DescriptionArlee was named after the Salish leader Arlee. In October 1873, he moved a small group of his people from the Bitterroot Valley, which was designated a “conditional reservation” in the 1855 Hellgate Treaty, to the Jocko Agency (later Flathead Indian Agency) located a few miles north of the current town of Arlee. This forced move stemmed from the efforts of a congressional delegation led by future president James Garfield to negotiate Salish removal from the Bitterroot Valley. The town of Arlee gained importance in 1883 when the Northern Pacific Railroad established a depot there. Two years later, the post office opened its doors in Arlee. Another notable event occurred in 1898 when the first (now annual) Fourth of July powwow was held at Arlee.Personal NamesArleeContributing InstitutionMontana Historical Society Library and ArchivesGeolocation[1] Elevation3097 ft.CountyLake County
