Dillon

Dillon is the county seat of Beaverhead Valley, located in southwestern Montana at an elevation of about 1560 meters (5120 feet). The city sits where three rivers meet: the Beaverhead, Big Hole, and Ruby, making it a hub in a landscape shaped by water and mountains.

The Utah and Northern Railroad arrived in 1881, transforming a settlement called Terminus into a distribution hub for gold from Montana's mining regions. This rail connection shaped how the town would grow and what role it would play in the surrounding area.

The University of Montana Western shapes the educational character of the area through its presence and student life. The institution remains central to how people in the region think about learning and opportunity.

The city provides access to medical facilities, recreation options, and local services for visitors. It helps to plan your visit around local holidays and weather conditions, as winters can be severe in this mountain region.

Visitors can dig for quartz specimens at Crystal Park, a hands-on activity that connects people directly to the geology of the region. Nearby Bannack State Park preserves buildings from when gold was first discovered in Montana.

Location: Beaverhead County

Elevation above the sea: 1,560 m

Website: http://dillonmt.org

GPS coordinates: 45.21583,-112.63417

Latest update: December 17, 2025 08:23