What Is the Capital of Montana?
Montana is a state in the northern part of the United States. The state capital is Helena.
History
Helena was originally named 鈥淭he Last Chance Gulch鈥� and it was founded by four gold miners as they were searching for more gold in the year 1864. The place was flooded by gold miners making the city densely populated. Later, a Scotsman, John Summerville, proposed the name Helena. In the year 1875, Helena became the capital of Montana territorial and Montana gained its statehood in 1889. In 1883, the Northern Pacific Railroad arrived in Helena, fueling its growth both economically and demographically.
Population
According to the census carried out in the year 2010, the population of Helena was approximately 28,200 people. As of 2010, the median age in Helena was 40 years. 20% of the residents in the city were under the age of 18 years, 12% were between 18 and 24 years, 23% were between 25 and 44 years, 29% were between the age 45 and 64, and the other 15% were over 65 years of age. In 2010, men composed 48% of Helena's population, and women took the remaining 52%. The population of the city has been increasing since 1864 when the city was originally founded.
Geography and Climate
Helena is located in west-central of Montana, in the foothills of Big Belt Mountains. The city is located between Glacier and Yellowstone national parks, and is 4,090 feet above sea level. The city is semi-arid with a continental climate changing between warm, dry summers and cold, moderately snowy winters. Snow is observed every month of the year in the city but absent from May to September. During the month of November to February, the temperatures drop to -5.7掳C or below. The temperatures start to rise from March, 26掳C, to October, when the average temperature is 31掳C. Showers of rain begin to fall as from April through July.
Economy
Helena is a wealthy city which has enjoyed a record of economic stability. Due to its rich deposits of gold and silver, the city has embraced its interest in mineral production and processing. Helena has low unemployment rate of 3.6%. The income per capita is $29,090, and the median household income is $50,889. The other main economic activity in the city includes refinery and metal smelting, manufacture of paints, and machine parts.
