Helena, "Queen City of the Rockies"

Cradled in the foothills of the Montana Rockies, surrounded by pristine wilderness, and alive with history and culture, lies Helena "Queen City of the Rockies." This charming, sophisticated and beautiful Victorian metropolis is both state capital of Montana and county seat for Lewis and Clark County.

Helena is a unique blend of past and present, power suits and blue jeans. It is the hub of government, education and health care, a city of timeless treasures, sophisticated services, caring residents, clean surroundings and safe neighborhoods.

At the very heart of this vibrant community lies Last Chance Gulch - Helena's historic downtown with its rich gold mining past. This area has fueled the city's growth and given Helena a prominent place in Montana's history. Central to Last Chance Gulch is the "Pedestrian Walking Mall," a park-like outdoor shopping area surrounded by historic sites. Just around the corner is the new Great Northern Town Center - Helena's newest master-planned multi-use business and residential complex.

Helena's cultural heritage is manifested through museums, state fairs, theater and art. Its community spirit shines through in over 300 special events a year, including music festivals, parades and sports tournaments.

The economy of Helena is very stable and capable of sustaining independent growth and development. The community does not experience the ups and downs of some areas that have one industry or one major employer, with layoffs occurring because of production costs or recessions. Many local, county, state and federal agencies are located here, making the employment primarily in the government sector. Helena's economic stability is largely due to state government and small business. Its work force is largely made up of professionals, white-collar workers and employees of small business. Unemployment in Helena is one of the lowest in the U.S.

The rugged outdoor recreation synonymous with Montana is easily accessible to Helena residents. Millions of acres of public lands surround the city, including state and national forests and wilderness areas, which are a tremendous resource for hunters, hikers, campers, backpackers, outfitters, bikers, snowmobilers, and Nordic and alpine skiers. Within a few hours of Helena are over a dozen downhill ski areas. Numerous blue ribbon trout streams, lakes and reservoirs are within easy reach, including the Missouri River which provides premium fishing, floating and whitewater rafting.

On the city's edge lies 20-acre Spring Meadow Lake State Park, a favorite water and land recreation area. Helena boasts over 25 city parks, the largest, Mount Helena Park, is just a few minutes from downtown. There are dozens of individual and organized sports activities to participate in or observe, along with two public and one private golf course.

This unique balance of recreation and natural surroundings, cultural opportunities, and favorable business climate are just some of the reasons Helena residents have chosen this community as their home.

Based on information provided by Nelson Promotions.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•