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35-689: Founded in 1898, the forest is located in the Bitterroot and Sapphire Mountains with elevations ranging from 2,200 feet (650 m) along the Salmon River in Idaho to 10,157 foot (3,100 m) Trapper Peak. Roughly half the forest (743,000 acres, 3,000 km) make up part or all of three distinct Wilderness areas. These areas include the Anaconda–Pintler , Selway–Bitterroot and Frank Church River of No Return Wildernesses . The distinction

70-860: A large roadless area 164,000 acres in size (as of 1992) and straddling the Montana–Idaho state line exists just west of Lost Trail Pass . This area, named for 9,154' Allan Mountain (in Idaho), lies mostly in Montana and is critical to the migration of wildlife between the wildlands of central Idaho and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem . The Allan Mountain area is a lower-elevation part of the Bitterroot Range that features extensive coniferous forests, steep canyons, and pockets of old-growth ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir. Within

105-401: Is a city that serves as the county seat of Ravalli County , Montana , United States. The population was 4,659 at the 2020 census . Hamilton was founded by copper king Marcus Daly in the late 19th century. It was named for J.W. Hamilton, who provided the right-of-way to the railroad. Daly is said to have wanted to begin business in the then county seat of Grantsdale , but was denied

140-466: Is a combination of both grasslands and forested zones. Grazing rights are leased to private landowners in the lower altitudes where grasses and shrublands are dominant. Higher up, Douglas fir , larch , and lodgepole pine slowly give way to Engelmann Spruce and whitebark pine as the altitude increases. Above the treeline at 8,000 feet (2,400 m) the trees abruptly end and alpine flowers and grasses are found. A small grizzly bear population

175-521: Is at Claudia Driscoll Park. It is one of the skateparks built by Montana Pool Service, a project founded by Jeff Ament . The 700-seat Hamilton Performing Arts Center at Hamilton High School is home for the annual Bitterroot Performing Arts Series, produced by the Bitterroot Performing Arts Council, as well as other school and public productions throughout the year. Hamilton is located directly on U.S. Route 93 . It

210-657: Is at about 8,800 feet (2,680 m) in elevation in the Centennials. The site is now commemorated by a rock cairn at the source of Hellroaring Creek, which flows into Red Rock River and then into Clark canyon reservoir , where it joins the Beaverhead River and then the Big Hole River , before ultimately joining with the Jefferson River . Hamilton, Montana Hamilton

245-763: Is intersected by Montana Secondary Highway 269 . Ravalli County Airport is a public use airport 1 mile east of town. Daly Hospital, part of Bitterroot Health, provides healthcare service in Hamilton. The Bitterroot Public Library serves the town of Hamilton. It was one of the 17 Carnegie libraries built in Montana. Hamilton's newspaper is the Ravalli Republic . It is a daily broadsheet offered as print or e-edition as well as having online news. Five radio stations are licensed in Hamilton: KBAZ with mainstream rock, KHKM with adult hits, KLYQ

280-508: Is located in the former Ravalli County Courthouse and focuses on county history, natural history and art. The Daly Mansion, home of Marcus Daly, offers tours. This luxurious mansion has over 50 rooms, 26 acres of lawns, and several outbuildings. Being located in the dramatically scenic Bitterroot Valley Hamilton is a great place for outdoor activity. Nature hikes and wildlife viewing opportunities are boundless. River Park and Skalkaho Bend offer trails in town. A large skatepark, Circle 13,

315-406: Is located in the wilderness zones of the forest with black bear, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, elk and moose found all over this forest. An active effort to reintroduce the grizzly bear to the region concluded in 2000 with a plan to release 25 bears into the wilderness zones over a five-year period beginning in 2003. There are 1,600 mi (2,500 km) of trails and 18 improved campgrounds within

350-616: Is sometimes considered to extend east of the Monida Pass to include the Centennial Mountains . The range comprises the following subranges (from north to south): The Coeur d'Alène Mountains are the northwesternmost portion of the Bitterroot Range and encompass an area of 2,590 square miles (6,700 km ). The mountain range's two highest peaks are the 7,352 foot (2,241 m) Cherry Peak and

385-408: Is that in wilderness areas, no roads , logging , mining or other construction is permitted and all access must be done either on foot or horseback ; even bicycles are not permitted. Hunting , however is allowed forest-wide including wilderness areas. The Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805 passed through parts of future forest lands. After the discovery of gold in Idaho and then Montana in

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420-614: The 6,837 foot (2,084 m) Patricks Knob . The Saint Joe Mountains , the smallest named portion of the Bitterroot Range, encompass an area of 698 square miles (1,808 km ) . They lie between the St. Joe River on the south, the Coeur d'Alene River on the north, the Slate Creek saddle on the east and the plateau of the Moscow, Idaho / Pullman, Washington area on

455-632: The Köppen climate classification , Hamilton has a humid continental climate . As of the census of 2010, there were 4,348 people, 2,175 households, and 1,006 families living in the city. The population density was 1,718.6 inhabitants per square mile (663.6/km ). There were 2,456 housing units at an average density of 970.8 per square mile (374.8/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 95.0% White , 0.3% African American , 0.6% Native American , 1.4% Asian , 0.2% from other races , and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of

490-741: The Lentivirus family of viruses. Hamilton had one of the last remaining Kmart stores in the United States, which was the only remaining one in the state of Montana and the entire Mountain time zone. However, plans to close the Kmart store were announced in January 2022, with its final day of business conducted on March 6, 2022. Dominic Farrenkopf became Mayor in 2018. Hamilton's City Council has three Wards with two representatives from each Ward. The Ravalli County Museum , founded in 1955,

525-770: The Selway and Lochsa Rivers. Its highest summit is Trapper Peak , at 10,157 feet (3,096 m) . The Beaverhead Mountains encompass an area of 4,532 square miles (11,738 km ) . They lie to the east of the Bitterroot Mountains and lie to the west of the Big Hole Basin and the Pioneer Mountains . Passes in the mountains include Lemhi Pass , Bannock Pass , Big Hole Pass , Big Hole Pass II, Junction Pass and Monida Pass . The Beaverheads are further subdivided into

560-882: The West Big Hole Mountains , the Big Hole Divide , the Tendoy Mountains , the Italian Peaks , and the Garfield Peaks . The Centennial Mountains encompass an area of 2,064 square miles (5,346 km ) . The Centennials are home to Brower's Spring , discovered in 1888 by Jacob V. Brower , which is believed to be the furthest point on the Missouri River . Brower published his finding in 1896 in "The Missouri: Its Utmost Source." The site of Brower's Spring

595-418: The 1860s, numerous mining towns were built, some of which dwindled into ghost towns . The Nez Perce National Historic Trail passes through a portion of the forest, following the route of the retreating Nez Perce on their historic path that led from Idaho to north central Montana in 1877. Heavy logging and other resource depletion beginning in the 1880s led conservationists to push for the preservation of

630-490: The Bitterroot Range, from west to east. The Bitterroots also presented a massive problem for the expedition, ending their hope of finding an all water Northwest Passage. The mountains were crossed by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (the "Milwaukee Road"). According to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names , the Bitterroot Range runs from Pend Oreille Lake (near Sandpoint, Idaho ) to Monida Pass ,. It

665-595: The Idaho/ Washington border. The Bitterroot Mountains , comprising the Northern and Central Bitterroot Ranges , are the largest portion of the Bitterroot Range and encompass an area of 4,862 square miles (12,593 km ) . The mountains are bordered on the north by Lolo Creek, on the south by the Salmon River , on the east by the Bitterroot River and Valley , and on the west by

700-479: The area is Overwhich Falls, a popular attraction; hiker's gentian ( Gentianopsis simplex ) and primrose monkey flower ( mimulus primuloides ), sensitive plants, are found here in wet meadows. Elk, black bear, mountain goat, pine marten , and pileated woodpecker are residents. Bitterroot Range The Bitterroot Range is a mountain range and a subrange of the Rocky Mountains that runs along

735-403: The average family size was 2.81. In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 28.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.9 males. The median income for a household in the city

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770-557: The border of Montana and Idaho in the northwestern United States . The range spans an area of 24,223 square miles (62,740 km ) and is named after the bitterroot ( Lewisia rediviva ), a small pink flower that is the state flower of Montana. 1805, the Corps of Discovery , led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and aided by Sacajawea of the Shoshone tribe, crossed the Bitterroot Range several times. Lewis first crossed

805-401: The city. The population density was 1,603.6 inhabitants per square mile (619.2/km ). There were 1,915 housing units at an average density of 828.8 per square mile (320.0/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 96.22% White , 0.11% African American , 0.89% Native American , 0.78% Asian , 0.22% from other races , and 1.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of

840-487: The fires. Hamilton is located at 46°14′54″N 114°9′35″W  /  46.24833°N 114.15972°W  / 46.24833; -114.15972 (46.248412, -114.159852). According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 2.57 square miles (6.66 km ), of which 2.53 square miles (6.55 km ) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km ) is water. According to

875-643: The forest. The Bitter Root Forest Reserve was established by the United States General Land Office on March 1, 1898, with 4,147,200 acres (16,783 km). It was transferred to the U.S. Forest Service in 1906. On July 1, 1908, the name was changed to Bitterroot National Forest, with lands added from Big Hole National Forest and Hell Gate National Forest . Other lands were transferred from Bitterroot to Beaverhead , Clearwater , Nez Perce and Salmon National Forests . On October 29, 1934, part of Selway National Forest

910-677: The forest. There are three officially designated wilderness areas in Bitterroot National Forest that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System . All of them, however, lie mostly in neighboring National Forests (or in Bureau of Land Management land), as indicated. Much of the forest outside of designated wilderness areas is still roadless and undeveloped. In addition to roadless acreage adjacent to designated wildernesses,

945-510: The forest. Outstanding fishing is found in the dozens of rivers and streams and lakes. The forest headquarters is located in Hamilton, Montana . There are local ranger district offices in Darby , Stevensville , and Sula . The largest nearby city is Missoula, Montana . The scenic Blodgett Canyon is but one of many steep canyons located in the forest. U.S. Highway 93 passes through portions of

980-707: The government-run Rocky Mountain Laboratories , and a branch of the Corixa Corporation (bought in the late 1990s from Ribi ImmunoChem Research, Inc.). The Corixa Corporation was bought by GlaxoSmithKline in 2005. NIAID ( National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ) completed construction of a Biosafety Level 4 biohazard laboratory as part of the Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) facility in 2008. This facility has begun operations using highly-pathogenic organisms including

1015-590: The mountains at Lemhi Pass on August 12, then returned across the pass to meet Clark. The entire expedition then crossed the pass to the Salmon River valley, and the next month entered the Bitterroot Valley from the south via either Lost Trail Pass or Chief Joseph Pass . It then crossed Lolo Pass to the west. In June 1806 the Corps of Discovery was then lead by 5 members of the Nez Percé back across

1050-431: The opportunity. He supposedly founded Hamilton out of his own pocket as a reaction to being rebuffed at Grantsdale. In the summer of 2000, Hamilton made international headlines when forest fires throughout the Bitterroot Valley filled the area with smoke and prompted the evacuation of many residents. President Clinton declared a state of emergency in the area and dispatched National Guard troops to assist with fighting

1085-408: The population. There were 1,772 households, out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.3% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.7% were non-families. 47.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.95 and

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1120-442: The population. There were 2,175 households, of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.6% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 53.7% were non-families. 47.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

1155-422: Was $ 22,013, and the median income for a family was $ 30,665. Males had a median income of $ 25,795 versus $ 22,138 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 14,689. About 14.3% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line , including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over. Hamilton is, as of 2004, home to two microbiological research and production facilities:

1190-432: Was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age in the city was 43 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.4% were from 25 to 44; 23.4% were from 45 to 64; and 24.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 3,705 people, 1,772 households, and 855 families living in

1225-410: Was added. In August 2016, a wildfire burned down fourteen houses. The forest is home to many species of wildlife species including mule deer , white-tailed deer , elk , bighorn sheep , mountain goat , gopher , a variety of chipmunks , beaver , porcupine , woodchuck , rabbits , a variety of squirrels , moose , black bear , and cougar in addition to many varieties of birds. The forest

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