LEWIS AND CLARK COUNTY
County Offices
316 N Park Avenue
Helena 406-447-8200
https://lccountymt.gov/home.html
Chamber of Commerce
225 Cruse Avenue
Helena 406-442-4120
https://helenachamber.com/
Lewis and Clark County is named after the famed American explorers. It is home to more than 63,000 people. The capital city of Montana, Helena is located here, and it is also the biggest city in the county, with almost half of the county population living there. The county is surrounded by unspoiled natural beauty, which is a common expression in this part of Montana. The county like many parts of the state was founded here when gold was discovered in the region during the gold rush era of the 1800’s. The region is also famous for being located between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park.
Lifestyle
Lewis and Clark County and Helena have a rich gold rush history and exploring Last Chance Gulch brings the history to life. Designated a ride center by the International Mountain Biking Association, the area has over 75 miles of trails that originate in the Downtown area, offering visitors a world-class mountain biking or hiking experience. Rand McNally and Geocaching.com awarded the area the Best of the Road “Best for Geocaching” title. Take a hike overlooking the Helena Valley. Hop aboard the Last Chance Tour Train to discover Helena’s history or tour the Westside Mansion District, featuring the elaborate homes of early miners. Grab an ice cream cone or visit an old-fashioned soda fountain. The region is a shining example of the historic mining communities of old. Residents and visitors will find just about everything in the region’s small towns and cities. In Helena, Last Chance Gulch is the state’s only downtown, outdoor walking mall featuring restaurants and shopping. The mall marks the site where gold was first discovered in the area in 1864. Outdoor activities are a hallmark of the county. The Helena area provides a variety of canoeing, rafting and kayaking opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy. Early summer is the best time for high water with many of the area’s best rivers flowing out of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex to the north.
Services
School districts in the county offer a variety of educational opportunities for children of all ages. The county is served primarily by the Helena Public School District consists of Pre-K through 12 (17 schools) and a NET transitional school, Adult Learning Center, and Community Educational Program. For higher educational opportunities, the county is home to Carroll College. Carroll is a private, Catholic, liberal arts and preprofessional college in Helena. Carroll College has earned top national and regional awards for its academic programs, including its flagship biology, civil engineering, nursing, and mathematics departments. The county is also home to Helena College, The University of Montana which offers technical proficiency Certificates, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Arts, and Associate of Science degrees, as well as study toward upper-level and graduate-level programs in cooperation with other Montana University System institutions.
Healthcare options in the county are many with the needs of residents served by St. Peter’s Hospital which provides obstetrics, surgery, emergency services, ambulance services, a comprehensive cancer treatment center, and a full range of diagnostic services. Fort Harrison Veterans Hospital, one of two in the state, is minutes away. Shodair Hospital specializes in child and adolescent psychiatric care and is an internationally known genetics center as well.
Communities
Helena
City Offices
406-447-8000
https://www.helenamt.gov/home
Chamber of Commerce
406-442-4120
https://helenachamber.com/
Helena is located amongst the Rocky Mountains and is adjacent to the Missouri River, residents enjoy a wide array of recreational activities including mountain climbing, skiing, boating, and hunting.
Like many communities in the region, Helena was founded by miners looking for gold in Last Chance Gulch. This particular vein was more successful than most and by the turn of the century Helena had more millionaires per capita than any town in the United States. It had also become the state capital, which helped preserve much of the town’s architecture and shaped Helena into the diverse town it is today. The city plays host to cultural events, shops, historic sites and a splendid state capitol building all in Helena. The city hosts year-round festivals, theatre, and symphony events. There is something for everyone looking to shop in Helena. From the historic Last Chance Gulch to the Great Northern, the downtown area has a variety of stores to please any shopper. Beyond the steaks and beef which Montana is known for, Helena has plenty of dining options, rom fine dining to family restaurants, foreign cuisine and local favorites. For a small community, Helena offers a wide selection of choices for those who appreciate the fine arts: The Helena Symphony, the Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts, the Grand Street Theatre, The Myrna Loy Center for the Performing and Visual Arts, the Holter Museum of Art, and the Montana Historical Society Museum. Numerous fine art galleries showing all types of art from traditional to contemporary, to local artisans.
Outdoor enthusiasts can hike right in town on Mount Helena, a 620-acre park that looks down on the city from its 5,468 foot peak. A number of well-marked trails provide options for hiking to the peak, circling the mountain, or walking out into Helena National Forest. There are more than 700 miles of trails in the National Forest. Everyone from fly-fishing purists to downrigger enthusiasts can enjoy excellent fishing in Helena area lakes, Hauser, Helena, Holter, and Canyon Ferry or in the nearby streams and rivers. Residents can also enjoy Centennial Park for its walking trails, soccer and softball fields, dog park and more. Helena thrives as the educational, commercial, recreational, cultural, and political center for the region.
East Helena
City Offices
406-227-5321
http://www.easthelenamt.us/
Located about 5 miles east of downtown Helena and home to around 2000 residents. During the 1870s and early 1880s, the stagecoach route between Helena and several gold camps in the Big Belt Mountains passed through East Helena. The Prickly Pear House—a way station that served as a changing point for drivers and horses—was built on the northwest corner of the intersection of Montana Avenue and Main Street in East Helena to provide customers with food and lodging. East Helena’s current business district was frequently used as a camping area for freight wagons. Northern Pacific Railroad tracks reached East Helena in 1883. The original station, named Prickly Pear Junction, was built a few years before East Helena was founded and was located near the railroad’s crossing of Prickly Pear Creek. The origins of East Helena can be traced back to the mid 1860’s as pioneers were heading west through the Helena Valley. In East Helena, residents have access to three elementary schools, a middle school andthe East Helena High School. Montana City, to the south of Helena, provides elementary and middle school education for students. Residents have access to all of the amenities of Helena, while enjoying their own quite pace of life.
