Historical Hamilton, MT / Ravalli County Museum & Historical Society
The Bitterroot Valley is rich in history.
Generations have called this spectacular valley their home for thousands of years, making history along the way.
This article provides a brief overview of the recent history of the Bitterroot Valley.
Content may include affiliate links. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you
Key Dates in Bitterroot Valley History
✓ The “Bitter Root Valley” was historically the home of the modern Salish (Flathead) and Pend d’Oreille Tribes.
✓ The area was claimed for the United States in 1788 in the Oregon Country Acquisition.
✓ The Bitterroot Valley was explored by Lewis & Clark during their expedition in 1805 – 1806.
✓ St. Mary’s mission in Stevensville was established by Father DeSmet in 1841.
St. Mary’s Mission in Stevensville, MT / Bitterroot Info
✓ Fort Owen was established in 1850 near Stevensville by Major John Owen.
✓ The first settlers arrived in the Bitterroot Valley in 1855.
✓ Marcus Daly began acquiring land in 1886 and Hamilton was established.
✓ The city of Hamilton was founded by Marcus Daly in 1890.
✓ The city of Hamilton was incorporated in 1894.
✓ The Big Ditch and it’s irrigation network was built to deliver water to farmers from 1906 – 1915.
✓ The “Apple Boom” nearly doubled Hamilton’s population from 1907 – 1911.
✓ The Rocky Mountain Laboratory was established in 1927.
Marcus Daly Changed Bitterroot Valley History
Marcus Daly, the copper mining magnate, came to the Bitterroot Valley in search of timber to supply his mines.
Mr. Daly made the valley his summer home in 1887, and changed Bitterroot Valley history in the process.
He acquired large tracts of land termed the Bitter Root Stock Farm, which he devoted to his hobby of breeding and racing thoroughbred horses.
He needed a mill to serve his timber operations and a town to serve the mill.
Marcus Daly / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
James Hamilton, a Daly employee, platted the town along the route of the Northern Pacific Railway in 1890.
The town of Hamilton was incorporated in 1894 and was named after Mr. Hamilton.
Hamilton was a company town revolving around the activities of the large Anaconda Copper Mine and the Bitter Root Stock Farm.
Most Hamilton residents worked for Daly business interests, lived in “company” homes and shopped in “company” stores.
By the time Daly died in 1900, Hamilton was the commercial center of the Bitterroot Valley and the seat of Ravalli County.
The Big Ditch
Marcus Daly began development of an irrigation network that, after his death, gave rise to the “Big Ditch Boom” that ran from 1906 through 1915.
The grandiose irrigation and land development scheme was fueled by speculators from the East and Midwest, who invested big money to build the Big Ditch irrigation system.
The subsequent “Apple Boom” was fueled by slick salesmen with often misleading literature who promised fertile land and a good climate for growing fruit trees (mainly apples) which, in turn, brought many unsuspecting farmers to the region.
From 1907 to 1911 the town’s population jumped from 1,800 to 3,000.
The Anaconda Copper Mining Company Mill closed down in 1915 after running out of accessible timber.
By 1917 financial problems plagued the ditch builders and the boom went bust. The orchard farmers became disillusioned and many moved away.
Although the economy went into decline the town survived through farming and timber production.
Truck gardens produced fruit, berries and vegetables, dairies were known for their butter and ice cream. Many farmers grew celery, sugar beets and potatoes.
The U.S. Forest service employed others in their stewardship of thousands of acres of government owned timber land.
A New Beginning
Hamilton’s period of economic decline did not fully recover until 1927 when the Rocky Mountain Laboratory was established to research the cause of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Contrary to other parts of the nation, Hamilton enjoyed considerable growth during the depression years of the thirties until World War II.
Many decades later, Hamilton and Ravalli County experienced a period of 40% growth in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.
Rocky Mountain Laboratory / National Library of Medicine
The nation’s population was shifting from urban cities to the non-urban “new west” in search of a better quality of life.
People were drawn to Hamilton because of clean air and water, the open space, and the recreational opportunities of the mountains and the streams.
Population growth of the Bitterroot Valley slowed in 2008 for more than a decade, but has been growing again as people continue to seek the quality of life the valley offers.
join us • Bitterroot Info
That’s a Good Question
When was the Bitterroot Valley claimed by the United States?
The area was claimed for the United States in 1788 in the Oregon Country Acquisition.
Marcus Daly began acquiring land in the Bitterroot Valley in 1886 and made it his summer home in 1887.
Additional Resources
These links provide additional information about Bitterroot Valley history: