Overview

Introduction to Helena, Montana

Helena is the capital of Montana and is located in Lewis and Clark County. The city is situated near the Continental Divide, Lake Helena, The Big Belt Mountains, Helena National Forests and other noteworthy scenic sites.

History

The city of Helena was founded in 1864, primarily due to gold being discovered along the Last Chance Creek. The "Four Georgians" originally discovered gold in the region and the area was called Crab Town in tribute to one of the Four Georgians named John Crab. Quickly, the city was filled with miners seeking gold. Some members of the community decided to rename the city. There was an agreement to name the town after Saint Helena Minnesota; the home town of John Sommerville. The community members decided that "Saint" would not be included.

By the year 1888 approximately 50 millionaires resided in Helena. The city prospered due to the vast amount of gold that was extracted from the Last Chance Gulch. In 1889 railroad entrepreneur Charles Arthur Broadwater constructed the legendary Hotel Broadwater and Natatorium near the city. Helena had been established as the capital of Montana Territory in 1875 and was designated the capital of the state of Montana in 1889.

Air Transportation

The city is home to the Helena Regional Airport.

Outdoor Activities

Helena provides residents and visitors with a wide variety of outdoor activities. Fishing, swimming, camping, boating, water-skiing and wind surfing are popular activities at the Holter and Hauser Lakes. Canyon Ferry and Spring Meadow Lake are other popular destinations for outdoor activities. Hiking enthusiasts enjoy Blackfoot Meadows, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, Mount Helena city park as well as the Continental Divide Trail. The Helena region also provides three major trail systems for snowmobiles. The Great Divide Ski area is located near Helena.

Attractions

  • Holter Museum of Art showcases the area's arts and crafts
  • Archie Bray Foundation is internationally known for ceramics
  • Grandstreet Theater
  • Gates of the Mountain
  • Montana Historical Society Museum
  • The State Capital features a huge copper dome
  • The Original Governor's Mansion is a Queen Anne style house
  • Great Northern Carousel
  • Memorial Park
  • Last Chance Tour Train
  • The impressive homes in the Mansion District
  • St. Helena Cathedral
  • Reeders's Alley is a restored mining town
  • Last Chance Gulch
  • Old Fire Tower
  • Civic Center

Higher Education

Helena is home to Carroll College; recognized as a Roman Catholic Liberal Arts school. The University of Montana-Helena College of Technology campus is located in the city and is affiliated with the University of Montana.

Demographics

People

Total Population31,212
Male Share of the Population48.2%
Female Share of the Population51.8%
Senior Citizens19%
Employed Population 16+15,934
Age of the Population40

Families

% of people married42.1%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher36%
Median Earnings25+$37,629
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$13,417
Median Earnings With High School Degree$26,170

Wealth

Median Family Income$76,364
% Above Poverty Level84.3%
% Below Poverty Level15.7%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time12 minutes
% Working from Home5.8%
% Walking and Biking to Work10.4%
% Using Public Transportation0.9%

Housing

People Living Alone38%
Median Gross Rent$818
Median House Value$232,000

Ancestry

German23.6%
Irish18.6%
Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)14.1%
English12.6%
Norwegian7.7%
Swedish4.6%
Italian4.5%
Scottish4.5%
French Except Basque3.5%
Polish2.6%
Dutch2.2%
Welsh1.6%
Czech1.4%
Danishn1.2%
Russian0.9%
Greek0.6%
Canadian0.6%
Finnish0.6%
Lebanese0.5%
Portuguese0.5%
Croatian0.5%
Swiss0.5%
Austrian0.5%
Hungarian0.5%
Arab0.5%
Slovak0.3%
Belgian0.2%
US/American0.2%
Ukrainian0.2%
Romanian0.1%
Iranian0.1%
Basque0.1%
Slovene0.1%
African0.1%
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Helena Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyLewis and Clark County
Standard Zip Codes59602, 59626, 59601
P.O. Box Zip Codes59624, 59604, 59620
Company Zip Codes59625, 59623
Phone Area Codes406
Time ZoneAmerica/Denver
Approximate Latitude46.6
Approximate Longitude-112.04

Helena Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationHELENA AP
Distance3.3 miles
Jan Temp10 to 31 F
Apr Temp31 to 57 F
Jul Temp52 to 83 F
Oct Temp31 to 58 F
Annual Precip11.3 inches
StationCANYON FERRY DAM
Distance14.9 miles
Jan Temp14 to 31 F
Apr Temp32 to 57 F
Jul Temp52 to 83 F
Oct Temp35 to 59 F
Annual Precip11.5 inches
StationHOLTER DAM
Distance27 miles
Jan Temp19 to 36 F
Apr Temp35 to 58 F
Jul Temp54 to 85 F
Oct Temp40 to 61 F
Annual Precip12.2 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Boulder942$50,333
East Helena1,808$67,206

Helena Public Libraries

Lewis And Clark Library
120 SOUTH LAST CHANCE GULCH
Helena, Montana
(406) 447-1690

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More Information for Librarians

Helena Hospitals

Shodair Childrens Hospital
(Non-profit)
2755 Colonial Dr
(406) 444-7500
St Peters Hospital
(Non-profit)
2475 E Broadway St
(406) 442-2480

Helena Public Schools

Broadwater School
900 Hollins
ZIP: 59601
(406) 324-1130
Primary
Total Enrollment 278
Bryant School
1529 Boulder
ZIP: 59601
(406) 324-1200
Primary
Total Enrollment 235
C R Anderson Middle Schl
1200 Knight St
ZIP: 59601
(406) 324-2800
Middle
Total Enrollment 996
Capital High School
100 Valley Drive
ZIP: 59601
(406) 324-2500
High
Total Enrollment 1276
Central School
1325 Poplar
ZIP: 59601
(406) 324-1230
Primary
Total Enrollment 259
Four Georgians School
555 Custer Avenue
ZIP: 59601
(406) 324-1300
Primary
Total Enrollment 516
Hawthorne School
430 Madison Avenue
ZIP: 59601
(406) 324-1370
Primary
Total Enrollment 229
Helena High School
1300 Billings Avenue
ZIP: 59601
(406) 324-2200
High
Total Enrollment 1582
Helena Middle School
1025 North Rodney
ZIP: 59601
(406) 324-1000
Middle
Total Enrollment 687
Jefferson School
1023 Broadway
ZIP: 59601
(406) 324-2060
Primary
Total Enrollment 273
Kessler Elementary School
2420 Choteau Street
ZIP: 59601
(406) 324-1700
Primary
Total Enrollment 269
Smith School
2320 5th Avenue
ZIP: 59601
(406) 324-1530
Primary
Total Enrollment 298
Jim Darcy School
990 Lincoln Road West
ZIP: 59602
(406) 324-1410
Primary
Total Enrollment 362
Rossiter School
1497 Sierra Road East
ZIP: 59602
(406) 324-1500
Primary
Total Enrollment 465
Warren School
2690 Old York Road
ZIP: 59602
(406) 324-1600
Primary
Total Enrollment 323

Helena Private Schools

Christ's Church Academy
921 E 6th Ave
ZIP: 59601
Elementary
Total Enrollment 4
First Lutheran School
2231 E Broadway St
ZIP: 59601
Elementary
Total Enrollment 20
Helena Adventist Christian School
2410 Belt View Dr
ZIP: 59601
Elementary
Total Enrollment 4
Intermountain
500 S Lamborn St
ZIP: 59601
Elementary
Total Enrollment 31
St Andrew School
1900 Floweree St
ZIP: 59601
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 191
Last Chance Academy
6240 Raven Rd
ZIP: 59602
Secondary
Total Enrollment 4
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