Helena, Montana is the states capital city. The city of 28,000 inhabitants also serves as the county seat for Lewis and Clark County, which supports a population of about 63,400 people. The city of Helena is the main city in the Helena Metropolitan Statistical Area, that encompasses all of Lewis and Clark and Jefferson counties.
The discovery of gold during 1864 within a gulch off the Prickly Pear valley led to the founding of a camp named "Last Chance" by a group of gold prospectors, the Four Georgians. The population quickly grew to more than 200 and in the fall of the year 1846 a group of local men met to build a proper township, including the plan of streets and the election of commissioners. Eventually, the committee chose a new name, Helena. Helena has an historic downtown district with street names evoking the gold rush era, like "Last Chance Gulch", the name of the main street.
As the state capital, the City of Helena has enjoyed economic stability throughout the years. There are lots of jobs provided by county, state and federal government offices. Nearly 33% of the city's workforce Consists of government positions. Helena is located within an area rich in silver and lead deposits, and mining is still a significant sector with plants which process minerals situated throughout the city.
The Independent Record is the city's daily newspaper. The region supports a Tier III Junior A hockey team called the Helena Bighorns and a minor league baseball team the Helena Brewers. The city is serviced by Helena Regional Airport.