The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Helena (Montana)

HELENA, a town and the capital of Lewis and Clarke co., Montana, on the W. side of the valley of Prickly Pear and Ten Mile creeks, at the foot of the Rocky mountains, 15 m. W. of the Missouri river, and 110 m. N. of Virginia City; lat. 46° 35′ 36″ N., lon. 111° 52′ 45″ W.; pop. in 1870, 3,106, of whom 641 were Chinese. It is the largest town of the territory, and is connected by stage with Virginia City and Corinne, Utah, on the Central Pacific railroad, 445 m. S. It is chiefly supported by the rich quartz and placer gold mines in the vicinity. The neighboring mountains are covered with forests of pine and fir, which supply several saw mills. The streams and mountain springs furnish abundant water. About 4 m. N. W. of the town are medicinal hot springs. A large portion of the buildings are constructed of brick, granite, and blue limestone, obtained in the vicinity. The town contains a court house, jail, almshouse, masonic hall, and the offices of the United States surveyor general, register and receiver of lands, collector of customs, and marshal. There are 3 cabinet factories, 2 carriage factories, 1 foundery, 3 assay offices, 4 breweries, 1 distillery, 5 bakeries, 4 hotels, 2 national banks with a capital of $200,000, about 60 stores, 4 schools, 2 daily and weekly newspapers, 6 religious societies, and 3 churches. Helena was settled in 1864. It has been visited by several conflagrations, the last and most destructive of which occurred Jan. 9, 1874.