Ronan was named for Maj. Peter Ronan, who wrote a history of the Flathead Indians. Ronan was the first Indian agent for the Flatheads. The area around Ronan, once part of the Flathead Reservation, was thrown open to white settlement in 1910 and thousands of people came here to establish small farms and ranches on the irrigated land. (from Cheney’s Names on the Face of Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company)
Adorned with the beauty of the Mission Mountain and various sources of fishing and wildlife habitat, the community of more than 3,000 residents offers a wealth of resources and enjoyment. Ronan's Mission Mountain County Visitor's Center is a community project serving summer visitors to the Mission Valley. Hiking in the Mission Mountain Wilderness Area by permit, touring the National Bison Range, picnicking in the city park, enjoying the Garden of the Rockies Museum and sightseeing along the Flathead River are among the many attractions. Just west of Ronan, The Mission Mountain Country Club is acclaimed as one of Montana's finest golf courses featuring lush fairways and beautiful green with a fantastic view of the Mission Mountains. This course is suited for any caliber of golfer and is open to the public.

Ninepipe and Pablo National Wildlife Refuge is an exceptional wetland complex that contains over 800 glacial potholes and a 1,770-acre reservoir. About 200 bird species have been recorded. Nesting great blue herons and double-crested cormorants can be observed from the road on the west side of the refuge.