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Helena, MT Links
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Helena is the capital of the State of Montana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 25,780,
but with the surrounding area the population reaches 67,636. It is the county seat of Lewis and
Clark County. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record, and there is a free weekly
newspaper, the Queen City News (reflecting the city's nickname). The Helena Brewers minor league
baseball team call the city home.
Helena, MT History:
The town was established on October 30, 1864, following the discovery of gold along Last
Chance Creek by the "Four Georgians". Helena's main street is named Last Chance Gulch and
follows the winding path of the original creek through the historic downtown district.
The townsite was first surveyed in 1865 by Captain John Wood. However, most streets follow
the chaotic paths of the miners, going around claims and following the winding streambed.
As a result, few city blocks match the ideal of 30 x 60, rather they have an irregular
variety of shapes and size causing many major streets to end abruptly.
By 1888, about 50 millionaires lived in Helena, more millionaires 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. 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).
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.
Helena Businesses Wanted
Have a computer or internet related business in Helena, Montana ?
We would like to talk to you about becoming a reseller of our services.
Contact Us to request more information or a copy of
our resellers agreement.
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