Ravalli County - American Courthouses

Ravalli County is named for Anthony Ravalli, who was a Jesuit missionary who arrived in the area in 1845.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Missoula County

E – Granite County and Deer Lodge County

S – Beaverhead County and Lemhi County, Idaho

W – Idaho County, Idaho

Created: February 16, 1893

County Seat:

Stevensville 1893 – 1898

Hamilton 1898 – present

County Courthouse – Hamilton

Location: 205 Bedford Street / South 2nd Street

Built: 1975 – 1976

Style: Modern

Architect: Howland and Associates

Contractor: Pew Construction Company

Description: The building faces north and is a one and two story brown colored concrete and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Hamilton with the old courthouse on the west side. The building forms a “T” with a one story wing extending east and a one story wing extending north. The south wing is two stories. At the center is a high two story section. A wide band follows the roof line. In the interior at the center of the building is a high lobby with horizontal windows at the ceiling level and with animal heads displayed on the walls. The County District Court courtroom One and the Jeffrey H Langton courtroom are located on the second story on the south side of the building. The building houses the County District Court of the 21st Judicial District. On the southwest side is a one story addition constructed in 1994 as the Nancy Sabo Justice Center. The building houses two County Justice Court courtrooms. The architect was Schultz Foss Architects and Everson-Cordeiro Engineering Design Inc. and the contractor was Swank Construction.

Old County Courthouse – Hamilton

Location: SE – Bedford Street / South 3rd Street

Built: 1900 – 1901

Style: Italianate

Architect: A J Gibson

Contractor: Charles Stabern of Helena

Description: The building faces north and is a two story red colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Hamilton on the east side of the courthouse. The northwest corner has a tiered square brick tower rising to a block dome with small cupola at the top. The roof is hipped. In the interior there is a main hall on the first story which extends from north to south. Interior woodwork throughout is of white pine and tamarack finished in a dark natural finish while the stairs are of hardwood, similarly finished. The other floors are of pine and fir. The interior walls are plastered. The former courtroom is located on the northeast side of the second story. The building is now a museum.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Old Ravalli County Courthouse

History: The county was created in 1893 and Stevensville was selected as the county seat. The county seat was moved to Hamilton in 1898. The local opera house housed the county offices until the first courthouse was constructed in 1900 to 1901 at a cost of $19,750. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1975 to 1976.

County Administration Building – Hamilton

Location: 215 S 4th Street / Bedford Street

Built: 1930 – 1931

Style: Colonoal Revival

Architect: H E Kirkemo of Missoula

Contractor: Elliott Construction Company of Missoula

Description: The building faces east and is a three story red colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Hamilton to the west of the courthouse. The building has a raised basement. The east front has a large projecting portico with four white colored columns rising to a pediment at the roof. The north and south wings project from the main building and have gable ends. The roof is hipped. The building was constructed as the Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital and became the County Administration Building after 1978. The building houses the Commissioner’s Meeting Room on the second story.

Note: The cost of construction was $200,000.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Old Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital