Ravalli County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 44,174. Its county seat is Hamilton.

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. Here, it turns east into Montana, between Chief Joseph Pass and Lost Trail Pass, and follows the Ravalli County-Beaverhead County border.

History

Ravalli County was once home to the Bitterroot Salish tribe. The tribe was first encountered in 1805 by the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which noted their friendly nature. The Catholic Church took an interest in creating a mission in the area, and in 1841 founded St. Mary's Mission, subsequently renamed as Fort Owen. In 1864, the settlement's current name, Stevensville, was adopted. In 1891, the Salish tribe was moved to the current Flathead Reservation under the Treaty of Hellgate.

In 1877, Chief Joseph and his Wallowa band of Nez Perce passed through Ravalli County in their attempt to escape confinement to a reservation; they were captured en route to Canada just south of Havre.

Ravalli County was created in 1893 by the Montana Legislature, carving off a portion of Missoula County. It was named after the Italian Jesuit priest Antony Ravalli, who came to the Bitterroot Valley in 1845.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (0.4%) is water.

Major highways

  • 20px U.S. Highway 93
  • 20px Montana Highway 38

Adjacent counties

  • Missoula County - north
  • Granite County - northeast
  • Deer Lodge County - east
  • Beaverhead County - southeast
  • Lemhi County, Idaho - south
  • Idaho County, Idaho - west/Pacific Time Border

National protected areas

  • Bitterroot National Forest (part)
  • Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge
  • Lolo National Forest (part)

Demographics

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Communities

City

  • Hamilton

Towns

  • Darby
  • Pinesdale
  • Stevensville

Census-designated places

  • Charlos Heights
  • Conner
  • Corvallis
  • Florence
  • Sula
  • Victor

Unincorporated communities

  • Alta
  • Bell Crossing
  • Cinnibar Court
  • Como
  • Gorus
  • Grantsdale
  • Medicine Hot Springs
  • Riverside

Education

K-12 school districts include:

  • Corvallis K-12 Schools
  • Darby K-12 Schools
  • Florence-Carlton K-12 Schools
  • Hamilton K-12 Schools
  • Victor K-12 Schools

High school districts include: