Employment
Not surprisingly, the state government is the city’s leading employer, followed closely by the tourist industry.
While Helena is no long the gold rush boomtown it used to be, mining continues. American Chemet Co. is a producer of copper and zinc products.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana has its headquarters in Helena.
The city’s employment diversity shows. It is home to PFM Manufacturing, makers of the next generation of all-terrain vehicles, and Summit Aeronautics Group, an aeronautical engineering firm providing precision machining and tooling, including projects for the Pentagon.
Montana as a whole continues to have impressively low unemployment rates, below the national average and close to its all-time low.
Location: in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the west central part of the state; about 175 miles south of Glacier National Park, and 185 north of Yellowstone National Park
Area: 14 square miles
Population: 25,780
Housing Units: 12,133
Average Annual Rainfall: 11.6” rainfall and 47.1” of snow
Average Annual Temperature: 44 degrees F