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Place Name
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Helena
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Place Status (Type)
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city
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Capital Of
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Mont. and Lewis and Clark County
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Population
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24,569 (1990)
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Location
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Lewis and Clark County, Montana (MT), United States, North America
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Latitude
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46°36'N
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Longitude
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112°01'W
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Helena
, city
(1990 pop. 24,569),  Mont. and Lewis and Clark co., W central
Mont., 48 mi/77 km NNE of Butte, on E slope of
the Rocky Mts., just E of the Continental Divide; 46°36'N 112°01'W.
Commercial, trading, and shipping center in a ranching and mining area.
Mfg. includes concrete and sheet metal prods., dairy prods., consumer
goods; printing and publishing. The state corporate offices
of major electronics, engineering, communications, and healthcare
organizations, as well as the Federal Reserve bank, are here. Increased
tourism and expanding artists' colonies have strengthened Helena's
economic base. Agr. area, including cattle, sheep; wheat, barley, oats.
Founded after the discovery of gold (1864) in Last Chance Gulch (which
has become Helena's main street) and grew rapidly. In 1875 a general
election ratified the choice of Helena to replace Virginia City as
territorial capital. In the 1890s it maintained its position as state
capital against the rivalry of Anaconda. Original mining was
principally for gold and silver. As these minerals were depleted,
stores of copper, lead, and zinc were discovered and exploited. Seat of
Carroll Col. Has numerous mus., landmarks, and monuments. Original
Governors Mansion (1888), Holter Mus. of Art, Mus. of Gold, Masonic
Grand Lodge, Reeder's Alley, Helena Civic Center, Archie Bray
Foundation (school of pottery), Poindexter Collection of Abstract Art,
F. Jay Haynes Photo Collection, Mont. Homeland Exhibit, Mackay Gal.,
Mont. Historical Society Mus., Myrna Loy Center for the Performing
Arts. The capitol bldg. has noteworthy historical and artistic
collections. The city is surrounded by scenic mts. and is the hq. of
Helena Natl. Forest. L. Helena formed on sidestream of Missouri R. to
NE, Hauser L. and Black Sandy State Park to NE, and Canyon Ferry L. and
State Park to E, both formed by dams on Missouri R., units of Helena
Natl. Forest to W, SE, and NE, Gates of the Mts. Wilderness to NE.
Great Divide Ski Area to NW, Fort Harrison Military Reservation to W.
Originally called Last Chance Gulch. Inc. 1870.
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