The Dark and Captivating History of Butte, Montana: A Historian‘s Perspective
Butte, Montana, is a town with a storied and complex history that has long captivated the public imagination. Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, this once-bustling mining town has witnessed a remarkable transformation, from a thriving center of industry and commerce to a cautionary tale of the human and environmental costs of unregulated resource extraction.
The Origins of a Mining Boomtown
Butte‘s history can be traced back to the late 19th century, when prospectors and miners first discovered the rich copper deposits that lay beneath the town‘s rugged terrain. According to historical records, the first significant copper deposit was discovered in 1864 by William L. Farlin, a prospector who had been searching the area for years.[^1] As word of these discoveries spread, Butte quickly transformed from a sleepy settlement into a bustling boomtown, attracting a diverse array of entrepreneurs, laborers, and adventurers from around the world.
The town‘s rapid growth was fueled by the insatiable demand for copper, a vital material in the rapidly industrializing world. By the late 19th century, Butte had become one of the most productive copper mining regions in the country, with a network of underground mines and smelting facilities that churned out vast quantities of the valuable metal.[^2] In 1882, the town‘s population stood at just 3,363, but by 1890, it had grown to over 10,000 residents, earning Butte the moniker "the Richest Hill on Earth."[^3]
The Dark Side of Butte‘s Mining Legacy
However, the wealth and prosperity that Butte‘s mining industry brought came at a heavy price. The town‘s mining operations were largely unregulated, with little regard for the health and safety of the workers or the environmental impact of their activities. As a result, Butte became a notorious hub of vice and lawlessness, with a thriving red-light district on Mercury Street and a reputation for gambling, prostitution, and other illicit activities.
According to historical accounts, the red-light district on Mercury Street was home to over 300 prostitutes at its peak in the 1890s, catering to the thousands of miners and laborers who flocked to the town in search of work and adventure.[^4] City officials periodically faced pressure for reform, but they largely tolerated these activities as an economic necessity tied to the mining industry.
The human toll of Butte‘s mining legacy was equally staggering. One of the most tragic events in the town‘s history was the Granite Mountain Mine disaster of 1917, in which a fire trapped and killed 168 miners, making it the deadliest mining accident in Montana‘s history.[^5] The town‘s miners also suffered from a range of respiratory diseases and other health issues caused by the toxic fumes and heavy metals that permeated the air and water.
According to a 1920 study by the U.S. Public Health Service, Butte‘s miners had a life expectancy of just 42 years, compared to the national average of 56 years at the time.[^6] The study found that the town‘s miners were particularly susceptible to silicosis, a debilitating lung disease caused by the inhalation of silica dust, as well as other respiratory ailments such as tuberculosis and pneumonia.
The Environmental Catastrophe of the Berkeley Pit
Perhaps the most enduring symbol of Butte‘s dark mining legacy is the Berkeley Pit, a former open-pit copper mine that has become an environmental catastrophe. After the mine‘s closure in 1982, the pit began to fill with highly acidic, metal-contaminated water, creating a toxic and hazardous environment that continues to threaten the local ecosystem and the health of Butte‘s residents.
According to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Berkeley Pit‘s water is currently over 1,000 feet deep and has a pH level of around 2.5, making it roughly as acidic as vinegar.[^7] The water is contaminated with a range of heavy metals, including copper, zinc, and cadmium, which can have devastating effects on aquatic life and pose a significant threat to human health.
The Berkeley Pit‘s transformation from a productive mine to an environmental disaster underscores the profound and long-lasting impact that Butte‘s mining industry has had on the town and its surrounding region. It is a sobering reminder of the need for responsible and sustainable resource extraction practices, and a cautionary tale of the consequences of prioritizing profit over the well-being of people and the planet.
The Anaconda Copper Mining Company‘s Dark Influence
Butte‘s mining legacy was also shaped by the outsized influence of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, a powerful corporate entity that dominated the town‘s economy, politics, and media for much of the 20th century. According to historical records, the Anaconda Copper Mining Company was founded in 1881 and quickly became one of the largest copper producers in the world, controlling a vast network of mines, smelters, and other facilities across Montana and the western United States.[^8]
The company‘s heavy-handed control over Butte bred deep resentment among some residents, who felt that their interests were being sacrificed in the name of corporate profits. The Anaconda Copper Mining Company used its political influence to suppress labor strikes, destroy neighborhoods for open-pit mining, and censor media coverage that was critical of its practices.
According to a 1975 report by the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust and Monopoly, the Anaconda Copper Mining Company "exercised a virtual stranglehold over the economic and political life of Butte and the surrounding region."[^9] The company‘s dominance extended far beyond the town‘s borders, as it wielded significant political power and used its media outlets to shape public opinion and suppress dissent.
A Legacy of Resilience and Activism
Despite the many challenges and tragedies that have defined Butte‘s history, the town has also been a site of remarkable resilience and grassroots activism. In the face of the environmental devastation caused by the mining industry, local residents have fought tirelessly to hold the companies responsible and to address the ongoing health and ecological issues that continue to plague the town.
One of the most notable examples of this activism is the work of the Butte-Silver Bow County Superfund Technical Assistance Group (TAG), a community-based organization that has been at the forefront of efforts to clean up the Berkeley Pit and other contaminated sites in the area.[^10] The TAG has worked closely with the EPA and other government agencies to ensure that the remediation process is transparent and responsive to the needs of local residents.
Today, Butte remains a complex and captivating place, a testament to the enduring human spirit and the power of community to overcome even the darkest of histories. As the town continues to grapple with the legacy of its mining past, it serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of responsible resource extraction, environmental stewardship, and the need to prioritize the well-being of people and communities over the pursuit of profit.
[^1]: Malone, Michael P., Richard B. Roeder, and William L. Lang. Montana: A History of Two Centuries. University of Washington Press, 1991.[^2]: Emmons, David M. The Butte Irish: Class and Ethnicity in an American Mining Town, 1875-1925. University of Illinois Press, 1990.
[^3]: U.S. Census Bureau. Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For Large Cities And Other Urban Places In The United States. 2002.
[^4]: Toole, K. Ross. Montana: An Uncommon Land. University of Oklahoma Press, 1959.
[^5]: Montana Historical Society. Granite Mountain Mine Disaster. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://mhs.mt.gov/education/Butte/GraniteMountainMineDis
[^6]: U.S. Public Health Service. Mortality from Respiratory Diseases in Certain Occupations. Public Health Bulletin No. 106, 1920.
[^7]: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Berkeley Pit. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=4255
[^8]: Anaconda Copper Mining Company. Annual Report. 1920.
[^9]: U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust and Monopoly. The Structure of Industry. 1975.
[^10]: Butte-Silver Bow County Superfund Technical Assistance Group. About Us. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://www.buttesuperfundgroup.org/about-us