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RAVALLI COUNTY. 



Ravalli county is one of the richest and best improved counties in the state. 

 It is located in the famous Bitter Root valley, noted because of the salubrity of 

 the climate, the fertile soil and beautiful scenery. All but about 15 miles of this 

 valley, which is 75 miles long and varies in width from a mile to 15 miles, lies in 

 Ravalli county. 



Dairying, horticulture and general farming are the chief occupations of the 

 people of Ravalli, with lumbering an important industry. 



An abundance of water for irrigation ccmes from the Bitter Root river, one 

 of the headwaters of the Columbia river. In the winter the mercury seldom 

 falls to zero, for the valley is protected by the Bitter Root and Rocky mountain 

 ranges. The valley is one of the best watered in the west. Fine roads and the 

 park to park highway makes the valley a favorite of tourists. 



In this section the first wheat, oats and potatoes were grown. They were 

 planted under the direction of Father DeSmet who built the first church in Mon- 

 tana in 1841. The first saw mill and Hour mill in what is now Montana were 

 built by the missionaries assisted by the Flathead Indians who inhabited the 

 section at the time. The county was named Ravalli after Father Ravalli, one of 

 the missionaries among the Indians. It was created in 1S93 from a part of Mis- 

 soula county. 



In the early days of the county a number of orchards were planted and the 

 results were such that it was realized the valley possessed great possibilities as 

 a fruit raising country. Horticulture, accordingly, became a well established indus- 

 try and is today. Much capital was invested in irrigation and the land is intensively 

 cultivated. 



In the last few years a change has come over the valley and the diversified 

 farming has come into its own. Small farms are now the rule. The average would 

 be GO acres. Fruit farms are plentiful and apples, particularly the Mcintosh Red, 

 are raised to perfection. Small fruit grows in abundance, while cherries, both 

 sweet and sour arc establishing a place in the world market for the Bitter Root 

 products. Experts have pronounced the valley as ideal for the dairy industry and 

 it is taking an important rank. It boasts the first cow testing association to 

 be formed in Montana and the Bitter Root Cooperative Creamery the maker of 

 a butter which has taken so many prizes, is the pride of valley. In addition 

 there are cheese factories at Victor, Woodside, Corvallis and Hamilton and a 

 creamery at Hamilton. 



The poultry industry of the valley also leads the state at the fairs and in 

 the amount of the annual business. Hogs are largely raised and beef cattle and 

 sheep are a big item. In general farming the main crops are potatoes, sugar beets, 

 peas, both for canning and for seed, alfalfa, timothy and clover and grains of all 

 kinds. Practically every thing is grown in the valley except melons, and semi- 

 tropical fruits. Corn is now being grown with some success but has not as yet 

 become an important crop. 



Its forest clad mountains furnish an abundance of logs for lumbering. On the 

 West Fork paying gold placer mines are in operation. In the center of the valley 

 near Victor a zinc mine is in operation and at many points rich copper prospects 

 are found. At Darby a coal mine is in operation. On the foot hills dry farming is 

 successiully carried on and beef cattle and sheep are grazed. All these things con- 

 tribute to the valley but its main resources are agriculture and upon that its future 

 will depend. 



Hamilton, the largest city and the county seat has a population of 2.240 by the 

 last census. It has a large department store, creamery, planer, cheese factory, nine 

 churches, a fine system of schools, and many stores. It has paved sidewalks and 

 electric lights. 



Stevensville is a city of about 1.000. It owns its own water works, has elec- 

 tricity, is the home of the Bitter Root Creamery Company and has a canning 

 factory. It is well supplied with churches and has a fine school system, including 

 a high school. 



Darby, Victor, Corvallis and Florence are all thriving towns, each with a large 

 consolidated school. 



Ravalli county is in the Missoula land district and its area is 2,391 square 

 miles. It has about 2,437 acres of land still open to homestead entry and 2G.458 

 acres of state land remaining. 



