The valley stretches along the meandering Ruby River for nearly 30 scenic miles from Virginia City in the South to the Ruby’s confluence with the Beaverhead River near the town of Twin Bridges.

Madison County:
Madison County contains 2.3 million acres: 46% Federally owned, 6% State owned, 48% Privately owned with 109,000 acres classified as prime farmland. According to the U.S. Census Bureau the population was 6880 in 2000. Major business activities in Madison County are ranching, farming, construction, limited mining and tourism/recreation. Schools, medical services, county government, Forest Service, several resorts and several large construction companies are the County’s major employers. Home construction, associated with extensive subdivision of the past 20 years, is one of the fastest growing industries in Madison County. Non-traditional ranch property owners are becoming common. 1 out of 3 Madison County residents live within the towns.

Recreational Opportunities:
The Ruby Valley and the general surrounding area of Southwest Montana provide a variety of recreational opportunities available year-round. They include all activities related to wildlife, from hunting and fishing to nature observation and photography, as well as outdoor activities such as hiking, riding, camping, snow mobiling, cross-country skiing and wilderness exploration. Within the city limits of Sheridan, tennis, trap shooting, baseball fields, parks and swimming pools are available during the summer months.

Southwest Montana is a magical, special place for sportsmen and those who love the outdoors which makes Southwest Montana real estate a favored investment for many. Scenic wonders abound, pursuit of game is uncrowded and productive, and no other area can boast such a fantastic, concentrated array of blue-ribbon waters, unparalleled bird/waterfowl shooting, and fabulous big game hunting.

The valley’s northern most point constitutes the juncture of the Big Hole, Ruby, and Beaverhead Rivers, and the birth of the Jefferson River which flows northward out of Twin Bridges to join the Madison and the Gallatin Rivers at the headwaters of the mighty Missouri River, approximately 60 miles to the North and East. The famous waters of Yellowstone Park are 2 hours from the Ruby Valley. All of the areas rivers are fantastic fisheries, among the finest anywhere. Each has its own character and variations of in-flows, size, and species. But the most unique stream is the Ruby River. Relatively unknown, yet highly productive, the Ruby, from the reservoir to the rivers confluence with the Beaverhead River twists and turns approximately 55 stream miles.

Fishing is also excellent in the Jefferson River, which is home to large Browns and Rainbows, is totally uncrowded, and could well be one of the most underrated fisheries in Montana. The East Fork is a small, quiet, intimate braid of the river, providing excellent dry fly fishing for very large fish. The West Fork is "big water." It is wadeable most of the year, other than the run off months.

Some of the finest big game, (archery and rifle) small game, upland bird and waterfowl hunting in North America is found at our doorsteps. Millions of acres of public land are within minutes of the valley. The Ruby Valley is a major access route into the Tobacco Roots where hundreds of thousands of acres of Beaverhead National Forest spread out just five miles up the road. The valley nestles among seven mountain ranges all within five to fifty minutes drive. Names which excite serious Big Game hunters, the Pioneers -- the Highlands -- the Tobacco Roots -- the Lower Rubies -- the Upper Rubies -- the McCartneys -- the Snow Crest -- and the Gravelly’s. Elk hunting is excellent, mule deer hunting among the finest in the west, and white tail hunting for monstrous bucks is truly exceptional.

The valley is on the Pacific flyway and tens, perhaps, hundreds of thousands of duck and geese make their annual pilgrimage through the area each Fall; many winter-over until Spring. Dove and grouse hunting is good and pheasant numbers are on the rise.

The Ruby Valley lies on the western fringe of the Yellowstone Park Ecosystem. The surrounding Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem supports a wide variety of wild game and non-game animals, including such major species as elk, buffalo, grizzly and black bear, mule and whitetail deer, antelope, moose, mountain lion, bobcat, coyote, wolf and fox. Indigenous birds include bald and golden eagles, numerous falcon, hawk and owl species, as well as migratory waterfowl, including Canadian geese, trumpeter swans, blue herons, sandhill cranes, mallards, teal and innumerable other species.

A well known biological factor that influences wildlife that the area provides is the so called “edge”. The term “edge” refers to the variation in ecological zones that provide transition from grassland to brush, brush to timber, timber to mountain front. More simply, the edge is a transition zone that provides a variation in habitat that is critical for the support of wild game and animal populations.

Ruby Valley History:
Without doubt the single most important incident in the history of Madison County was the discovery of one of the world’s richest deposits of placer gold. The story has often been told of the small group of prospectors who were delayed and failed to join James Stuart’s disastrous Yellowstone Expedition of 1863. They were doubly disappointed when the Indians turned them back in the upper Yellowstone. But these seven men made their big discovery on May 26, 1863 in what is now called Alder Gulch and created the need for a new territory. The rich deposits of placer gold extended some seventeen miles along the gulch which was within a year settled by some 10,000 energetic miners. Often working waist deep in rushing ice cold waters they wrested an estimated $30,000,000 in gold in less than three years. Virginia City was for a decade the financial, the population and the governmental center of the Territory. Social institutions developed as soon as families settled in the mining claims. Thomas J. Dimsdale and J.B. Patch opened private schools in 1863 and the first public school was held from March until August 1866 with 81 students in attendance.

Madison County continues to have rich resources in its varied geographic areas, fertile farms, extensive well grassed ranges, and in its developing mineral deposits. Its natural beauty together with its economic opportunities have attracted an alert and sensitive citizenry from its pioneer days to the present. Its recreational facilities promise an increasingly attractive and joyous land. The County has had a rich heritage from its pioneer years. It has without doubt produced more gold than any other area of similar size in the world. The fabulous riches of Alder Gulch influenced the building of the entire American West.

The area was one of the first areas in the State to be settled, starting in about 1860 as Montana’s gold rush began. Virginia City was a principal early mining city and is now a restored living ghost town.

Current active mining operations in the area include high grade talc and chloride mines, as well as some small active gold mines.

Major and Local Airports & Transportation:
The nearest major airports are located at Belgrade/Bozeman, about 80 miles from Sheridan, and at Butte, which is about 65 miles.

There is a local airport between Sheridan and Twin Bridges. The Madison County Airport is located about 2 miles southeast of Twin Bridges, 7 miles north of Sheridan. It is an excellent, recently paved facility capable of handling private and corporate jet aircraft.

Twin Bridges Airport (7S1) is a general aviators dream come true. With 24-hour self-service fuel (100LL and Jet A), a comfortable pilot’s shack and a courtesy car, pilots and their passengers will appreciate the ease and convenience of the airport. Camping spots are available on the field.

Ruby Valley Aviation LC is a repair and maintenance facility located at Twin Bridges Airport. It is their mission to ensure the safety of their customers and their aircraft by supplying quality parts, repairs and maintenance while providing customer service of the highest caliber. Visit the 8,000+ square foot facility and talk with Ron Coleman, Director of Maintenance. Let him reserve an annual slot for your airplane. They also offer while-you-wait propeller balancing, are a certified Plane Plastics installer, and have partnered with Ram Aircraft, Western Skyways and Pfleuger’s Custom Hardwood Panels to provide a wide variety of options to improve the look and feel of your airplane. Transportation can be arranged to and from your home airport if you would like Ruby Valley Aviation LC to service your plane. Contact: Phone: 406-684-5335, Fax: 406-684-5346 or e-mail: rva@3rivers.net

Universities:
Montana State University is located in Bozeman, University of Montana School of Mines in Butte and University of Montana Western at Dillon. All of these schools have 4 year programs.
Climate:
The valley’s extremely mild "banana belt" climate is attributable to the mountain ranges that bound and protect it. They include the Highland, McCartney, Green Horn, Gravely, Tobacco Root, and Ruby Mountains.

The total annual precipitation is 12 inches at Alder, 12 inches at Ennis, 9 inches at Twin Bridges and 15 inches at Virginia City. Of this precipitation 70 percent falls between April and September which is the growing season of most crops.

Summers are warm and dry in the area and are much cooler in the nearby mountains. Winters are cold, but with little snow fall. In the valley, summer precipitation falls as showers. In the winter the ground is frozen and covered with snow part of the time. Occasionally warm, dry chinook winds will cause snow melt.

In the winter average temperature at Alder is 24 degrees, Ennis is 26 degrees, Twin Bridges is 25 degrees and Virginia City is 24 degrees. The average temperature for the summer is between 70 degrees and 80 for these towns.

The Twin Bridges and the general surrounding area of southwestern Montana provides a variety of recreational opportunities available year around. They include all activities related to wildlife, from hunting and fishing to natural observation and photography, as well as outdoor activities such as hiking, riding, camping, rock climbing, hang gliding, cross-country skiing and wilderness exploration. The Big Hole River runs through the surrounding area, with the Madison, Beaverhead, Ruby and Jefferson Rivers all within less than an hour’s drive of Twin Bridges.

Lewis & Clark:
In 1803 President Thomas Jefferson sent Captains Lewis and Clark to find the headwaters of the Missouri River and scope an inland waterway to the Pacific Ocean through the recently acquired Louisiana Purchase. Approximately one-fourth of their exploration was within what is now Montana. Their journey is unmatched in American history and ranks among the major explorations of the world.

In 1997 a state statute created the Montana Lewis & Clark Commission to provide statewide leadership and coordination for Montana’s 200-year observance of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Additional information can be obtained by calling 406-443-2109 or visiting the Lewis & Clark web site: http://lewisandclark.state.mt.us/ . Travel Montana also has a wealth of information available at their site: http://visitmt.com or 1-800-847-4868.

Thanks to a group of dedicated residents (the Madison County Lewis & Clark Bi-Centennial Committee), The Madison County Lewis and Clark Interpretive Park was created and is located at the entrance to the county fairgrounds in Twin Bridges. In August 1805, the Corps of Discovery under Captains Lewis and Clark traveled up the Jefferson River to the confluences of four rivers, the Jefferson, Beaverhead (Philosophy), Big Hole (Wisdom) and Ruby (Philanthropy) near present day Twin Bridges. The park offers the public insight into the five days the Corps spent in this area. The park has received the status of being an ‘officially certified site’ on the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail by the National Park Service and includes interpretive signs expounding on the importance of the decisions the Corps had to make at this juncture and the difficulties they encountered as well as a partially constructed dugout canoe, a symbolic teepee in honor of the Native American contribution to the expedition, and an animal tracks ‘hands-on’ display.