Climate and Demographics

The Bitterroot Valley is known as the "Banana Belt" of Montana. Microclimates can be found throughout the Valley because of the variety of elevations and bodies of water. Average rainfall is 12-15 inches per year. Snow comes early in the mountains and varies greatly from year to year on the Valley floor. Annual snowfall (at Lost Trail Ski Area) 200+ inches. Annual Snowfall (at Valley Floor) 6 inches. Annual Sunny Days - 270. Average temperatures: April (high 61 degrees) August (high 80 degrees). Annual Growing Days - 130-150; Daylight Hours (June 21 - 16.5) The Bitterroot Valley is nestled between two mountain ranges on the western edge of the state. We offer uncommonly beautiful scenery and a wide range of activities for everyone of all ages.
Altitude: 3,200 - 3,890 feet
The Bitterroot Valley is 25 miles wide and 96 miles long covering 2,383 square miles.

Lewis and Clark applied the name "Bitter Root Valley" to the whole valley where they found this plant growing profusely. The plant's botanical name is Lewisia rediviva which comes from the explorers name. The Bitterroot was officially designated as Montana's State Flower by the Legislature in 1895.

Age		Total	Male	Female	% of Total
Population - 2002 Census
Children	0-9	4550	2391	2159	13%
Teenagers	10-19	5525	2893	2632	15%
Adults	20-29	2976	1502	1474	8%
	30-39	4436	2147	2289	12%
	40-49	5945	2843	3102	17%
	50-59	5099	2502	2597	14%
	60-69	3518	1828	1690	10%
	70+	4021	1804	2217	11%
TOTAL		36,070	17,910	18,160	100%
TOTAL 2004		39,376

(Source: Ravalli County Community Profile)

Housing - Median Reported Sales Price
Single Family: $138,000			Under 1 Acre: $153,500
Over 1 Acre: $22,000			Median House Rental: $625
Commercial: $.70			Retirement Centers: 7
2003 Annual Average Employment
	Ravalli County	# Establishments		Wages Paid	Annual Average
Total	10,313	1,512		243,789,787	23,639
Ag	309	66		6,963,700	22,536
Construction	807	286		19,749,191	24,472
Manufacturing	959	103		29,312,862	30,566
T.C.U¹	367	81		7,731,288	21,066
Wholesale Trd	244	62		9,137,897	37,450
Retail Trd	1,502	171		26,543,204	17,672
F.I.R.E.²	475	112		13,454,228	28,325
Services	3,145	440		51,849,944	16,486
Government	2,050	71		63,703,539	31,075
Average per capita personal income Ravalli County 2003 - $22,014; MT $25,406 Unemployment: 4.6% ¹ Transportation, Communications, Utilities ² Finance, Insurance, Real Estate

(Source: Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce)

Civic Information

County Commissioners, City Mayor - 4 incorporated towns: Hamilton, Stevensville, Darby and Pinesdale

Number of Volunteer Fire Department Personnel: 155

Number of Law Enforcement Officers: 36

Land Ownership: Public 74% - Private 26%

Tax Rate: Per capita taxes: 43% of US average

Real Property: approx. 1.05 - 1.32% of market value

Business Equipment: 1.2% of market value

Auto License & Registration: Amounts based on year of vehicle: New to 5 yrs. $195; 5-10 yrs. $65; 11 yrs. and older $6+ $25-$35 license, title and registration fees, +0.5% County Option (taxable value of vehicle)

No Sales Tax

Ravalli County Economic Development Authority: 7 commissioner board

Year	Population
Population Projections
2003	39,250
2005	41,280
2010	46,120
2015	50,840
2020	55,450
2025	60,030

(Source: Ravalli County Community Profile Fall 2004)

City	Population
Approximate Population by City
Charlos Heights	300
Conner	200
Corvallis	443
Darby	785
Florence	901
Grantsdale	650
Hamilton	4,163
Pinesdale	500
Stevensville	1,784
Sula	100
Victor	859
Woodside	100

U.S. Cities		Canadian Cities
Distance in highway miles from:
Chicago	1618	Calgary	500
Denver	917	Edmonton	685
Los Angeles	1300	Regina	850
St. Paul/Minn.	1225	Saskatoon	1025
Salt Lake City	605	Vancouver	600
San Francisco	1050	Winnipeg	1050
Seattle	540
Spokane	253

Mileages are measured from the Ravalli County Seat in Hamilton.

Top 10 Private Employers:

*A2Z Personnel
*Albertsons
*GSK Biologicals
*Discovery Care Center
*Farmers State Bank
*Fox Lumber
*Marcus Daly Hospital
*Rocky Mountain Log Homes
*Selway Corporation
*Super 1 Foods

Climate and Demographics

Climate and Demographics

Rich Miller