The mission of the Missoula County Fairgrounds is to promote agriculture, education, culture, recreation, community connection and to reflect the beauty of Western Montana. It was incorporated at the Missoula County Courthouse in November 1874. In 1875, a committee selected a site and drew up by-laws for the fair association. A fair site was selected within the eastern half of what is now 39th Str
eet, Russell Street, South Avenue and Paxson Street. By April 1876, a one-mile race track, 60 feet wide, was constructed at a cost of $400. In 1886 the Missoula Fair and Racing Association was formed, with the goal of reviving the fair. A new site was sought over to hold the annual event. In 1888 a new site was purchased one and a half miles northwest of Missoula and south of the Northern Pacific tracks. A speed line ran to the edge of the fairgrounds to unload stock. This new site, which was owned by the federal government, would be used until 1914. The county used its prisoners to help build a road to the new facility. Although the fair has had several different “homes” it has settled here at the Missoula County Fairgrounds. In 1911, the County Commissioners discussed the purchase of grounds for a permanent site for the fair. It wasn’t until 1913 that the current fairgrounds was purchased for a mere $16,000.
