Stevensville was Montana?s first city and although the town has remained small in size, the community spirit is lively with many cultural activities happening year round. Theater, street festivals, rodeos, and picnics are just some of the events that give Stevensville that "All American" small town feeling. Situated in the wider part of the valley the town is surrounded by ranches, numerous historical sites and the Lee Metcalf Wildlife refuge. St. Mary?s Mission is one of the valley?s major tourist attractions. Stevensville has an elementary school, middle and high school, two sports fields, outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and three parks: Lewis and Clark Park, Main Street Park and Father Ravalli Park. History: In 1841 Jesuit Missionaries arrived in the Bitterroot Valley, former homeland of the Salish Indians. Led by Father Pierre Jean DeSmet, they built a log church and house. A conflict with the Salish caused them to sell the property in 1850 to Major John Owen, a trader with the army. Major Owen constructed new adobe buildings north of the mission, renaming his property Fort Owen. Meanwhile, two traders came off the Emigrant Road in 1863 and built "Stevensville?s" first store one mile south of Fort Owen. On May 12, 1864, the settlers named the community Stevensville after Isaac Ingells Stevens, the first governor of Washington Territory.