Moving to or from Butte?
Once 'The Richest Hill on Earth' — Butte produced a third of the US copper supply in the early 1900s and was home to the Anaconda Copper Mining Company. Now a dramatic hillside city with preserved 19th-century architecture, the Berkeley Pit (largest Superfund site), and deep Irish-American heritage.
- 35,000 City population
- 35,000 Metro area
- 1864 Founded
- Southwest Montana / Continental Divide Region
Why people move to Butte.
- Being 'The Richest Hill on Earth' — historic copper mining heritage
- The Berkeley Pit — one of the largest Superfund sites in America
- Deep Irish-American heritage and the annual St. Patrick's Day festivities
- Preserved 19th-century mining-boom architecture
- Montana Tech (mining engineering school)
- Being on the Continental Divide at nearly 6,000 feet
The Berkeley Pit in Butte is a 1,600-foot-deep former open-pit copper mine now filled with 40+ billion gallons of contaminated acidic water (pH 2.5 — similar to lemon juice). It's one of the largest Superfund sites in America. The pit's water level has been steadily rising since mining ceased in 1982, and continuous pumping and treatment is required to prevent overflow into groundwater. The pit is a strange tourist attraction with a viewing platform.
Where people live in Butte.
A quick guide to Butte's most moved-to neighborhoods.
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Uptown Butte (Historic District)
Hillside historic core with preserved mining-era architecture
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The Flats
Newer residential area on valley floor below Uptown
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Walkerville (adjacent)
Separate small town blending with Butte
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Centerville
Historic mining neighborhood
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West Butte
Residential area
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Anaconda (nearby)
Sister mining town with preserved smelter stack
Where people spend their time in Butte.
- Berkeley Pit Uptown Butte
- World Museum of Mining Uptown Butte
- Copper King Mansion Uptown Butte
- Our Lady of the Rockies statue Continental Divide
- Mineral Museum Montana Tech
- Butte Butte-Silver Bow County Archives Uptown Butte
Planning a Butte move.
- Butte's hillside geography creates steep driveways and tight access; specialized movers handle these best
- Elevation is nearly 6,000 feet; mild altitude adjustment for newcomers
- Winter is severe with significant snow
- Cost of living and housing are well below national averages
Moving in Butte: FAQ.
Is Butte really safe to live in with the Berkeley Pit?
Yes — the pit is contained and monitored. Continuous pumping and treatment prevent contamination from spreading. Daily life in Butte is unaffected by the pit beyond its existence as a tourist attraction. Environmental remediation continues. For newcomers, the legacy pollution concerns are real but well-managed; don't let the Superfund status deter you without research.
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