Butte, Montana - Travel and Vacation Info (2024)

FAQs

What is Butte, Montana famous for? ›

The amount of ore produced in the city earned it the nickname "The Richest Hill on Earth." With its large workforce of miners performing in physically dangerous conditions, Butte was the site of active labor union movements, and came to be known as "the Gibraltar of Unionism."

Butte, Montana stands as one of the most iconic mining towns in American history, but its prodigious mineral wealth came at a grave price. Behind Butte's rough-and-tumble legacy lies a darker history, marred by corporate exploitation, ethnic tensions, toxic pollution, and startling tragedy.

Butte began in the late 1800s as a gold and silver mining camp. At the turn of the century, the development of electricity and the industrialization of America resulted in a massive copper boom, and Butte flourished.

Based on our Butte cost of living calculator, Butte is 9% less expensive than the national average and 3% less expensive to live in than the average city in Montana. This assumes a $72,000 annual salary and a 2 Bedroom Apt. Food costs in Butte are less affordable than average in the United States.

In the words of historian David Emmons, “People in Butte never thought of themselves as Montanans. They identified first with Butte and then with places overseas – the countries they came from or other places where copper was mined.”

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Butte has a variety of delicious foods to choose from, including great Italian recipes bringing the “old country” to life, Chinese dishes served in authentic settings, and the traditional pasty that continues to be a Butte staple.

Born in Butte, Montana, Robert Craig Knievel (aka Evel Knievel) was a professional stunt performer and entertainer famous for his daredevil motorcycle jumps.

Our Lady of the Rockies is a beautiful white 90 ft. statue of Mary the Mother of Jesus. It stands on top of the US continental divide overlooking the city of Butte, Montana. It was touted as the 4th largest statue in the United States.

Dennis Washington, 86, is the wealthiest man in Montana, with a net worth of $6.1 billion US. He is the majority interest owner of The Washington Companies, which made a $166 million offer on the N.W.T. 's troubled Ekati Diamond Mine in September.

Is Butte Montana the richest hill on earth? ›

Background. Butte, once the largest city in the Rocky Mountains, and has been called the "Richest Hill on Earth" due to the mining operations of gold, silver, and copper.

Population & Diversity

In 2022, there were 27.9 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (31.7k people) in Butte-Silver Bow, MT than any other race or ethnicity. There were 1.14k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) and 990 White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

$463,645. The average Montana home value is $463,645, up 5.8% over the past year and goes to pending in around 21 days.

During the mining boom in the 1860s and 70s, the city saw a large influx of immigrants, a large percentage of whom were from Ireland and China, said Paddy Dennehy, Butte Historical Society president.

The distance between Butte and Sweetgrass–Coutts Border Crossing is 454 km. The road distance is 436.9 km.

The Butte Hill and its huge copper deposits was once known as "the richest hill on earth." Today Butte's colorful history can be seen in its preserved Victorian uptown business district and stately mansions. The Butte Trolley tours historic sites in the summer.

Many Butte visitors arrive by plane at the Bert Mooney Airport (BTM). From the airport, most visitors will want to rent a car for the easiest access to Montana's wide open spaces.

Yes, the driving distance between Butte to Yellowstone National Park is 180 miles. It takes approximately 3h 17m to drive from Butte to Yellowstone National Park.

Can I drive from Butte to Glacier National Park? Yes, the driving distance between Butte to Glacier National Park is 262 miles. It takes approximately 4h 44m to drive from Butte to Glacier National Park.

What are three facts about Butte? ›

Buttes were once part of flat, elevated areas of land known as mesas or plateaus. In fact, the only difference between a mesa and a butte is its size. Most geographers say a butte is taller than it is wide, while a mesa is a much larger, slightly less elevated feature.