Missoula County Towns

Bonner•Clinton•East Missoula•Evaro•Frenchtown•Lolo•Orchard Homes•Seeley Lake• Wye

Western Montana offers great communities around Missoula with accessible roadways which make living and commuting to Missoula easy to do.

Clinton

Clinton is an old mining and lumber town. In 1889 ore deposits were discovered and the Charcoal Mine yielded thousands of dollars worth of lead and silver. The first post office opened in 1892 and a stage station was started in 1883 on Mullan Road, which is now the frontage road running parallel with I-90.

Clinton is located in southwestern Montana, approximately 20 miles east of Missoula. Rock Creek Lodge just outside of Clinton, Montana throws the world’s largest testicle festival every fall attracting more than 15,000 fans annually to its five day. Clinton also has a K-8 school.

Frenchtown

Frenchtown’s first settlers were French Canadians who came from Ontario and Quebec in 1864. Frenchtown anually celebrated June 24th as St. John’s Day, in honor of the town’s patron saint. The town was called Valley qua elth by the Indians, meaning ‘state of tranquility.’ The first post office was established in 1868 with Charles Cusson as postmaster. It was closed in 1869 and reopened in 1870. Hyppolite Lassere was appointed postmaster in March of 1873. Louis Barrette discovered gold in 1869 which brought 3,000 prospectors to the gulch.

Frenchtown is located in southwestern Montana, 16 miles northwest of Missoula on I-90. Frenchtown has an elementary, middle and high school that has over 1200 students attending grades k-12. The elevation is 3044 feet.
Info provided by www.travelmt.com/mt-cities-Frenchtown.html

Lolo

Lolo is an important junction in Western history and is the gateway to the Bitterroot Valley. Visit the Lolo Pass Visitor Information Center on US Highway 12 near the Idaho/Montana border to learn more about the historic Lolo Trail. The pass was used by the Nez Perce Indians as a buffalo trail and by the Lewis and Clark Expedition en route to the Pacific. Lolo has schools providing education from k-12th grade.

The above community information was provided by: www.travelmt.com/mt-cities-lolo.html

Seeley Swan Valley

The Seeley Swan Valley and Surrounding Area Welcome You to Visit! Enjoy a spectacular drive along the Blackfoot River, just an hour from Missoula.

The vibrant and charming small towns of Seeley Lake and Condon lie between the Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Mission Mountain Wilderness, serving as gateways to these natural wonders.

You will find more spectacular unspoiled nature here than anywhere else in the lower 48 states, providing breathtaking experiences by day and relaxing hospitality by night.

The Seeley Swan Valley Chain of Lakes is connected by the Clearwater and Swan Rivers. The nearby Big Blackfoot River, location of Norman Mclean’s A River Runs Through It is a world class fishery with scenic views in every direction. The waterways, to the prairies to the peaked vistas offer all of the scenery, wildlife and recreation that anyone can imagine.

As a four season recreational area, there is always an opportunity to experience something new. There is lodging for every budget from basic motels to deluxe lodges offering a myriad of amenities. A public 18-hole golf course welcomes the novice as well as the experienced golfer. The valley has 36 designated trail heads for hiking. The world class cross-country ski trails become mountain bike trails in the summer. The valley offers over 300 miles of un-crowded groomed snowmobile trails. The annual Winterfest celebration kicks off the winter season with ice sculptures, horse dawn wagon rides, ice skating and much more…

Seeley Lake, as the hub of the region, is a full service community offering the necessary services, conveniences and support, visitors expect. A strong Artisans Guild provides self guided tours to artist’s studios and galleries. You will find something for everyone in the beautiful Seeley Swan Valley.

For more information, please visit our website: www.seeleylakechamber.com