Mineral County

Alberton•DeBorgia•Haugen•Riverbend•Saltese•St. Regis•Superior•Taft

Provided by the Mineral County Chamber of Commerce
www.montanarockies.org/index.htm
Mineral County Historical Museum: http://mineralmtmuseum.com/
Mineral County Information & Commerce: http://mineralcounty.info/index.shtml
Route of the Hiawatha: http://www.skilookout.com/hiawatha/

Mineral County is located in Western Montana near Idaho between Missoula, Montana and Spokane Washington. The County Seat is located in Superior - also home to the Mineral County Museum, Community Hospital, Sheriff’s Office, and a USDA Forest Service ranger district for the Lolo National Forest. There are several separate, but intertwined communities within the county: The West End (Haugan, Saltese, DeBorgia), St. Regis, Superior and Alberton. The county contains 1,223 square miles and a population of ~3,600. The majority of the land is within the Lolo National Forest and located through a narrow valley separated by the Clark Fork and St. Regis Rivers.

Mineral County has much to offer in the line of recreation, health care, including a hospital, outlying clinics and first responders, and good schools. The County offers extensive recreation areas for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and some fantastic whitewater adventure. Winter activities include cross-country and downhill skiing, snowmobiling, sledding and ice skating. Well maintained roads in the winter assure any visitor the ability to find the perfect spot for winter fun. Summertime offers anglers some of the best trout fishing that can be found and with the abundance of recreational land, opportunities for hiking, backpacking, four wheeling and whitewater rafting can be found with ease!

Other unique visitor opportunities included the Hiawatha Bike Trail. This trail, which starts at Lookout pass, winds visitors through 10 tunnels and 7 high trestles. The 15-mile route crosses the rugged Bitterroot Mountains between Idaho and Montana. The Hiawatha is best known for the long, dark St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel, which burrows for 1.66 miles under the Idaho/Montana state line. Self -guided auto tours are also available through the Historical Society in Superior, which leads visitors through the route of the 1910 Fire in the west end of the county, from St. Regis to Lookout.

Many other community events take place over the year including the big Flea Market in St. Regis, Annual River Ball Float, auto shows, rodeos, golf tournaments and Rail Road Days in Alberton.

For more information about Mineral County and all it has to offer please visit the Mineral County Chamber of Commerce at http://www.montanarockies.org/events.htm or call (406) 822-4891

Alberton

Provided by www.albertonmontana.com. Please visit this site or call the town of Alberton for more information at (406) 722-3404.

When the Milwaukee railroad established its trans-continental line to the pacific coast, Albert J. Earling chose the route on the north side of the river. The Milwaukee railroad had determined that a train station was needed to service the steam engines that were being used at that time. This location was 30 miles west of Missoula. The Milwaukee railroad had to buy the right-of-way, land for the railroad yards and for the town. This was bought from Henry & Catherine Brown who had homesteaded it in 1891. The Milwaukee railroad also purchased land from Charles Amadie and Phoebe Agnes Poirier who had homesteaded in 1899. The Milwaukee railroad was surveyed in 1907 and was built in 1908-09. The catchy name of the town at that time was Browntown. It was then changed to Alberton, after Alexander Albert who was one of first settlers in this valley. His homestead was south of the river across the natural pier bridge. It was also named after the railroad president, Albert J. Earling.

The Milwaukee depot is now restored and used as the town hall, library, senior citizens center and by the American Legion.

Alberton is known as the gateway to the Alberton Gorge which is favored by whitewater rafters, and avid anglers. With the Clark Fork river out it’s back door, it is no wonder that in the warm weather you can see people fly fishing, rafting, tubing or kayaking, to enjoy a nice relaxing day. This small town is not only a great place to live and do business but also offers a nice break from interstate travel.