Helena, Montana
Encyclopedia
Helena is the capital city of the U.S.
state
of Montana
and the county seat
of Lewis and Clark County
. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record
. The Helena Brewers
minor league
baseball and Helena Bighorns
minor league
hockey team call the city home. The city is served by Helena Regional Airport
(HLN).
Helena is the principal city of the Helena Micropolitan Statistical Area
, which includes all of Lewis and Clark and Jefferson
counties; its population is 74,801 according to the 2010 U.S. Census.
Helena was founded with the July 14, 1864 discovery of gold
in a gulch off the Prickly Pear valley by the "Four Georgians
". The city's main street is named Last Chance Gulch and lies close to the winding path of the original gulch through the historic downtown district.
The original camp was named "Last Chance" by the Four Georgians. By fall, the population had grown to over 200 and the name "Last Chance" was viewed as too crass. On October 30, 1864, a group of at least seven men met to name the town, authorize the layout of the streets, and elect commissioners. The first suggestion was "Tomah," a word the committee thought had connections to the local Indian people of the area. Other nominations included Pumpkinville and Squashtown (as the meeting was held the day before Halloween). Other suggestions were to name the community after various Minnesota towns, such as Winona and Rochester. Finally, a Scotsman named John Summerville proposed "Helena," which he pronounced "hel-EE-na," "in honor of the heLEENa in Scott County, Minnesota
..." This immediately caused an uproar from the former Confederates in the room who insisted upon the pronunciation HELena, after Helena, Arkansas
, a town on the Mississippi River. While the name won, the pronunciation varied until approximately 1882 when the HELena pronunciation became dominant and has remained so to the present. Later tales of the naming of Helena claimed the name came variously from the island of St. Helena
, where Napoleon had been exiled, or was that of a miner's sweetheart.
The townsite was first surveyed in 1865 by Captain John Wood. However, many of the original streets followed the chaotic paths of the miners, going around claims and following the winding gulch. As a result, few city blocks are consistent in size, rather they have an irregular variety of shapes and sizes.
In 1870, Henry D. Washburn
, having been appointed Surveyor General of Montana in 1869, organized the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition
in Helena to explore the regions that would become Yellowstone National Park
. Mount Washburn
, located within the park, is named for him. Members of the expedition included Helena residents: Truman C. Everts
- former U.S. Assessor for the Montana Territory, Judge Cornelius Hedges - U.S. Attorney, Montana Territory, Samuel T. Hauser - President of the First National Bank, Helena, Montana; later a Governor of the Montana Territory, Warren C. Gillette - Helena merchant, Benjamin C. Stickney Jr. - Helena merchant, Walter Trumbull
- son of U.S. Senator Lyman Trumbull
(Illinois) and Nathaniel P. Langford
, then former U.S. Collector of Internal Revenue for Montana Territory. Langford helped Washburn organize the expedition and later helped publicize the remarkable Yellowstone region. In May 1872 after the park's creation, Langford was named its first superintendent.
By 1888, about 50 millionaires lived in Helena, more per capita than any city in the world. About $3.6 billion (in today's dollars) of gold was taken from Last Chance Gulch over a 20-year period. The Last Chance Placer is one of the most famous placers in the western United States. Most of the production occurred before 1868 and much of the placer
is now under the streets and buildings of Helena (but even as late as the 1970s, when repairs were being made to a Bank, a vein of placer gold was found under the Bank's foundation). This large concentration of wealth made for a large amount of culture, much of which still exists and is also evidenced in the varied architecture of the city and its Victorian
neighborhoods.
The official symbol of Helena is a drawing of "The Guardian of the Gulch", a wooden fire watch tower built in 1886, that still stands on "Tower Hill" overlooking the historic downtown district. This fire tower replaced a series of observation buildings, the original being a flimsy lookout stand built in 1870 on the same site, built in response to a series of devastating fires: April 1869, November 1869, October 1871, August 1872 and January 1874 that swept through the early mining camp.
In 1889, railroad magnate Charles Arthur Broadwater
opened his fabled Hotel Broadwater and Natatorium west of Helena. The Natatorium was home to the world's first indoor swimming pool. Damaged in the earthquake of 1935, it was closed in 1941. The many buildings on the property were demolished in 1976. Today, the Broadwater Fitness Center stands just west of the Hotel & Natatorium's original location, complete with an outdoor pool heated by natural spring water running underneath it.
In 1902, the Montana State Capitol
was completed. Helena has been the capital of Montana Territory
since 1875 and the state of Montana
since 1889. A large portion of the conflict between Marcus Daly
and William Andrews Clark
(the Copper Kings
) was over the location of the state capital. Until the 1900 census, Helena was the most populated city in the state.
The Helena Civic Center and the Cathedral of Saint Helena
are two of many unique historic buildings in Helena.
Helena High School and Capital High School are both public high schools located in the Helena School District No. 1. Being the state capital, a large number of Helenans work for the state government. When in Helena, most people visit the local walking mall, completed in the early 1980s after Urban Renewal
and the Model Cities Program
in the early 1970s had removed many historic buildings from the downtown district, taking nearly a decade to renovate, a three block long shopping district following the original Last Chance Gulch. There is a small artificial stream running along most of the walking mall, mirroring the underground springs that originally flowed above ground in parts of the Gulch.
The Archie Bray Foundation
, an internationally-renowned ceramics center founded in 1952, is located just northwest of Helena, near Spring Meadow Lake.
Helena also has a local ski area, Great Divide Ski Area, northwest of town near the ghost town
of Marysville
.
Surrounding features include the Continental Divide
, Mount Helena City Park
, Spring Meadow Lake State Park
, Lake Helena
, Helena National Forest
, the Big Belt Mountains
, the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness
, Sleeping Giant Wilderness Study Area
, Bob Marshall Wilderness
, Scapegoat Wilderness
, the Missouri River
, Canyon Ferry Lake
, Holter Lake, Hauser Lake, and the Elkhorn Mountains
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 14 square miles (36.3 km²), all of it land.
Helena has a semi-arid climate (Köppen
BSk), with long, cold and moderately snowy winters, hot and dry summers, and short springs and autumns in between. Monthly daily means range from 20.2 °F (-6.6 °C) in January to 67.9 °F (19.9 °C) in July, with lows significantly cooler from April to October, due to the aridity and elevation. Snowfall has been observed in every month of the year, but is usually absent from May to September, and normally accumulates in only light amounts. Winters have periods of moderation, partly due to warming influence from chinook
s. Precipitation mostly falls in the spring and is generally sparse, averaging only 11.3 inches (29 cm) annually.
Subzero (below −18 °C) cold is observed 23 nights per year, but is rarely extended, as is 90 °F (32 °C) heat, which occurs on 19 days annually. Extremes range from −42 F, occurring as recently as February 2, 1996 and July 12, 2002, respectively.
of 2000, there were 25,780 people, 11,541 households, and 6,474 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,840.7 people per square mile (710.5/km²). There were 12,133 housing units at an average density of 866.3 per square mile (334.4/km²). The ethnic makeup of the city is 94.8% White, 0.2% African American
, 2.1% Native American
, 0.8% Asia
n, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 1.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino
of any race.
There were 11,541 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.9% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,416, and the median income for a family was $50,018. Males had a median income of $34,357 versus $25,821 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,020. About 9.3% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
, and is the fifth smallest media market in the nation.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
and the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Lewis and Clark County
Lewis and Clark County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Flathead National Forest * Helena National Forest * Lewis and Clark National Forest * Lolo National Forest * Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Area -Demographics:...
. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record
Independent Record
The Independent Record is a daily newspaper printed and distributed in Helena, Montana. Its has a daily and Sunday circulation of approximately 14,000, according to a September 30, 2005 Audit Bureau of Circulations Publisher Statement...
. The Helena Brewers
Helena Brewers
The Helena Brewers are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League and are the Advanced Rookie League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Helena, Montana...
minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
baseball and Helena Bighorns
Helena Bighorns
The Helena Bighorns is a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the American West Hockey League based in Helena, Montana USA. The team plays their home games at the 1,600-seat Helena Ice Arena...
minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
hockey team call the city home. The city is served by Helena Regional Airport
Helena Regional Airport
Helena Regional Airport is a public airport located two miles northeast of the city of Helena in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, United States. The airport has three runways.- Airlines & Destinations :- External links :*...
(HLN).
Helena is the principal city of the Helena Micropolitan Statistical Area
Helena micropolitan area
The Helena Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in western Montana, anchored by the city of Helena....
, which includes all of Lewis and Clark and Jefferson
Jefferson County, Montana
-National protected areas:*Deerlodge National Forest *Helena National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,049 people, 3,747 households, and 2,847 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile . There were 4,199 housing units at an...
counties; its population is 74,801 according to the 2010 U.S. Census.
History
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
in a gulch off the Prickly Pear valley by the "Four Georgians
Four Georgians
The Four Georgians were a group of gold prospectors that are traditionally credited for opening the Last Chance Placer of Helena, Montana. They were John Cowan, D. J. Miller, John Crab, and Reginald Stanley. Of the four, the only actual Georgian was Cowan, who hailed from Acworth, Georgia. The...
". The city's main street is named Last Chance Gulch and lies close to the winding path of the original gulch through the historic downtown district.
The original camp was named "Last Chance" by the Four Georgians. By fall, the population had grown to over 200 and the name "Last Chance" was viewed as too crass. On October 30, 1864, a group of at least seven men met to name the town, authorize the layout of the streets, and elect commissioners. The first suggestion was "Tomah," a word the committee thought had connections to the local Indian people of the area. Other nominations included Pumpkinville and Squashtown (as the meeting was held the day before Halloween). Other suggestions were to name the community after various Minnesota towns, such as Winona and Rochester. Finally, a Scotsman named John Summerville proposed "Helena," which he pronounced "hel-EE-na," "in honor of the heLEENa in Scott County, Minnesota
Scott County, Minnesota
Scott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was organized in 1853 and named in honor of General Winfield Scott. As of 2010, the population was 129,928. Its county seat is Shakopee...
..." This immediately caused an uproar from the former Confederates in the room who insisted upon the pronunciation HELena, after Helena, Arkansas
Helena, Arkansas
Helena is the eastern portion of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, a city in Phillips County, Arkansas. As of the 2000 census, this portion of the city population was 6,323. Helena was the county seat of Phillips County until January 1, 2006, when it merged its government and city limits with...
, a town on the Mississippi River. While the name won, the pronunciation varied until approximately 1882 when the HELena pronunciation became dominant and has remained so to the present. Later tales of the naming of Helena claimed the name came variously from the island of St. Helena
Saint Helena
Saint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
, where Napoleon had been exiled, or was that of a miner's sweetheart.
The townsite was first surveyed in 1865 by Captain John Wood. However, many of the original streets followed the chaotic paths of the miners, going around claims and following the winding gulch. As a result, few city blocks are consistent in size, rather they have an irregular variety of shapes and sizes.
In 1870, Henry D. Washburn
Henry D. Washburn
Henry Dana Washburn was a U.S. Representative from Indiana and a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, having been appointed Surveyor General of Montana in 1869, organized the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition
Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition
The Washburn Expedition of 1870, explored the region of northwestern Wyoming that a couple years later became Yellowstone National Park. Led by Henry Washburn, Nathaniel P. Langford and under U.S. Army escort led by Lt. Gustavus C...
in Helena to explore the regions that would become Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
. Mount Washburn
Mount Washburn
Mount Washburn el. is a prominent mountain peak in the Washburn Range in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The peak was named in 1870 to honor Henry D. Washburn, leader of the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition...
, located within the park, is named for him. Members of the expedition included Helena residents: Truman C. Everts
Truman C. Everts
Truman C. Everts was part of the 1870 Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition exploring the area which later became Yellowstone National Park...
- former U.S. Assessor for the Montana Territory, Judge Cornelius Hedges - U.S. Attorney, Montana Territory, Samuel T. Hauser - President of the First National Bank, Helena, Montana; later a Governor of the Montana Territory, Warren C. Gillette - Helena merchant, Benjamin C. Stickney Jr. - Helena merchant, Walter Trumbull
Walter Trumbull
Walter H. Trumbull, Jr. was an American football player. He attended Middlesex School in Concord, Massachusetts before enrolling at Harvard University. He played at the tackle and center positions for Percy Haughton's Harvard Crimson football from 1912 to 1914...
- son of U.S. Senator Lyman Trumbull
Lyman Trumbull
Lyman Trumbull was a United States Senator from Illinois during the American Civil War, and co-author of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.-Education and early career:...
(Illinois) and Nathaniel P. Langford
Nathaniel P. Langford
Nathaniel Pitt Langford was an explorer, businessman, bureaucrat, vigilante and historian from St. Paul, Minnesota who played an important role in the early years of the Montana gold fields, territorial government and the creation of Yellowstone National Park.-Montana Gold Fields:On June 16, 1862...
, then former U.S. Collector of Internal Revenue for Montana Territory. Langford helped Washburn organize the expedition and later helped publicize the remarkable Yellowstone region. In May 1872 after the park's creation, Langford was named its first superintendent.
Placer
Placer may refer to one of the following:*Placer deposit*Placer sheep*Placer mining*Placer, rugby league football role.Geographical names:* Placer, Masbate, Philippines* Placer, Surigao del Norte, Philippines...
is now under the streets and buildings of Helena (but even as late as the 1970s, when repairs were being made to a Bank, a vein of placer gold was found under the Bank's foundation). This large concentration of wealth made for a large amount of culture, much of which still exists and is also evidenced in the varied architecture of the city and its Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
neighborhoods.
The official symbol of Helena is a drawing of "The Guardian of the Gulch", a wooden fire watch tower built in 1886, that still stands on "Tower Hill" overlooking the historic downtown district. This fire tower replaced a series of observation buildings, the original being a flimsy lookout stand built in 1870 on the same site, built in response to a series of devastating fires: April 1869, November 1869, October 1871, August 1872 and January 1874 that swept through the early mining camp.
Charles Arthur Broadwater
Charles Arthur Broadwater was a wealthy and influential Montana railroad, real estate, and banking magnate.Broadwater was born in St. Charles, Missouri. He was president of the Montana Central Railway, a spur line which ran between Great Falls, Montana Helena and Butte, Montana...
opened his fabled Hotel Broadwater and Natatorium west of Helena. The Natatorium was home to the world's first indoor swimming pool. Damaged in the earthquake of 1935, it was closed in 1941. The many buildings on the property were demolished in 1976. Today, the Broadwater Fitness Center stands just west of the Hotel & Natatorium's original location, complete with an outdoor pool heated by natural spring water running underneath it.
In 1902, the Montana State Capitol
Montana State Capitol
The Montana State Capitol is the state capitol of the U.S. state of Montana. It houses the Montana State Legislature and is located in the state capital of Helena at 1301 East Sixth Avenue. The building was constructed between 1896 and 1902 with wing-annexes added between 1909 and 1912.-History:A...
was completed. Helena has been the capital of Montana Territory
Montana Territory
The Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 28, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Montana.-History:...
since 1875 and the state of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
since 1889. A large portion of the conflict between Marcus Daly
Marcus Daly
Marcus Daly redirects here, see also Marcus Daly Marcus Daly was an Irish-born American businessman known as one of the three "Copper Kings" of Butte, Montana, United States.- Early life:...
and William Andrews Clark
William Andrews Clark
William Andrews Clark, Sr. was an American politician and entrepreneur, involved with mining, banking, and railroads.-Biography:...
(the Copper Kings
Copper Kings
The Copper Kings, industrialists William Andrews Clark, Marcus Daly, and F. Augustus Heinze, were collectively known for the epic battles they fought in Butte, Montana and the surrounding region during the Gilded Age over the control of the local copper mining industry, a fight which had...
) was over the location of the state capital. Until the 1900 census, Helena was the most populated city in the state.
The Helena Civic Center and the Cathedral of Saint Helena
Cathedral of Saint Helena
The Cathedral of Saint Helena is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena, Montana.-Construction:The site for the building of the Cathedral was purchased in 1905. Mr. A. O. Von Herbulis of Washington, D.C., was commissioned to be the architect. Von Herbulis was trained abroad and was...
are two of many unique historic buildings in Helena.
Helena High School and Capital High School are both public high schools located in the Helena School District No. 1. Being the state capital, a large number of Helenans work for the state government. When in Helena, most people visit the local walking mall, completed in the early 1980s after Urban Renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
and the Model Cities Program
Model Cities Program
The Model Cities Program was an element of United States President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society and War on Poverty. The ambitious federal urban aid program ultimately fell short of its goals....
in the early 1970s had removed many historic buildings from the downtown district, taking nearly a decade to renovate, a three block long shopping district following the original Last Chance Gulch. There is a small artificial stream running along most of the walking mall, mirroring the underground springs that originally flowed above ground in parts of the Gulch.
The Archie Bray Foundation
Archie Bray Foundation
The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts is a public, nonprofit, educational institution located 3 miles from downtown Helena, Montana, USA....
, an internationally-renowned ceramics center founded in 1952, is located just northwest of Helena, near Spring Meadow Lake.
Helena also has a local ski area, Great Divide Ski Area, northwest of town near the ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
of Marysville
Marysville, Montana
Marysville is a small unincorporated community in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, United States. In the 1880s and 90's it was a bustling mining town of three thousand residents, and was the center of gold mining in Montana. A few buildings remain, including a baseball field with bleachers...
.
Geography and climate
Helena is located at 46°35′45"N 112°1′37"W (46.595805, -112.027031), at an altitude of 4,058 feet (1,237 m).Surrounding features include the Continental Divide
Continental Divide
The Continental Divide of the Americas, or merely the Continental Gulf of Division or Great Divide, is the name given to the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain...
, Mount Helena City Park
Mount Helena City Park
Mount Helena City Park is a park in Helena, Montana. The park encompasses Mount Helena which rises 5,468' above sea level, overlooking the city of Helena 1,300' below. The park includes six trails up and around the mountain, some of which connect to other trails in nearby Helena National Forest...
, Spring Meadow Lake State Park
Spring Meadow Lake State Park
Spring Meadow Lake State Park is a state park just west of Helena, Montana used primarily as a swimming spot for children, as well as hiking and fishing. During the winter the lake is a popular destination for ice fishing. Bass and trout are the main catches in the small lake.-External links:*...
, Lake Helena
Lake Helena
Lake Helena is a body of water along Prickly Pear Creek in the Helena Valley of Lewis and Clark County in southwestern Montana. It is in size and is above sea level.-History:Completion of Hauser Dam on the Missouri River in 1907 created Hauser Lake...
, Helena National Forest
Helena National Forest
Helena National Forest is located in west-central Montana, in the United States. Covering 976,000 acres , the forest is broken into several separate sections. The eastern regions are dominated by the Big Belt Mountains, and are the location of the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness, which remains...
, the Big Belt Mountains
Big Belt Mountains
The Big Belt Mountains are a section of the Rocky Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana. Situated mainly in the Helena National Forest, the mountains are used for logging and recreation for the surrounding residents. Nearby is Helena, Montana, Canyon Ferry Lake, the Missouri River, Townsend,...
, the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness
Gates of the Mountains Wilderness
The Gates of the Mountains Wilderness is located in the U.S. state of Montana. Created by an act of Congress in 1964, the wilderness is managed by Helena National Forest...
, Sleeping Giant Wilderness Study Area
Sleeping Giant Wilderness Study Area
Sleeping Giant Wilderness Study Area is a non-motorized recreation area located on the west side of the Missouri River and Holter Lake located about north of Helena, Montana. Designated as a wilderness study area in 1981, the Sleeping Giant Wilderness Study Area contains approximately of nearly...
, Bob Marshall Wilderness
Bob Marshall Wilderness
The Bob Marshall Wilderness is a wilderness area in Flathead National Forest of western Montana in the United States. It is named after Bob Marshall , an early forester, conservationist, and co-founder of The Wilderness Society. The Bob Marshall Wilderness extends for 60 miles along the...
, Scapegoat Wilderness
Scapegoat Wilderness
The Scapegoat Wilderness consists of 239,936 acres spread across three different National Forests in the U.S. state of Montana. Created by an act of Congress in 1972, the wilderness is located in Lewis and Clark, Helena and Lolo National Forests...
, the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
, Canyon Ferry Lake
Canyon Ferry Lake
thumb|Canyon Ferry LakeCanyon Ferry Lake is a reservoir on the Missouri River near Helena, Montana and Townsend, Montana. It is Montana's third largest body of water, covering 35,181 acres and 76 miles of shore . The dam was completed in 1954 and has been used for...
, Holter Lake, Hauser Lake, and the Elkhorn Mountains
Elkhorn Mountains
The Elkhorn Mountains are a mountain range in southwestern Montana, part of the Rocky Mountains and are roughly 300,000 acres in size. It is an inactive volcanic mountain range with the highest point being Crow Peak at , right next to Elkhorn Peak,...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 14 square miles (36.3 km²), all of it land.
Helena has a semi-arid climate (Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk), with long, cold and moderately snowy winters, hot and dry summers, and short springs and autumns in between. Monthly daily means range from 20.2 °F (-6.6 °C) in January to 67.9 °F (19.9 °C) in July, with lows significantly cooler from April to October, due to the aridity and elevation. Snowfall has been observed in every month of the year, but is usually absent from May to September, and normally accumulates in only light amounts. Winters have periods of moderation, partly due to warming influence from chinook
Chinook
-Main uses:*The Chinook people of Native Americans.**Chinookan languages, in specific, Coastal Chinook and Upper Chinook*Chinook Jargon, a hybrid of Chinookan, Nootka, Chehalis, French, English and other languages*Chinook salmon...
s. Precipitation mostly falls in the spring and is generally sparse, averaging only 11.3 inches (29 cm) annually.
Subzero (below −18 °C) cold is observed 23 nights per year, but is rarely extended, as is 90 °F (32 °C) heat, which occurs on 19 days annually. Extremes range from −42 F, occurring as recently as February 2, 1996 and July 12, 2002, respectively.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 25,780 people, 11,541 households, and 6,474 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,840.7 people per square mile (710.5/km²). There were 12,133 housing units at an average density of 866.3 per square mile (334.4/km²). The ethnic makeup of the city is 94.8% White, 0.2% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 2.1% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.8% Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 1.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There were 11,541 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.9% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,416, and the median income for a family was $50,018. Males had a median income of $34,357 versus $25,821 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $20,020. About 9.3% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Helena has a long record of economic stability with its history as being the state capital and being founded in an area rich in silver and lead deposits. Its status as capital makes it a major hub of activity at the county, state, and federal level while its mining history has continued with mineral processing plants located around the city. 31 percent of the city's workforce is made up of government positions with private sector jobs comprising 62 percent.Colleges
- Carroll CollegeCarroll College (Montana)Carroll College is a private Catholic liberal arts college in Helena, Montana, USA. Carroll College has earned national and regional awards for its academic programs. Carroll's colors are purple and gold...
, a CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
liberal artsLiberal artsThe term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
collegeCollegeA college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
which opened in 1909, enrolls 1,500 students. - The University of Montana - Helena College of Technology, a two-year affiliate campus of University of Montana, provides transfer and technical education for more than 1,600 students. It opened in 1939.
Primary and secondary education
List of schools in Helena, Montana- Helena High SchoolHelena High SchoolHelena High School is a public high school for grades 9 through 12 located in Helena, Montana. It is part of the Helena Public School District. Founded in September 1876, it is the oldest high school in the state of Montana.-Curriculum:...
(1614) - Capital High SchoolCapital High School (Helena, Montana)Capital High School is a high school in Helena, Montana, in the United States. The building was originally built in the 1960s as a Catholic high school but closed following the graduation class of 1969. The Helena School District bought the building and it eventually became a four year high...
(1416) - C R Anderson Middle School (994)
- Helena Middle School (720)
- Four Georgians Elementary School (525)
- Rossiter Elementary School (445)
- Smith Elementary School (307)
- Warren Elementary School (267)
- Jim Darcy Elementary School (255)
- Bryant Elementary School (253)
- Broadwater Elementary School (253)
- Kessler Elementary School (211)
- St. Andrew School (162)
- Central School (The first public school in Helena)
- Jefferson Elementary School (250)
- Hawthorne Elementary School (245)
Media
Helena's Designated Market Area is 206th in size, as defined by Nielsen Media ResearchNielsen Media Research
Nielsen Media Research is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre films and newspapers...
, and is the fifth smallest media market in the nation.
- Newspapers
- Helena Independent Record (daily, morning)
- Queen City News (weekly, independent)
- AM radio
- KKGRKKGRKKGR is a radio station licensed to serve East Helena, Montana. The station is owned by KGR, LLC. It airs an Oldies music format.The station has been assigned the KKGR call letters by the Federal Communications Commission since November 26, 1996....
680 (OldiesOldiesOldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
), KGR, LLC - KMTXKMTX (AM)KMTX is a radio station licensed to serve Helena, Montana. The station is owned by KMTX, LLC. It airs a Oldies format.The station was assigned the KMTX call letters by the Federal Communications Commission.-Awards:...
950 (OldiesOldiesOldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
), KMTX, LLC - KBLLKBLL (AM)KBLL is a radio station licensed to serve Helena, Montana. The station is owned by Cherry Creek Radio. It airs a News/Talk format.The station was assigned the KBLL call letters by the Federal Communications Commission....
1240 (TalkTalkTalk may refer to:* Conversation, interactive communication between two or more people* Speech, the production of a spoken language* Interaction, face to face conversations-Software:* Google Talk, a Windows- and web-based instant messaging program...
), Cherry Creek Radio - KCAPKCAPKCAP is a radio station licensed to serve Helena, Montana. The station is owned by Cherry Creek Radio and licensed to CCR-Helena IV, LLC...
1340 (TalkTalkTalk may refer to:* Conversation, interactive communication between two or more people* Speech, the production of a spoken language* Interaction, face to face conversations-Software:* Google Talk, a Windows- and web-based instant messaging program...
), Cherry Creek Radio
- KKGR
- FM radio
- KROLKrolKrol is a surname and may refer to:* George A. Krol, American ambassador to Belarus* Henk Krol , Dutch journalist* Jack Krol , American baseball coach and manager* Joe Krol , Canadian Football League player...
88.5 (AlternativeAlternative rockAlternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
), Carroll CollegeCarroll College (Montana)Carroll College is a private Catholic liberal arts college in Helena, Montana, USA. Carroll College has earned national and regional awards for its academic programs. Carroll's colors are purple and gold... - KQRVKQRVKQRV is a commercial radio station in Deer Lodge, Montana, broadcasting to the Butte, Montana area. KQRV airs a country music format....
96.9 (CountryCountryA country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with a previously...
), Robert Cummings Toole - KOYTKOYTKZBI KZBI KZBI (94.5 FM is a radio station licensed to serve Elko, Nevada. The station is owned by Ruby Radio Corporation. It airs a News/Talk format.The station was assigned the KOYT call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on September 1, 2005, and changed to the current KZBI on...
98.5 ( Adult Contemporary), Cherry Creek Radio - KBLLKBLL-FMKBLL-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Helena, Montana. The station is owned by Cherry Creek Radio and licensed to CCR-Helena IV, LLC...
99.5 (CountryCountryA country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with a previously...
), Cherry Creek Radio - KZMTKZMTKZMT is a radio station licensed to serve Helena, Montana. The station is owned by Cherry Creek Radio and licensed to CCR-Helena IV, LLC...
101.1 (Classic RockClassic RockClassic rock is a radio format which plays popular rock music particularly from the late 1960s onward.Classic Rock can also refer to:*Oldies, the modern incarnation of which was known as "classic rock" in the 1970s*Classic Rock...
), Cherry Creek Radio - KHKR 104.1 (Pop Hits), Cherry Creek Radio
- KMTXKMTX-FMKMTX-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Helena, Montana. The station is owned by KMTX, LLC. It airs an Adult Contemporary music format....
105.3 (Adult Contemporary), KMTX, LLC
- KROL
- Television
- KMTFKMTFKMTF is a television station in Helena, Montana, broadcasting locally on digital channel 29 as an affiliate of The CW. KMTF is owned by The Uhlmann Company, under the license name Rocky Mountain Broadcasting Company, and managed by Intermountain West Communications Company, who also owns KTVH...
(CW, channel 10) - KTVHKTVHKTVH-DT is a full-service television station serving Helena, Montana and the surrounding area as an NBC affiliate, broadcasting on digital channel 12. The station ceased its analog broadcasts on November 10, 2008. The station is owned by Beartooth Communications Company, a subsidiary of...
(NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, channel 12) - KHBB-LP (ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, channel 21) - KXLH-LP (CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
/MTNMontana Television NetworkThe Montana Television Network is a network of CBS affiliates in Montana, all but one owned by the Evening Post Publishing Company.MTN was founded by Montana broadcasting pioneer Joseph S. "Joe" Sample. He signed on KOOK-TV in Billings, Montana's second television station, in 1953. He bought...
, channel 25) - K49EH (PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
, channel 49)
- KMTF
Notable natives and residents
- Governors of Montana and other Montana state officials
- Josephine AireyJosephine AireyJosephine Airey , was an Irish-born American prostitute, madam, and proprietor of brothels, dance halls, a variety theatre, and saloons in Helena, Montana. She eventually became the most influential landowner in Helena. She was also known as "Chicago Joe" Hensley following her marriage to James T...
, madamMadamMadam, or madame, is a polite title used for women which, in English, is the equivalent of Mrs. or Ms., and is often found abbreviated as "ma'am", and less frequently as "ma'm". It is derived from the French madame, which means "my lady", the feminine form of lord; the plural of ma dame in this...
, and landowner - Stephen AmbroseStephen AmbroseStephen Edward Ambrose was an American historian and biographer of U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon. He was a long time professor of history at the University of New Orleans and the author of many best selling volumes of American popular history...
, historian, author of Band of Brothers and Undaunted CourageUndaunted CourageUndaunted Courage , written by Stephen Ambrose, is a 1996 biography of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The book is based on journals written by Lewis and Clark, along with other members of the expedition, and also offers additional insight into the travelers and... - James Presley BallJames Presley BallJames Presley Ball, Sr. was a prominent African-American photographer, abolitionist, and businessman.-Biography:Ball was born in Frederick County, Virginia to William and Susan Ball in 1825. He learned daguerreotype photography from John B...
, African-American daugerreotypistDaguerreotypeThe daguerreotype was the first commercially successful photographic process. The image is a direct positive made in the camera on a silvered copper plate.... - Max BaucusMax BaucusMax Sieben Baucus is the senior United States Senator from Montana and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected to the Senate in 1978, as of 2010 he is the longest-serving Senator from Montana, and the fifth longest-serving U.S...
, Montana's senior U.S. SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each... - Samuel BeallSamuel BeallSamuel W. Beall was the second Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. He was born in Maryland; in 1827 he graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York. He moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1835, where he made a fortune in land speculation; in the 1840s he settled in Taycheedah...
, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin - Dirk BenedictDirk BenedictDirk Benedict is an American movie, television and stage actor, perhaps best known for playing the characters Lieutenant Templeton "Faceman" Peck in The A-Team television series and Lieutenant Starbuck in the original Battlestar Galactica film and television series.-Early life:Benedict was born...
, actor (The A-TeamThe A-TeamThe A-Team is an American action adventure television series about a fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces personnel who work as soldiers of fortune, while on the run from the Army after being branded as war criminals for a "crime they didn't commit". The A-Team was created by...
) - Brand BlanshardBrand BlanshardPercy Brand Blanshard was an American philosopher known primarily for his defense of reason. A powerful polemicist, by all accounts he comported himself with courtesy and grace in philosophical controversies and exemplified the "rational temper" he advocated.-Life:Brand Blanshard was born August...
, philosopher - Isaac BrockIsaac Brock (musician)Isaac Brock is the lead singer, guitarist, banjoist, and songwriter for the American indie rock band Modest Mouse, as well as his side project band, Ugly Casanova...
, lead singer of Modest MouseModest MouseModest Mouse is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, by singer/lyricist/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. They are based in Portland, Oregon. Since their 1996 debut album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think... - Mary CaferroMary CaferroMary M. Caferro is a Democratic Party member of the Montana Senate. In 2011 she was elected to Senate District 40, representing Helena, Montana. She was a member of the Montana House of Representatives, representing District 80 from 2004 to 2010...
, Montana State Senator - Thomas Henry CarterThomas Henry CarterThomas Henry Carter was a delegate, a United States Representative, and a U.S. Senator from Montana.-Early life:...
, United States Senator from Montana - Lane ChandlerLane ChandlerLane Chandler was an American actor specializing in Westerns.-Early life:He was born as Robert Chandler Oakes on a ranch near Culbertson, Montana, the son of a horse rancher. At an early age, the family relocated to Helena, Montana, where he graduated from high school...
, actor - William H. ClagettWilliam H. ClagettWilliam Horace Clagett was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from various places in the United States. He was the uncle of Samuel B. Pettengill....
, U.S. Representative from Montana TerritoryMontana TerritoryThe Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 28, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Montana.-History:... - Liz Claiborne, fashion designer
- Mike CooneyMike CooneyMike R. Cooney was a Democratic member of the Montana Senate, representing District 40 from 2002 to 2010. He served as the President Pro Tempore. He was Sec retary of State from 1989 through 2001, and a member of the Montana House of Representatives from 1976 through 1980...
, Montana State Senator - Gary CooperGary CooperFrank James Cooper, known professionally as Gary Cooper, was an American film actor. He was renowned for his quiet, understated acting style and his stoic, but at times intense screen persona, which was particularly well suited to the many Westerns he made...
, actor - Walter A. CosletWalter A. CosletWalter Allen Coslet was a well known science fiction fan, collector, and fanzine publisher as well as a charter member of the International Society of Bible Collectors, writing many articles for the society's publications...
, figure in science fiction fandomScience fiction fandomScience fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
and Bible collecting - Margaret Craven, author
- Dennis CrossDennis CrossDennis Cross was an American actor who was the lead star of the syndicated television series The Blue Angels, fictional stories of daredevil United States Navy pilots which aired from 1960-1961...
, an actor, who starred in The Blue AngelsThe Blue Angels (TV series)The Blue Angels is a 1960-1961 syndicated television series about the Blue Angels of the United States Navy. The program starred Dennis Cross as Commander Arthur Richards, the head of a four-man squadron which tours the country to give flight exhibitions... - Charles Donnelly, president of the Northern Pacific RailwayNorthern Pacific RailwayThe Northern Pacific Railway was a railway that operated in the west along the Canadian border of the United States. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in...
- Pat DonovanPat Donovan (football player)Patrick Emery Donovan is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League was spent with the Dallas Cowboys . In 1975 Donovan was one of the "Dirty Dozen" of rookies who helped the Cowboys to Super Bowl X. Donovan became a starter at left tackle in 1978...
, Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
offensive tackle - Truman C. EvertsTruman C. EvertsTruman C. Everts was part of the 1870 Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition exploring the area which later became Yellowstone National Park...
, Assessor of Internal Revenue for the Montana TerritoryMontana TerritoryThe Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 28, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Montana.-History:...
, a position he held between July 15, 1864 and February 16, 1870. - Rebecca FerrattiRebecca FerrattiRebecca Michelle Ferratti is an actress, model, and dancer. She has worked in over 25 movies. She has been a dancer in many music videos and has posed in many magazines, including Playboy...
, PlayboyPlayboyPlayboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
centerfold - Casey FitzSimmonsCasey FitzSimmonsCasey FitzSimmons is a former National Football League tight end. He played his whole career for the Detroit Lions.-High school years:...
, tight endTight endThe tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
with the Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... - Cory FongCory FongCory Fong is a North Dakota public servant. He is a Republican, and the current state State Tax Commissioner....
, Tax Commissioner of North Dakota - John GagliardiJohn GagliardiJohn Gagliardi is an American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, a position he has held since 1953. From 1949 to 1952, he was the head football coach at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. With a career record of...
, College Football Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of FameThe College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
coach - Pat GrayPat GrayPat Gray is an American talk radio host. He is a co-host of The Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated radio talk show featuring host Glenn Beck. Gray was formerly the host of the morning show on radio station KSEV.-History:...
, Co-Host of The Glenn Beck Program with Glenn BeckGlenn BeckGlenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks... - Russell Benjamin HarrisonRussell Benjamin HarrisonRussell Benjamin Harrison , also known as Russell Lord Harrison, was the son of United States President Benjamin Harrison and Caroline Harrison.-Life:...
, son of President Benjamin Harrison and Indiana politician - Rick HillRick HillRichard "Rick" Hill is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Montana. He is currently a candidate for Governor of Montana in 2012.-Background:...
, United States Congressman from Montana - Norman HolterNorman HolterNorman Jefferis "Jeff" Holter was an American biophysicist who invented the Holter monitor, a portable device for continuously monitoring the electrical activity of the heart for 24 hours or more...
, biophysicist and inventor of the Holter monitorHolter monitorIn medicine, a Holter monitor is a portable device for continuously monitoring various electrical activity of the cardiovascular system for at least 24 hours... - Esther HowardEsther HowardEsther Howard was a film character actress who played a wide range of supporting roles, from man-hungry spinsters to amoral criminals, appearing in over 100 movies in her 23-year film career.-Career:...
, actress - L. Ron HubbardL. Ron HubbardLafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
, author and founder of ScientologyScientologyScientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
. - Chuck Hunter, Montana State Senator
- Christine KaufmannChristine Kaufmann (Montana politician)Christine Kaufmann is a Montana politician. A member of the Montana Senate since January 2007, she previously served three terms in the Montana House of Representatives...
, Montana State Senator - Nicolette LarsonNicolette LarsonNicolette Larson was an American pop singer. She is perhaps best known for her work in the late 1970s with Neil Young, as well as her 1978 cover of Young's "Lotta Love". The song, her debut single, was a Number One Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks hit and #8 pop hit that year...
, singer - Nathaniel P. LangfordNathaniel P. LangfordNathaniel Pitt Langford was an explorer, businessman, bureaucrat, vigilante and historian from St. Paul, Minnesota who played an important role in the early years of the Montana gold fields, territorial government and the creation of Yellowstone National Park.-Montana Gold Fields:On June 16, 1862...
- U.S. Collector of Internal Revenue (1864–69), Montana Territory and first superintendent of Yellowstone National ParkYellowstone National ParkYellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho... - Dave Lewis, Montana State Senator
- James F. LloydJames F. LloydJames Fredrick Lloyd was a California Democratic politician and United States Representative.Lloyd attended public schools in Washington State, California, and Oregon. He attended the University of Oregon, 1940-1942 but did not graduate. He served in the United States Navy as a naval aviator,...
, United States Representative from California - Myrna LoyMyrna LoyMyrna Loy was an American actress. Trained as a dancer, she devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. Originally typecast in exotic roles, often as a vamp or a woman of Asian descent, her career prospects improved following her portrayal of Nora Charles...
, actress - Martin MaginnisMartin MaginnisMartin Maginnis was a nineteenth century politician, publisher, editor and miner from Minnesota and the Montana Territory.-Biography:...
, U.S. Representative from Montana TerritoryMontana TerritoryThe Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 28, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Montana.-History:... - Tony MarkellisTony MarkellisTony Markellis is a bassist and record producer from Helena, Montana, now residing in Saratoga Springs, New York. His career spans nearly forty years, playing blues, folk, jazz, rock and country music with musicians such as Trey Anastasio, Paul Butterfield, The Mamas & the Papas, Johnny Shines,...
, bassistBassistA bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
and record producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Thomas Francis MeagherThomas Francis Meagher-Young Ireland:Meagher returned to Ireland in 1843, with undecided plans for a career in the Austrian army, a tradition among a number of Irish families. In 1844 he traveled to Dublin with the intention of studying for the bar. He became involved in the Repeal Association, which worked for repeal...
, Irish rebel, US Civil War Brigadier GeneralBrigadier GeneralBrigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
, Acting GovernorActing governorAn acting governor is a constitutional position created in some U.S. states when the governor dies in office or resigns. In some states, the governor may also be declared to be incapacitated and unable to function for various reasons, including illness and absence from the state for more than a...
of the Territory of Montana - Dave MeierDave MeierDavid Keith Meier is a former Major League Baseball left fielder, who also played a few games at third base and as a designated hitter.- Early life and education :...
, Major League baseball outfielder - Colin MeloyColin MeloyColin Patrick Henry Meloy is the lead singer and songwriter for the Portland, Oregon, folk-rock band The Decemberists. In addition to vocals, he performs with an acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bouzouki, harmonica, percussion and interpretive hand gestures.-Early life...
, lead singer of The DecemberistsThe DecemberistsThe Decemberists are an indie folk rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk , Jenny Conlee , Nate Query , and John Moen .The band's... - Maile MeloyMaile MeloyMaile Meloy is an American author of fiction. She was born in Helena, Montana, where she was also raised.Meloy graduated from the University of California, Irvine with an M.F.A...
, writer - Mike Menahan, Montana State Senator
- James C. MortonJames C. MortonJames C. Morton was an American character actor. He appeared in 187 films between 1922 and 1943.-Career:...
, actor - Bobby PetrinoBobby PetrinoBobby Petrino is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arkansas, a position he has held since the 2008 season...
, current head footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach of the Arkansas RazorbacksArkansas RazorbacksThe Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name... - Charlie Pride, country musicCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer - Ernest W. RetzlaffErnest W. RetzlaffErnest Walter Retzlaff, Ph.D. was an American neurophysiologist and histologist who helped develop a form of manipulative healing therapy called Craniosacral therapy with Dr...
, physiologist and author who helped develop craniosacral therapyCraniosacral therapyCraniosacral therapy is an alternative medicine therapy used by osteopaths, massage therapists, naturopaths, and chiropractors. A craniosacral therapy session involves the therapist placing their hands on the patient, which allows them to "tune into the craniosacral rhythm"... - Henry H. SchwartzHenry H. SchwartzHenry Herman "Harry" Schwartz was an American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Wyoming.Schwartz was born on a farm near Fort Recovery, Mercer County, Ohio, and was educated in the public schools of Mercer County and Cincinnati, Ohio...
, Chief of the U.S. General Land Office and United States Senator from Wyoming - Leo SeltzerLeo SeltzerLeo A. Seltzer is generally credited as the creator of the sport of roller derby, and was the founder and head of the original Roller Derby league from 1935 until his son Jerry Seltzer took over the business in 1958....
, creator of roller derbyRoller derbyRoller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating in the same direction around a track. Game play consists of a series of short matchups in which both teams designate a scoring player who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team... - George G. SymesGeorge G. SymesGeorge Gifford Symes was a U.S. Representative from Colorado.Born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, Symes attended the common schools.He studied law.He was admitted to the bar and practiced....
, United States Congressman from Colorado - Robert "Dink" Tempelton, Olympic Gold Medalist in rugby
- Decius WadeDecius WadeDecius Spear Wade was an American attorney, judge, writer, and politician who has been called the "Father of Montana Jurisprudence" for his role in establishing the common law and statutory law of the U.S. state of Montana...
, the "Father of Montana Jurisprudence" - Thomas J. WalshThomas J. WalshThomas James Walsh was a lawyer and Democratic Party politician from Helena, Montana, in the United States.-Background:...
, United States Senator from Montana - Henry D. WashburnHenry D. WashburnHenry Dana Washburn was a U.S. Representative from Indiana and a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, Surveyor General, Montana Territory and commander of the Washburn-Langford-Doane ExpeditionWashburn-Langford-Doane ExpeditionThe Washburn Expedition of 1870, explored the region of northwestern Wyoming that a couple years later became Yellowstone National Park. Led by Henry Washburn, Nathaniel P. Langford and under U.S. Army escort led by Lt. Gustavus C...
to Yellowstone in 1870 - William F. WheelerWilliam F. WheelerWilliam Fletcher Wheeler was the third U.S. Marshal for the Montana Territory.Wheeler was born in Warwick, New York, the son of a Methodist minister who moved frequently. At the age of 19 William found work as an apprentice printer and reporter for the Ohio Statesman under Samuel Medary...
, U.S. Marshal, Civil War officer, Minnesota territorial Librarian and secretary to two Governors, founder of Montana Historical Society, first in the West - John Patrick WilliamsJohn Patrick WilliamsJohn Patrick "Pat" Williams is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Montana during the years 1979–1997....
, former member of the United States House of Representatives from Montana - Molly WoodMolly WoodMolly Kristin Wood is an executive editor at CNET.com and previously a writer for Associated Press, MacHome Journal magazine, and O'Reilly Media. Wood hosted the "Gadgettes"...
, executive editor at CNET.com - Samuel Baldwin Marks YoungSamuel Baldwin Marks YoungSamuel Baldwin Marks Young was a United States Army general. He also served as the first president of Army War College between 1902 and 1903. He then served from 1903 until 1904 as the first Chief of Staff of the United States Army.-Biography:Young was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to John...
, American general - Bengal Bill, Leader