Helena, << HEHL uh nuh >>, (pop. 32,091; met. area pop. 89,832) is the capital of Montana. It serves as the trading and supply center for a mining and agricultural region. Helena lies about 95 miles (153 kilometers) southwest of Great Falls.
Helena’s economy relies on state, local, and federal government, as well as health care, trade, and other services. The city is the home of Carroll College and the Montana Historical Society. The Capitol is topped by a statue representing Liberty.
Helena sprang up after 1864, when gold was discovered in Last Chance Gulch. The gulch is now the main street of Helena. The territorial capital moved from Virginia City to Helena in 1875. According to one theory, Helena was named for Helena, Minnesota, by a former resident of the Minnesota community. From 1888 to 2001, the town of East Helena, 3 miles (5 kilometers) east of Helena, was a center for smelting lead and zinc ores. In 1935, Helena was shaken by a series of earthquakes which began on October 12. A total of 1,200 shocks were recorded in an 80-day period. A severe series of shocks on October 18 caused two deaths and resulted in $31/2 million worth of damage to property in the city.
Helena is the seat of Lewis and Clark County. It has a commission-manager form of government.
