Missoula County

Provided by Missoula County www.co.missoula.mt.us; (406) 721-5700

Missoula County, Montana covers approximately 2,600 square miles in the western part of the state. Five large valleys and two major rivers wind through this mountainous region.  Missoula County has a population of over 100,000 people and the County Seat is located in the City of Missoula.

The present Courthouse (200 West Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802), was designed by A.J. Gibson, Missoula’s premier architect.  Construction began in 1908 and the Courthouse was completed
in 1910. The neoclassical sandstone block building is crowned by a four-sided clock tower with a two-ton bell that rings on the half hour and hour.  Its south foyer is graced by a series of eight murals painted by famed western artist Edgar S. Paxson, between 1912 and 1914.  An annex was added to the north side of the building in 1966. The Missoula County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  

In 2009, Missoula County opened a north County office location in Seeley Lake, 3360 Highway 83 North, Seeley Lake, MT  59868. The office space, leased from the Seeley Lake Fire District, provides hours for several departments, and includes space for the Seeley Lake and Swan Valley deputies and a backup 9-1-1 center. 

In 2011, most administrative functions moved to the new Missoula County Administration Building, 199 West Pine, Missoula, MT 59802 (at the southeast corner of Pine and Ryman Streets, just east of the Courthouse).  Departments housed include the County Commissioners, Human Resources, Financial Services, Auditors, Surveyors/GIS, Information Services, and Central Services.  The new public meeting space, Admin B14, is on the basement level.
The Missoula County Courthouse and Annex continues to house Motor Vehicle/Treasurer, Recording and Elections, Justice Court, Clerk of Court, District Court, Sheriff’s, and County Attorneys.

Missoula County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners, consisting of three elected members who serve six-year staggered terms.  All legislative, executive and administrative powers and duties of the local government, not specifically reserved by law or ordinance to other elected officials, reside in the Commission (MCA7-3-401).  The current Board includes Bill Carey, Chair for 2012; Michele Landquist and Jean Curtiss.  The Commissioners hold a public meeting on the second (2nd) and fourth (4th) Wednesdays of the month at 1:30 p.m. in Admin B14, the new public meeting space on the basement level of the Administration Building, 199 West Pine. They hold special public meetings on other Wednesdays as needed.

Other Elected Officials include:  County Auditor Barbara Berens, County Clerk & Recorder/Treasurer Vickie Zeier, County Superintendent of Schools Erin Lipkind, County Attorney Fred VanValkenburg,  County Sheriff/Coroner Carl Ibsen,  Clerk of District Court Shirley Faust,  County Justice of the Peace John Odlin and County Justice of the Peace Karen Orzech.

Missoula County Rural Initiatives (RI) is responsible for providing citizens with an avenue for collecting and distributing data, legislation, regulations and policies relative to Missoula County.  RI staff advise the Commissioners on issues of importance to County citizens in nine planning regions in Missoula County.  Activities include comprehensive land use and parks planning; natural resource monitoring and protection; water course and water source protection; and cultural resource protection and enhancement.  The work of RI is complemented by the efforts of an Open Lands Citizen Advisory Committee established in November 2006 when voters passed a $10 million Open Space Bond.

The Missoula County Department of Public Works serves the residents of the County in the areas of engineering and surveying services; road and bridge construction and maintenance; water and wastewater facilities construction and maintenance; mapping; and Rural Special Improvement District (RSID) creation.  In May 2006, Missoula County adopted a Countywide Building Code Enforcement Program, administered through the Public Works Department.  The Building Code Fee Schedule is reviewed and revised on an annual basis.

The Missoula County Treasurer’s Office is the collection and distribution center for all taxes in Missoula County.  Property Taxes can be paid online by accessing Webpay through the online Property Tax Payment system.  The Treasurer’s Office also handles license plate renewals and title work for newly purchased vehicles.  Appointments may be scheduled for title work, or for 5 or more renewals, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.  The office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for renewals and from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. for title transactions.  MasterCard and Visa credit cards are accepted.

These are just a few examples of the services that Missoula County provides. Additional Information about all County services may be found on our website, www.co.missoula.mt.us, or by calling (406) 721-5700.

Population

Missoula (city) population in 2010 was 66,788; up 17.1% from 2000.
Missoula County population in 2010 was 109,299; up 14.1% from 2000.
Median annual income was $44,084.

School Enrollment (2010)

Elementary / 1-8
Missoula: 5,290
Missoula metro area: 9,293

High Schools / 9-12 
Missoula: 2,906
Missoula metro area: 5,210

In College or Graduate School 
Missoula: 12,141
Missoula metro area: 15,398

Attending University of Montana:  15,642  (80% full-time)
Attending Missoula College UM: 2,444

Additional providers of workforce training:
The Missoula Job Service
Missoula County Public Schools — Adult Education Division
(American Community Survey, 2010, Missoula; The University of Montana, UM–College of Technology, the Missoula Economic Partnership.

Distances from Missoula

Billings 345 miles
Boise 369 miles
Bozeman 204 miles
Calgary, Alberta 364 miles
Denver 895 miles
Great Falls 170 miles
Helena 127 miles
Kalispell 121 miles
Los Angeles 1,211 miles
Phoenix 1230 miles
Portland 549 miles
Salt Lake City 524 miles
San Francisco 1147 miles
Seattle 476 miles
Spokane 198 miles

Missoula’s Climate

Elevation 3,199 feet above sea level
Annual Average Temp 44.4ºF
January Daily Minimum Temp 29.5ºF
July Daily Minimum Temp 84.1ºF
Annual Average Snowfall 46.5”
Annual Average Rainfall 13.5”