Facts: (2006 statistics)
- Butte, with an elevation of 5545 feet, is located in a beautiful, high mountain valley within the Rocky Mountain Range. Being surrounded by mountains on all sides offers exceptional outdoor recreational opportunities including hiking, mountain biking, river rafting, world class fly fishing, Alpine and Nordic skiing and snow-boarding, hunting, camping and back-packing. All outdoor activities are within close proximity in any direction from Butte. A series of walking trails within the city are being developed at various locations.
- Butte has approximately 34,000 residents with an estimated workforce of over 17,000.
- The estimated available workforce in the southwest Montana area is in excess of 65,000.
- The average age of residents in Butte Silver Bow is 39 and the median income for families is between $45,000 - $46,000. Montana has no general sales tax or use tax.
- Montana’s individual income tax is a progressive tax with rates ranging from 1% to 6.9% of taxable income.
- Individual real property taxes in Butte Silver Bow range from 1.54% to 1.82% of the actual market value of the property.
- Business taxes in Montana include a reasonable corporate income tax, property tax on real property, unemployment tax and workers’ compensation tax.
Thinking about moving or working in Butte?
Relocation Information
Butte is a family oriented city, and a wonderful place to live, work and do business. The resources, rich history, civic pride and endless opportunities offer incoming families and entrepreneurs an amazing environment. If you require more information or further details, please contact us at The Butte Silver Bow Chamber of Commerce. We’ll be looking forward to hearing from you!
Area Schools and Universities:
- Montana Tech of the University of Montana has earned the reputation as one of the finest science, engineering and technical colleges in the world. The Princeton Review lists Montana Tech as one of the 81 best value colleges in the nation. The most recent edition of The Best 357 Colleges ranks Montana Tech as the 4th best value in public education in the nation. A very small student to faculty ratio facilitates student success.
- Montana Tech College of Technology offers two year professional programs in over eleven different areas of study.
- Four other major colleges and universities are located within the southwest Montana area, less than 2 hours driving time from Butte.
- Primary and secondary education opportunities in Butte include:
- The Butte Public School system, which includes six elementary schools, a middle school (7th and 8th grades), one high school and an alternative high school.
- The Butte Central Catholic School system, which offers parochial education for pre-school through high school, is co-educational and open to students of all denominations.
- Capstone Christian School is an independent Christian school open to pre-school through high school age students.
- There are other numerous pre-schools in the Butte area including Montessori, Butte Head Start, Christian School and several independently run schools.
Banking:
- American Federal Savings Bank
- Bank of Butte
- Butte Community FCU
- ED Tech FCU
- First Citizens Bank
- First National Bank of Montana
- Mile High Federal Credit Union
- Glacier Bank
- Granite Mountain Bank
- Southwest Montana FCU
- US Bank
- Wells Fargo Bank
- Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
A list of chamber member banks, mortgage companies and credit unions in the Butte area is as follows:
3401 Harrison Ave. 494-2233
3215 Harrison Ave., Ste. 1 494-8240
2901 Grand Ave. 723-8284
1555 Harrison Ave. 723-8288
3220 Harrison Ave. 494-4400
1940 Dewey 494-6111
3410 Monroe 782-8341
1880 Harrison Ave. 497-7000
603 Dewey Blvd. 533-0600
1760 Harrison Ave. 782-8337
10 S. Main 496-4000
3650 Harrison Ave. 533-7057
3650 Harrison Ave. 494-1834
City and County Government:
The governments of the city of Butte, incorporated in 1879, and Silver Bow County were consolidated in 1977. An elected chief executive and a 12-member council of commissioners representing the various city/county districts currently lead Butte Silver Bow. Please access the Butte-Silver Bow website at the following location for any information regarding the city government or its services: http://www.bsb.mt.gov
Employment Agencies:
A list of chamber member employment agencies in the Butte area is as follows:
- Butte Job Service
- Express Personnel Services
2201 White Blvd. 494-0306
700 E. Front St. 723-6531
Hospitals and Physicians:
Hospitals
- St. James Healthcare
Conveniently located in the heart of Butte, was established in 1881 by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. St. James Healthcare is a 100-bed acute care facility with over 600 employees and 65 medical staff members who specialize in cardiology, neurosurgery, family medicine, emergency medicine, ophthalmology, ear, nose and throat, neurology, oncology, internal medicine, orthopedics, general surgery, urology, gastroenterology, pain management, infectious diseases, pulmonology, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology.
- Acadia Montana is the center for a residential treatment program for children and adolescents in Montana.
The residential treatment environment is appropriate for children and adolescents who do not require in-patient hospitalization, but who are not yet ready to return to home, school or community. An affiliate program currently provides intensive therapeutic services throughout the state of Montana. These services are designed to provide youth, who have serious emotional disturbances, the opportunity to deal with their illness in a community and public school setting.
Butte Silver Bow is home to some of the finest healthcare providers in Montana, covering a wide range of specialties. There are numerous clinics, including the Butte Community Health Center, which provides health services regardless of the ability to pay.
Hotels and Motels:
Many fine hotels and motels in and around Butte offer the traveler first class accommodations while visiting the area. Butte Silver Bow Chamber of Commerce members in the hotel/motel industry include:
2900 Harrison Ave. 494-3500
2700 Harrison Ave. 494-7000
2100 Cornell Ave. 494-7800
2777 Harrison Ave. 494-8850
4655 Harrison Ave. 494-6666
1205 So. Montana 723-4364
100 E. Broadway 723-5461
3499 Harrison Ave. 494-2250
1 Holiday Park Dr 494-6999
122005 Nissler Rd. 782-5678
2929 Harrison Ave. 494-6000
Real Estate Agencies and Property Management:
The real estate and construction markets in Butte are on the rise. Manageable interest rates, the high quality of life, and the abundance of potential opportunities are attracting new residents and businesses to this area. The following is a list of Chamber members available to serve the needs in this industry:97 Haggin View Rd. 782-1703
34 So. Main St. 782-2859
33 W. Daly St. 782-2066
19 Cedar Lake 494-4968
1628 Harrison Ave. 782-4800
3000 Harrison Ave. 494-2200
3341 Harrison Ave. 494-5805
P.O. Box 528 723-1294
3215 Harrison Ave. 494-3351
Butte Plaza Mall 494-5777
2827 Lexington Ave. 494-3901
1905 Holmes Ave. 494-3122
1440 Holmes Ave., Ste. 2 494-3326
4403 Bull Run 782-2171
1900 Harrison Ave. 723-5455
78 E. Park St. 723-1219
Retirement:
Quality of life, beautiful changing seasons, moderate taxes, low crime rate, and affordability of housing and retirement facilities make Butte an obvious choice for retirement. Services to seniors in Butte-Silver Bow are extensive and varied. The Belmont Senior Citizen Center, located in the remodeled main hoist house of the Belmont Mine, offers Butte seniors various in-home and on-site activities, daily lunch Monday-Friday being the most popular. The center can be reached at (406) 723-7773.
Numerous retirement communities and homes are Chamber members, including:3701 Elizabeth Warren 494-4900
2400 Continental Dr. 723-6556
1515 Oregon Ave. 782-0090
3251 Nettie 723-3225
300 Mt Highland Drive 494-0083
Energy and Electricity
NorthWestern Energy is an investor-owned utility and the largest provider of electricity and natural gas in the region. They serve approximately 640,000 customers – 382,000 electric and 258,000 natural gas – in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Offices for Montana operations are located in Butte. Information regarding NorthWestern Energy can be accessed on their website at www.northwesternenergy.com.
Communications
Qwest Communications, Inc. provides both phone service and Internet options to business and residential customers in the area. Communication services and products are provided by 360 Networks offering a wide range of voice and data solutions to customers in the western United States.
Water, Sewer, Waste Management & Recycling
Various divisions of the Butte Silver Bow Public Works Department operate and maintain the water supply, the waste treatment facility, as well as the local landfill.
Vehicle Registration and Licensing:
New Montana residents have 90 days in which to obtain a State of Montana driver’s license. The current driver’s license or a certified birth certificate and a second form of identification must be presented at the time of application.
The licensing office is located at:
3615 Wynne
Phone number:(406) 533-6630.
Automobile liability insurance is mandatory in the state of Montana, and drivers are required to carry proof of insurance at all times. Automobiles must also be registered and licensed 30 days after employment or when the out-of-state plates expire, whichever is sooner.
The Butte-Silver Bow Treasurer’s Office, located in the Courthouse, handles the vehicle licensing and registration. They can be reached at (406) 497-6301.