Butte, Montana, was once known as the "Richest Hill on Earth" because of its flourishing mining industry, which brought forth silver, gold, copper and other metals. Today, Butte is a historic city that caters to visitors.
Butte is located in Silver Bow County in the southwestern part of Montana. The city is 171.9 square miles and is nestled in the Rocky Mountains halfway between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. Butte is 64 miles from Montana's capital city Helena.
Butte, Montana started out as a mining city. It wasn't until the discovery of silver and copper in the early 1870s that companies and people started migrating to the city. From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, Butte was supplying about one third of the copper for the U.S., according to the Big Sky Fishing website. The city had a population of close to 100,000 people.
As of 2007, Butte, Montana, had a population of a little more than 33,000 people. The decrease in population was due to the decline in the mining industry. Butte is home to museums, antique shops, specialty shops and restaurants. The city has more than 4,000 historic buildings and is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
Butte, Montana, has a seasonal climate with cold winters. Even during the summer, the nights can get cold. This is also when mosquitoes are commonly present in river and lake areas.
