History of Missoula County, Montana, USA

Missoula County, Washington Territory was incorporated in 1860.
Missoula County encompassed present-day Missoula and Deer Lodge Counties, as well as a good portion of land north and south of present-day Missoula County.
wikipedia.org

1891 - FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE N. P.
The Northern Pacific westbound passenger train No. 1 was wrecked Saturday night about 11 o'clock, three or four miles east of Missoula, Montana. It was caused by a landslide which had covered the track at a sharp curve in the road, and the night being exceedingly dark, the engines failed to discover the obstruction.

MR. C. P. TATRO, of Spokane, was a passenger on the wrecked train, who with four others who were in the wreck, arrived in Spokane yesterday at 7 p.m.

MR. TATRO was badly burned about the shoulders, but able to be about this morning, though in a decidedly disabled condition. He gave a Chronicle reporter in substance, the following account of the horrible accident:

On the night of the wreck it was raining very hard and it was cold and exceedingly dark. During the night it hailed and in the early part of the evening it almost snowed, making it altogether a disagreeable night which seemed to bode of coming evil. The train came very rear running over a bridge east of... Read MORE...

1895 - Missoula
Missoula, a city, the capital of Missoula co, Montana, is on a river of the same name, near the confluence of the Bitter Root and Hell Gate Rivers, and on the Northern Pacific Railroad, 124 miles W.N.W. of Helena. It is in a fertile valley near the Rocky Mountains. It has a long suspension-bridge over the river, a fine court-house, a national bank, 2 daily and 2 weekly newspapers, and several churches. Pop. in 1890, 3426.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1898 - Crushed by Logs
Special to the Miner.
Missoula, Feb. 7. - Howard Murphy was instantly killed last Saturday afternoon at McKeen and McQuarry's camp near Bearmouth by a log falling upon him. His remains were brought to Missoula for interment. Murphy was 25 years of age and unmarried. As far as known he has no relatives in this part of the country. He was engaged in blocking a sled runner which had plunged into a rut when a log chain holding the load parted, allowing the heavy logs to fall upon him.

William M. Moss, an employe of the same firm, was also fatally crushed in a log chute Saturday and was brought to Missoula and placed in the hospital. Moss was still alive this evening but can not recover.
Butte Weekly Miner
Butte, Montana
February 10, 1898

1905 - SERIOUSLY INJURED. MANY PASSENGERS HURT IN ACCIDENT ON NORTHERN PACIFIC.
Missoula, Mont., Nov. 9. - The Northern Pacific passenger train No. 94, eastbound, running thirty miles an hour, crashed into the rear of an eastbound freight two miles west of here today and a score of passengers and trainmen were injured. The two engineers received injuries which probably will prove fatal.

The passenger train was drawn by two heavy engines. The freight train was coming into the Missoula yards when the collision occurred.

A flagman had been sent back to warn the passenger train, but owing to a dense fog which prevented the signals being seen the engineers on the passenger train did not realize the danger until they were upon the engine which was pushing the freight train to the side track.
As the three engines crashed together the engineers and firemen jumped from the windows.

The impact shoved the heavy freight train forward a distance of 100 yards, telescoping the tenders and cabs of the three locomotives.
A refrigerator car in the passenger train was... Read MORE...

1906
Missoula, miz-zoo'Ia, a northwestern county of Montana, borders on Idaho. Area, 6385 sq. m. It is intersected by Clarke's River, a branch of the Columbia, The surface is mostly mountainous and is extensively covered with forests of pine and other evergreen trees. The Bitter Root Mountains extend along the SW. border of this county. Gold, silver, and copper are found. Capital, Missoula. Po£ in 1890, 3426 ; in 1900, 13,964.

Missoula, a banking city, the capital of Missoula co., Mont., is on a river of the same name, near the confluence of the Bitter Root and Hell Gate rivers and on the Northern Pacific R., 96 miles (direct) WNW. of Helena. It is in a fertile valley near the Rocky Mountains, in a mining, agricultural, and fruit-growing region, and is the seat of the University of Montana, The city has bottling-works, a brewery, etc. Pop. in 1900, 4366.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

1926 - Fire-control Research
Fire-control research begins in Missoula, Montana. Research continues today at the Missoula Fire Lab, and at labs in Macon, Georgia and Riverside, California.

National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior

www.nps.gov

1936 - MISSOULA FIRE LOSS MAY BE $400,000; FLORENCE HOTEL IS CONSUMED. ALL IN BIG HOTEL GET AWAY SAFE IN MISSOULA. FLORENCE BLOCK GONE AND LOSS IS TO BE HIGH.
Missoula, Sept. 24. - (AP) - Crumbling, smoking walls and blackened piles of brick are all that remain of the Florence hotel block as weary firemen struggle to speed mopup work on the blaze which early this morning destroyed the block with loss estimated ranging as high as $400,000.

The building, in the heart of the business district, housed Missoula's biggest hostelry and a half score of business places. One hundred seventy-five guests of the hotel, including the University of Minnesota's football squad of 43 men, fled from the building shortly before dawn, some scantily clad, and all escaped injury.

Dense clouds of smoke continue to pour out over the city from smouldering heaps of debris in the center of the building while the firemen, working the spray of water from high pressure hose lines, pull down the sections of walls left standing.

All Okeh.
Head Coach BERNARD (BERNIE) HIERMAN of the Minnesota grid team rubbing his smoke reddened eyes, grinned broadly after checking ... Read MORE...

1941 - FAIR GRANDSTAND RAZED BY FLAMES.
Missoula, Mont., Aug. 21. - (UP) - Fire late today destroyed the grandstand of the Western Montana Fair here, a livestock building, 21 automobiles and the tepee village of the Flathead Indian tribe.

No lives were lost, although the grandstand was packed when the alarm was sounded.

Horses and other livestock in the barns were cut loose before the buildings caught fire.
Nevada State Journal
Reno, Nevada
August 22, 1941

1953 - Missoula Aerial Equipment Development Center
The U.S. Forest Service Missoula Aerial Equipment Development Center was established largely because of the Northern Region's success in the use of aircraft for fighting forest fires. This center's mission was to develop equipment for air operations throughout the Forest Service.

National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior

www.nps.gov

1970 - June 5 - KPAX TV channel 8 in Missoula, MT (CBS) begins broadcasting

historyorb.com

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Missoula County:
1. Mount Sentinel:

Hike the "M" Trail: This iconic trail offers panoramic views of Missoula and the surrounding mountains. It's a great way to start your day with some exercise and breathtaking scenery.

2. University of Montana:

Explore the campus: The University of Montana is not only an academic hub but also a beautiful place to stroll around. Don't miss the Oval, the heart of the campus.

3. Downtown Missoula:

Shop at the Hip Strip: This area is known for its trendy shops, boutiques, and local art. Perfect for a leisurely afternoon of exploration.
Caras Park: Located in the heart of downtown, Caras Park often hosts events, farmers' markets, and festivals. Check out what's happening during your visit.

4. Missoula Art Museum:

Immerse yourself in local art: Admission to the Missoula Art Museum is free, and it's a great place to appreciate both contemporary and historical artwork.

5. Outdoor Recreation:

Float the Clark Fork River: During the summer, renting a ... Read MORE...