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Ennis, MT
Prior to the arrival of white men, Shoshone, Flathead and Bannock Indians hunted the Madison Valley. Due to fierce winters they were unable to make permanent homes in the area but came back each spring to enjoy the lushness and generosity of the land. Lewis and Clark crossed Madison Valley in 1805, but it would be several more years before settlers discovered the area. Gold was discovered in Alder Gulch in 1863 Madison County was designated Montana Territory that same year.
Two months after gold was discovered in Alder Gulch, William Ennis homesteaded the site along the Madison River which quickly became the Town of Ennis. Mr. Jeffers did likewise across the river. The two towns, their bridges, the tall grass and favorable climate soon attracted ranchers, farmers and businessmen. Three major stage lines freighted through Ennis by the late 1880’s. Livestock thrived, wild game was plentiful and White Cloud’s tribe of Bannock Indians were valued friends of the settlers. The town of Ennis was incorporated in 1956.
The valley is primarily cattle country producing prize Herefords and Black Angus along with rotating crops of hay and grain. Timber is harvested from nearby national forests and gold mining is making a comeback. As a resort community, the Town of Ennis attracts an influx of seasonal population because of its location in the heart of prime fishing and hunting territory. The Madison River, which skirts the east side of Ennis, is a blue ribbon trout stream, and the surrounding mountains, including the Madison Range to the east, the Tobacco Roots to the northwest and the Gravelly Range to the south, provide excellent habitat for a variety of big game animals.
Ennis is a good-time western town and is full of cowboys, anglers and outdoor recreationists. Ennis is a town in Madison County, Montana, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 917 at the 2020 census, up from 838 in 2010. U.S. Route 287 runs through town, following the Madison River as it descends from the town of West Yellowstone.
