Moving Companies Helena, MT

Helena, Montana

Helena is the capitol of Montana, and has a population of about 30,000. It is at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The weather is characterized by very long and snowy winters, and a hot and dry summer. Helena can actually experience some snow every month of the year. The city is very proud of its past and has many historic buildings and neighborhoods. It is a beautiful place to live. The Helena National Forest is right outside of town, and it provides magnificent scenery and many activities. Those moving to Helena will find a friendly, modern city with a great pride in its past.

Economy:
The median household income for Helena is just at the state average. The cost of living there is much lower than the national average, and the unemployment rate is also much lower at only 5.2 percent. Besides its firm base as a governmental city, Helena has maintained an interest in the many mining operations. The area is also a telephone communications center. Areas showing significant growth are textile machinery and computer software engineering. 

History:
The area of Helena has been a crossroads for Indians for over 12,000 years. The first Europeans to see the area were Lewis and Clark. The area was frequented by trappers, and had a temporary settlement in 1862. Gold was discovered there in 1864 and the area was soon a boom town of people looking for gold. Over the following twenty years, over three billion dollars worth of gold was mined there. An early name for the town included ‘Pumpkinville’ but was eventually named Helena by John Somerville in honor of his hometown. Helena became the capital when Montana became a state in 1889. The city became so rich from the gold and silver mines that the residents built many mansions in various gaudy styles of architecture. Helena experienced many ups and downs economically, but has preserved its history well. In 2005, Helena was named one of the country’s ‘Dozen Distinctive Destinations’ for its preservation of historical buildings.

Tourism:
Architecture is a focal point of Helena sight-seeing. The state capital building is made of granite and has a copper dome. Inside are murals done by artists such as E. S. Paxon and Charles M. Russell. The governor’s mansion was built in 1888 in the Queen Anne style. St. Helena Cathedral was built in 1908 and is styled after the cathedral in Cologne Germany and the Votive Church in Vienna. You can experience theater and cultural arts at the Myrna Loy Center, named after the Montana-born actress. In September you can attend the Last Chance Bluegrass Festival, and in October there are the Bullfest and Oktoberfest celebrations. There is the Race to the Sky Sled Dog Race is held in February. In June there is a rodeo. There are also pow wows held throughout the year by the local tribes.

Colleges and Universities:
• University of Montana - Helena
• Carroll College

Interesting Facts:
• Helena has a nickname of the ‘City of Gold.’
• Helena has been home to Liz Claiborne, Gary Cooper, L. Ron Hubbard, and Charley Pride

Helpful Links:
• Helena Real Estate
• Helena Storage Facility
• Helena Insurance
• Helena Dental Offices
• Helena Moving Companies