley bordered by the Sapphire Mountains on the East and the Bitterroot Mountains on the West. It is often referred to as the Bitterroot Valley, which is named for the Bitterroot Flower. The county is on the Pacific Ocean side of the Continental Divide, which follows the Idaho-Montana border from Wyoming until Ravalli County. The county is home to a little more than 40,000 residents.
Lifestyle
The Bitterroot Valley offers unsurpassed natural beauty all along its total length of nearly 94 miles. The area is home to a rich cultural and historical heritage and a reputation for hunting, fishing, hiking, boating and rafting, skiing and a wide variety of other outdoor activities. Throughout the valley there are several historic communities with a lot of unique things to see and do. The Daly Mansion, and St. Mary’s Mission are two of the historic sites to see, while historic downtowns of Stevensville, Victor, Corvallis, Darby, and Hamilton are a reminder of what small towns are supposed to look like. Gourmet cuisine, fine bed-and-breakfasts, a mixture of galleries, bookstores, breweries and cideries plus unique retail businesses give residents and visitors a lot of options. Hiking and backpacking enthusiasts will find miles of terrific trails surrounding the Bitterroot Valley. Whether you are a novice looking for a simple day hike or an experienced hiker looking for multi-day trips into the backcountry, the Bitterroots and Sapphire Mountains offer an unmatched opportunity for adventure. The rugged terrain and beautiful peaks offer miles of views and trails for all experience levels.
The Bitterroot River offers over 76 miles of floatable river, from 6 miles south of Darby to Missoula. The Salmon River is just 90 miles south of Hamilton and is a good white-water rafting river. Lake Como and Painted Rocks Reservoir are popular spots for canoes, jet skis, fishing boats, ski boats and everything in between. The Bitterroot River offers one hundred miles of fishable river, fishing access sites and some of the most pristine fishing areas in Montana. The Bitterroot is famous for its dry fly trout fishing. Lake fishing is also available at Lake Como and Painted Rocks Reservoir. Lost Trail Powder Mountain usually accumulates the greatest snow depth in Montana making it one of the best downhill slopes in the state. The area is also famous for its cross-country skiing offering some of the best in Montana along with miles of snowmobile trails. Ravalli county and its many small communities offer the residents of this area a lifestyle that is hard to match, with everything nature has to offer surrounding their cities and towns.
Services
Quality educational opportunities are available in and near the county, underlined by excellent public-school districts and options for select private and parochial schools. The county is served by several small school districts that use nationally recognized programs and detailed planning to ensure the highest education possible for students. Students in county school districts enjoy low student to teacher ratios, giving students the opportunity for exceptional learning. For those seeking higher education, there are a number of online opportunities available from state and regional colleges and universities for students of all ages. Located in Hamilton, Montana at the center of the Bitterroot Valley, Bitterroot College offers college, continuing education, and workforce training opportunities.
The county is served by one hospital, many health care professionals, dentists, medical clinics, skilled nursing facilities and pharmacies. Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital offers an array of inpatient and outpatient services, medical clinics, and a medical staff with over 70 providers. It includes a laboratory department that processes 90% of the specimens on site, a comprehensive imaging center including CT-Scan, MRI, Mammography, Ultrasound and x-ray, home health service and a hospice center, as well as a medical staff comprised of emergency medicine, family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, cardiology, ophthalmology, orthopedic, urology, neurosurgery, general surgery, neurology, urology/oncology, sleep medicine, podiatry, facial reconstructive surgery, and a team of hospitalist, pathologist, radiologist, and allied health professionals.
Communities
Hamilton
City Offices
406-363-2101
http://www.cityofhamilton.net/
Located in the middle of the Bitterroot Valley is the county seat of Ravalli. Hamilton is home to over 4,400 people and the immediate area around the town has somewhere over 12,000 people. Downtown Hamilton has several historic buildings with unique shops and restaurants. Looking west on Main Street is a beautiful view of the Bitterroot Mountains. Tree lined streets invite residents to stroll the city’s unique downtown shops. Highway 93, which passes through town, also boasts a variety of shops, grocery stores, and gas stations. In July, the entire town celebrates ‘Daly Days’ in honor of the city founder, Marcus Daly. This event includes arts, crafts, and food vendors on the streets. The local businesses hold their annual sidewalk sales, games for the kids, and the Chamber of Commerce, holds its annual Micro-Brew Festival. This is what makes Hamilton a great place to call home. The town also hosts a variety of events throughout the year including Apple Day, Bitter Root Day, a variety of art functions, several plays, art, and craft shows and the Ravalli County Fair. Hamilton gives its residents the advantage of living in a community where everyone knows their neighbors and the quieter pace of life, combined with natural beauty makes it easy to live there.
Stevensville
Town Offices
206 Buck St
Stevensville 406-777-5271
https://www.townofstevensville.com/
Stevensville is located along the Eastside Highway in the middle of Bitterroot Valley. It is roughly 20 miles north of Hamilton. Stevensville was Montana’s first permanent settlement and today is thriving small town. The first Friday of every month residents and visitors enjoy ‘First Friday’ when the Main Street Businesses stay open late and offer special deals on their wares. Main Street Stevensville is a vibrant and healthy downtown, with a diverse array of shops and businesses, well-kept historic buildings. In the summer there are many community events, including Western Heritage Days, the Creamery Picnic, Scarecrow Festival, plays, and their Annual Christmas Celebration the first week in December. Historic St. Mary’s Mission is just one of the many local historic sites. Directly north of the town is the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge is a wonderful place where visitors can enjoy wildlife observation, photography, hunting, fishing and environmental education. Stevensville’s connection to Montana’s history, amazing natural environment, and the small-town feel all contribute to the lifestyle that residents cherish and newcomers delight in.
