Located in Southwest Montana’s scenic Bitterroot Valley region, Hamilton is a small yet active Montana town. The town is part of Ravalli County and has a population of not much more than 5000 people.
In many ways Hamilton is an ideal location along the busy US Highway 93—certainly in terms of passing trade from those heading into Montana or further into Idaho.
The Bitterroot Valley was originally home to the modern Salish (Flathead) and Pend d’Oreille Indians, although it was claimed by the U. S. in 1788, and explored by Lewis & Clark in 1805. The first non-native settlement was St. Mary’s mission, founded in 1841 by Jesuit priests in Stevensville.
Then Marcus Daly, a copper mining magnate, came on the scene seeking timber for his mines. This was quickly followed by the need for a mill, which in turn soon turned into a small village. Daly made this his summer home initially before acquiring more land tracts for breeding and racing thoroughbred horses.
The town of Hamilton was incorporated in 1894, named after Daly employee James Hamilton who was instrumental in the initial planning and development along the Northern Pacific Railway route in 1890.
The majority of residents at this time would have been in the employ of the Daly interests, living and shopping in ‘company’ homes and stores. When Daly died in 1900, Hamilton had become the commercial center of the Bitterroot Valley and the seat of the county.
The town is also a favorite with those from Missoula looking for both work and play, and the much more populated city is less than 50 miles from Hamilton.
It’s also very likely that Hamilton will become even more attractive as a hub for people commuting to Missoula in the future, not least of all due to the reconstruction of US Highway 93 with two additional lanes.
The town is certainly an increasingly busy place, especially during the summer months. It has expanded significantly over the last decade or so, although managing to hold on to that small-town feel, and Hamilton is a top location for outdoor recreation as well.
The Bitterroot River runs right through the town and is quite well-renowned for trout fishing. To the western regions of the town rise the picturesque Bitterroot Mountains, forming an eastern boundary of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area.
The glorious Sapphire Mountains can be seen across the east of Hamilton, and this area is popular for hunting.
On top of that is the Skalkaho Highway Scenic Byway, which runs across the Sapphire Mountains heading in the direction of the Phillipsburg Valley.
