1980 Map of Hamilton

About this map

Hamilton and the fertile valley of the Bitterroot River serve as the focal point of this 1980 survey, where human settlement meets the towering Bitterroot Range. The Bitterroot Valley is punctuated by a string of towns including Victor, Corvallis, and Darby, connected by a network of roads that follow the river's path. To the west, the landscape transforms into the sprawling Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, part of the Clearwater, Nezperce, and Bitterroot national forests. This region is defined by sharp peaks like St. Mary Peak and El Capitan, and drained by numerous tributaries such as Blodgett Creek and Roaring Lion Creek. The map documents the protected waters of the Lochsa Wild and Scenic River and the Middle Fork Clearwater Wild and Scenic River, illustrating the era's balance between established ranching communities in the valley and the preservation of the vast Idaho-Montana backcountry.