Ravalli County
County
Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall in Stevensville, Montana.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall in Stevensville, Montana.
Map of Montana highlighting Ravalli County
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Map of the United States highlighting Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°05′N 114°07′W / 46.08°N 114.12°W / 46.08; -114.12
Country United States
State Montana
FoundedMarch 3, 1893
Named forAntonio Ravalli
SeatHamilton
Largest cityHamilton
Area
 • Total2,400 sq mi (6,000 km2)
 • Land2,391 sq mi (6,190 km2)
 • Water9.4 sq mi (24 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total44,174
 • Estimate 
(2022)
47,298 Increase
 • Density18/sq mi (7.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.rc.mt.gov
  • Montana county number 13

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.[1] Its county seat is Hamilton.[2]

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 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, annexing 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 2,400 square miles (6,200 km2), of which 2,391 square miles (6,190 km2) is land and 9.4 square miles (24 km2) (0.4%) is water.[3]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19007,822—
191011,66649.1%
192010,098−13.4%
193010,3152.1%
194012,47821.0%
195013,1015.0%
196012,341−5.8%
197014,40916.8%
198022,49356.1%
199025,01011.2%
200036,07044.2%
201040,21211.5%
202044,1749.9%
2022 (est.)47,298[4]7.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960,[6] 1900–1990,[7]
1990–2000,[8] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 44,174 people living in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 40,212 people, 16,933 households, and 11,380 families in the county. The population density was 16.8 inhabitants per square mile (6.5/km2). There were 19,583 housing units at an average density of 8.2 per square mile (3.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.9% white, 0.9% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.6% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 28.8% were German, 17.4% were English, 15.9% were Irish, 8.3% were American, 5.7% were Italian, and 5.5% were Norwegian.

Of the 16,933 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.8% were non-families, and 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age was 46.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,000 and the median income for a family was $53,004. Males had a median income of $42,065 versus $27,629 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,908. About 9.6% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Agriculture and timber form the bulk of Ravalli County economic activity. Marcus Daly, one of three Butte copper kings, funded logging operations in the Bitterroot Valley. The lumber was necessary for the Butte copper operation. Recently, more of Ravalli County's economy stems from tourism. The valley borders the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and offers a wide variety of wildlife, including some of the few remaining wolverine and wolf populations in the contiguous states. The Lost Trail Powder Mountain ski area is at Lost Trail Pass on the Idaho border on US-93.

Politics

Ravalli County voters have been reliably Republican, opting only one time for the Democratic Party candidate in national elections since 1940 (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for Ravalli County, Montana[9]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 19,114 67.05% 8,763 30.74% 630 2.21%
2016 14,810 65.66% 6,223 27.59% 1,523 6.75%
2012 14,307 64.41% 7,285 32.80% 620 2.79%
2008 13,002 58.83% 8,400 38.01% 699 3.16%
2004 13,279 66.84% 6,144 30.93% 444 2.23%
2000 11,241 65.21% 4,451 25.82% 1,546 8.97%
1996 8,138 50.11% 5,200 32.02% 2,902 17.87%
1992 5,392 35.90% 4,644 30.92% 4,983 33.18%
1988 7,418 59.39% 4,763 38.13% 309 2.47%
1984 8,161 67.15% 3,825 31.47% 168 1.38%
1980 7,268 63.73% 3,063 26.86% 1,073 9.41%
1976 4,894 56.29% 3,504 40.30% 296 3.40%
1972 4,611 61.83% 2,480 33.25% 367 4.92%
1968 3,183 53.25% 2,080 34.80% 714 11.95%
1964 2,350 41.50% 3,300 58.28% 12 0.21%
1960 3,121 56.46% 2,381 43.07% 26 0.47%
1956 3,437 61.40% 2,161 38.60% 0 0.00%
1952 3,537 66.37% 1,750 32.84% 42 0.79%
1948 2,354 49.84% 2,159 45.71% 210 4.45%
1944 2,342 54.33% 1,926 44.68% 43 1.00%
1940 2,483 46.73% 2,773 52.19% 57 1.07%
1936 1,580 33.39% 2,859 60.42% 293 6.19%
1932 1,714 39.76% 2,292 53.17% 305 7.07%
1928 2,551 68.50% 1,112 29.86% 61 1.64%
1924 1,311 37.79% 562 16.20% 1,596 46.01%
1920 2,110 60.49% 1,224 35.09% 154 4.42%
1916 1,623 42.40% 1,967 51.38% 238 6.22%
1912 316 13.39% 858 36.36% 1,186 50.25%
1908 1,045 48.09% 859 39.53% 269 12.38%
1904 1,083 57.45% 523 27.75% 279 14.80%

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Notable person

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  9. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  10. ↑ Alta MT Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)
  11. ↑ Bell Crossing MT Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)
  12. ↑ Cinnibar Court MT Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)
  13. ↑ Como TM Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)
  14. ↑ Gorus MT Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)
  15. ↑ Medicine Hot Springs MT Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)

46°05′N 114°07′W / 46.08°N 114.12°W / 46.08; -114.12

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