Editing Ravalli County, Montana

{{Short description|County in Montana, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Ravalli, Montana}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Ravalli County
 | state                = Montana
 | ex image             = IOOF building Stevensville.JPG
 | ex image size        = 220px
 | ex image cap         = [[Independent Order of Odd Fellows]] [[IOOF Hall (Stevensville, Montana)|Hall]] in [[Stevensville, Montana]].
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = March 3
 | founded year         = 1893
 | seat wl              = Hamilton
 | largest city wl      = Hamilton
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 2400
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 2391
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 9.4
 | area percentage      = 0.4
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 44174
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2022
 | population_est       = 47298 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | web                  = www.rc.mt.gov
 | district             = 1st
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | named for            = [[Antonio Ravalli]]
 | footnotes            = 
* Montana county number 13
}}

'''Ravalli County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the southwestern part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Montana]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 44,174.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ravallicountymontana/PST045222 |access-date=April 5, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Hamilton, Montana|Hamilton]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

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 of the Americas|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, Montana|Beaverhead County]] border.

==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2022}}
Ravalli County was once home to the [[Bitterroot Salish (tribe)|Bitterroot Salish]] tribe. The tribe was first encountered in 1805 by the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]], which noted their friendly nature. The [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic Church]] took an interest in creating a [[Mission (Christian)|mission]] in the area, and in 1841 founded [[St. Mary's Mission (Montana)|St. Mary's Mission]], subsequently renamed as [[Fort Owen State Park|Fort Owen]]. In 1864, the settlement's current name, [[Stevensville, Montana|Stevensville]], was adopted. In 1891, the Salish tribe was moved to the current [[Flathead Indian Reservation|Flathead Reservation]] under the [[Treaty of Hellgate]].

In 1877, [[Chief Joseph]] and his Wallowa band of [[Nez Perce tribe|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, Montana|Havre]].

Ravalli County was created in 1893 by the Montana Legislature, carving off a portion of [[Missoula County, Montana|Missoula County]]. It was named after the Italian [[Society of Jesus|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 {{convert|2400|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2391|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|9.4|sqmi}} (0.4%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_30.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205145322/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_30.txt |archive-date=December 5, 2014 |access-date=November 29, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 93.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 93 in Montana|U.S. Highway 93]]
* [[Image:MT-38.svg|20px]] [[Montana Highway 38]]

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Missoula County, Montana|Missoula County]] - north
* [[Granite County, Montana|Granite County]] - northeast
* [[Deer Lodge County, Montana|Deer Lodge County]] - east
* [[Beaverhead County, Montana|Beaverhead County]] - southeast
* [[Lemhi County, Idaho|Lemhi County]], [[Idaho]] - south
* [[Idaho County, Idaho|Idaho County]], [[Idaho]] - west/Pacific Time Border
{{div col end}}

===National protected areas===
* [[Bitterroot National Forest]] (part)
* [[Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Lolo National Forest]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 7822
|1910= 11666
|1920= 10098
|1930= 10315
|1940= 12478
|1950= 13101
|1960= 12341
|1970= 14409
|1980= 22493
|1990= 25010
|2000= 36070
|2010= 40212
|2020= 44174
|estyear=2022
|estimate=47298
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=April 5, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=November 29, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br>1790–1960,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=November 29, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900–1990,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mt190090.txt |access-date=November 29, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br>1990–2000,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=November 29, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 44,174 people living in the county.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 40,212 people, 16,933 households, and 11,380 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|16.8|PD/sqmi}}. There were 19,583 housing units at an average density of {{convert|8.2|/sqmi}}. 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 Americans|German]], 17.4% were [[English Americans|English]], 15.9% were [[Irish Americans|Irish]], 8.3% were [[American ancestry|American]], 5.7% were [[Italian Americans|Italian]], and 5.5% were [[Norwegian Americans|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, Montana|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 [[U.S. Route 93|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 2024).
{{PresHead|place=Ravalli County, Montana|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 3, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|20,617|8,485|925|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|19,114|8,763|745|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|14,810|6,223|1,523|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|14,307|7,285|620|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|13,002|8,400|699|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|13,279|6,144|444|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|11,241|4,451|1,546|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|8,138|5,200|2,902|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|5,392|4,644|4,983|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|7,418|4,763|309|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|8,161|3,825|168|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|7,268|3,063|1,073|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,894|3,504|296|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,611|2,480|367|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,183|2,080|714|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,350|3,300|12|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,121|2,381|26|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,437|2,161|0|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,537|1,750|42|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,354|2,159|210|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,342|1,926|43|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,483|2,773|57|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,580|2,859|293|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,714|2,292|305|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,551|1,112|61|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|1,311|562|1,596|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,110|1,224|154|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,623|1,967|238|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|316|858|1,186|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,045|859|269|Montana}}
{{PresFoot|1904|Republican|1,083|523|279|Montana}}

==Communities==

===City===
* [[Hamilton, Montana|Hamilton]]

===Towns===
* [[Darby, Montana|Darby]]
* [[Pinesdale, Montana|Pinesdale]]
* [[Stevensville, Montana|Stevensville]]

===Census-designated places===
{{div col}}
* [[Charlos Heights, Montana|Charlos Heights]]
* [[Conner, Montana|Conner]]
* [[Corvallis, Montana|Corvallis]]
* [[Florence, Montana|Florence]]
* [[Sula, Montana|Sula]]
* [[Victor, Montana|Victor]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* Alta<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Alta,+MT+59829/@45.6188053,-114.3085628,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x5358e371e1872521:0x1bc645f6e581e5b1!8m2!3d45.6188062!4d-114.299808 ''Alta MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)]</ref>
* Bell Crossing<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bell+Crossing,+MT+59875/@46.4432547,-114.1327449,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x535e987d85b2ce71:0x1032331c53e6e170!8m2!3d46.4432556!4d-114.1239901 ''Bell Crossing MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)]</ref>
* Cinnibar Court<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cinnabar+Court,+MT+59870/@46.4821437,-114.0969124,2905m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x535e9f2bcda7c15f:0xfa97700f1715d28a!8m2!3d46.4821446!4d-114.0881576 ''Cinnibar Court MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)]</ref>
* Como<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Como,+MT+59840/@46.0896421,-114.184122,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x53593525f8820ba3:0x2be44f94b6dcba61!8m2!3d46.089643!4d-114.1753672  ''Como TM''  Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)]</ref>
* Gorus<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gorus,+MT+59829/@46.0626977,-114.1807877,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x535934f9ac91c70d:0xebe076cee2a3246d!8m2!3d46.0626985!4d-114.1720329 ''Gorus MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Grantsdale, Montana|Grantsdale]]
* Medicine Hot Springs<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Medicine+Hot+Springs,+MT+59827/@45.8460302,-114.0441137,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x53593dd47da34ebb:0xbc1aa30594489fd6!8m2!3d45.8460311!4d-114.0353589 ''Medicine Hot Springs MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 5, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Riverside, Montana|Riverside]]
{{div col end}}

==Notable person==
* [[Henry L. Myers]], Ravalli County prosecuting attorney, [[List of United States Senators from Montana|U.S. Senator]] from Montana

==See also==
* [[List of lakes in Ravalli County, Montana]]
* [[List of mountains in Ravalli County, Montana]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Ravalli County, Montana|National Register of Historic Places listings in Ravalli County MT]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}

{{coord|46.08|-114.12|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MT_source:UScensus1990}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Ravalli County, Montana
|North     = [[Missoula County, Montana|Missoula County]]
|Northeast = [[Granite County, Montana|Granite County]]
|East      = [[Deer Lodge County, Montana|Deer Lodge County]]
|Southeast = [[Beaverhead County, Montana|Beaverhead County]]
|South     = [[Lemhi County, Idaho|Lemhi County]], [[Idaho]]
|West      = [[Idaho County, Idaho|Idaho County]], [[Idaho]]
}}

{{Ravalli County, Montana}}
{{Montana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Ravalli County, Montana| ]]
[[Category:1893 establishments in Montana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1893]]