Located in the Northern Rocky Mountains on the Continental Divide, Butte was established in the late 1800s as a silver and gold mining camp.  In the early 1900s copper became the main output of the mines of Butte. In the 1890s Butte was responsible for supplying over 25% of the world’s copper and 50% of the United States copper supply. During this time Butte was nicknamed “the Richest Hill on Earth” and was the largest city between San Francisco and Chicago with a population of over 100,000 people.  The mines were so successful they attracted immigrants from all over the world.  One-fourth of the city’s population was Irish and today’s population is still full of Irish blood making Butte a hot spot of Irish festivals and a fantastic Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.

Along with the Irish immigrants came a large number of Chinese immigrants as well.  In 1909 Pekin Noodle Parlor was built and is the oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant in the United States and is still located in the original Chinatown neighborhood.

Butte is the home of The World Museum of Mining which has over 50 exhibit buildings, artifacts, and underground mining tours. Although Butte is no longer booming as a mining town, history is still very visible throughout the town.  From any corner of the city, the fourteen headframes and the Berkeley Pit can be seen. 

Butte is also home to Montana Tech which is a very popular university for undergraduate and graduate studies.  Each year Montana Tech enrolls over 2,500 new students eager to obtain degrees in everything from business to engineering.