Stevensville, MT- "Montana's Oldest City"
Established- 1864
Population- 2,210
Elevation- 3,320
Stevensville, Montana, distinguished as the state’s first permanent non-indigenous settlement founded in 1841 as St. Mary’s Mission by Jesuit missionaries at the request of the Bitterroot Salish, boasts numerous Montana “firsts” including irrigation and ranching, and was renamed in 1864 for Governor Isaac Stevens before being platted in 1879; its deep historical ties, including the poignant removal of the Salish, are preserved at sites like St. Mary’s Mission and Fort Owen State Park. Today, this community, flanked by the majestic Bitterroot and Sapphire Mountains, offers a blend of historic charm and modern convenience with a sparse suburban feel popular among families and retirees, who appreciate its strong community, conservative values, and exceptional outdoor recreation in the Bitterroot River, National Forest, and Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, all while enjoying a peaceful rural lifestyle centrally located between Hamilton and Missoula.