Victor, Montana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Victor, Montana
Census-designated place
Location of Victor, Montana
Country	United States
State	Montana
County	Ravalli
Area
• Total	0.45 sq mi (1.16 km2)
• Land	0.45 sq mi (1.16 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	3,415 ft (1,041 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	789
• Density	1,765.10/sq mi (681.73/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code	59875
Area code(s)	406
FIPS code	30-76900
GNIS feature ID	0792701

Victor is a small community in Ravalli County, Montana, in the United States. It's called a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area that looks like a town but isn't officially governed as one. In 2020, about 789 people lived there. This was a small increase from 745 people in 2010.

History of Victor, Montana

Victor is named after a very important leader of the Bitterroot Salish people. His real name was Xweɫxƛ̣ ̓cín, which means "Many Horses." He was known as Chief Victor.

Chief Victor and Early Encounters

When he was just 15 years old, Chief Victor met the famous explorers Lewis and Clark. This meeting happened in September 1805 at a place called Ross' Hole. Chief Victor was a strong leader. He later refused to give up the Bitterroot Valley land to the United States.

Salish People and Their Land

After Chief Victor passed away in 1870, the Salish people faced a difficult time. They were eventually forced to move from their homeland. They had to go to the Flathead Reservation, which was a new place for them.

Growth and Challenges for the Town

The town of Victor was officially planned out in 1881. At first, the town faced a big challenge in 1893. A law called the Sherman Silver Purchase Act was cancelled. This caused many local mines to close down, which hurt the town's economy.

But Victor bounced back! By the late 1890s, new industries helped the town grow again. The timber industry, which involves cutting down trees for wood, became very important. Farming also grew, bringing more jobs and money to the area.

Geography and Location

Victor is located in the southwestern part of Montana. It sits along the Bitterroot River. This area is very scenic, nestled between two mountain ranges. To one side are the Bitterroot Range, and to the other are the Sapphire Mountains.

The United States Census Bureau says that Victor covers a total area of about 1.2 square kilometers. This entire area is land, meaning there are no large lakes or rivers within its official boundaries.

Population and People

In 2020, the population of Victor was 789 people. Back in 2000, there were 859 people living there. The number of people living in Victor has changed a bit over the years.

In 2000, about 29.2% of the people were under 18 years old. About 15.1% were 65 years or older. The average age of people in Victor was 35 years old.

Education in Victor

Victor has its own public school system. These schools teach students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. In the 2021-2022 school year, there were 261 students enrolled in the district.

Victor High School Pirates

Students who attend Victor High School are known as the Pirates! This is their team name for sports and other school activities.

Local Media

Victor is home to a local radio station. The FM radio station KXEH is licensed in Victor. This station plays religious music and programs.

Transportation and Infrastructure

Victor is located right along U.S. Route 93. This is a major highway that helps people travel to and from the community.

If you need to fly, the closest airport is the Missoula Montana Airport. It is about 39 miles north of Victor.

Notable People from Victor

Some interesting people have connections to Victor, Montana:

• Hoyt Axton, a singer, songwriter, and actor.
• Marty Essen, an award-winning author, photographer, and speaker.
• Tom Hewitt, an actor.

See also

In Spanish: Victor (Montana) para niños