Montana

Missoula

117,922
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Missoula

Missoula, Montana, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 2,554. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 117,922.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Nez Perce War — Fort Fizzle Non-Battle (July 25–28, 1877), Nez Perce War – Missoula Volunteers Encounter, Nez Perce War – Frenchtown Skirmish, and 91 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020117,922
2010109,299
200095,802
199078,687
198076,016
197058,263
196044,663
195035,493
194029,038
193021,782
192024,041
191023,596
190013,964
189014,427
18802,537
18702,554
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Missoula

Military engagements that took place in Missoula, Montana.

Nez Perce War — Fort Fizzle Non-Battle (July 25–28, 1877)
1877
Nez Perce War – Missoula Volunteers Encounter
1877
Nez Perce War – Frenchtown Skirmish
1877

Historic places in Missoula

National Register of Historic Places listings in Missoula, Montana.

Wilma Theatre
Missoula
University of Montana Historic District
Missoula
Keith, John M., House
Missoula
Northern Pacific Railroad Depot
Missoula
Gleim Building
Missoula
Masonic Lodge
Missoula
Florence Hotel
Missoula
Traveler's Rest
Lolo
Bellows House
Missoula
Double Arrow Lodge
Seeley Lake
Milwaukee Depot
Missoula
Camp Paxson Boy Scout Camp (24MO77)
Lolo National Forest
Fort Missoula Historic District
Missoula
Hellgate Lodge 383 BPOE
Missoula
St. Francis Xavier Church
Missoula
U.S. Post Office
Missoula
Browse all Montanahistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Missoula County, Montana

This page charts the census history of Missoula County, Montana. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Missoula

When does Missoula first appear in the US census?
Missoula, Montana first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 2,554.
What is the population of Missoula?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Missoula had a recorded population of 117,922.
Were any battles fought in Missoula?
3 documented military engagements took place in Missoula, including Nez Perce War — Fort Fizzle Non-Battle (July 25–28, 1877), Nez Perce War – Missoula Volunteers Encounter, Nez Perce War – Frenchtown Skirmish.
How many historic places are in Missoula?
91 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Missoula, Montana.
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