Anaconda, Montana

Anaconda was founded by Marcus Daly, one of the Copper Kings, who financed the construction of the Anaconda smelter on nearby Warm Springs Creek to process copper ore from the Butte mines. Daly originally named the site "Copperopolis", but that name was already used by Copperopolis, Montana, a small mining town in Meagher County. Instead, Daly accepted the name "Anaconda", and on June 25, 1883, Daly filed for a town plat using that name.{{cite book |last1=Morris |first1=Patrick F. |title=Anaconda, Montana: Copper Smelting Boom Town on the Western Frontier |date=1997 |pages=33–34|publisher=Swann Pub. |isbn=978-0-9657209-2-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QizvP2pKAY4C |access-date=30 November 2023 |language=en}} There exists another story that the name was selected by the United States postmaster of the time, Clinton Moore.{{cite book|last1=Carkeek Cheney|first1=Roberta|title=Names on the Face of Montana|date=1983|publisher=Mountain Press Publishing Company|location=Missoula, Montana|isbn=0-87842-150-5|page=6}} However, Moore filed the post office application in October 1883, well after the town plat was filed. When Montana was admitted as a state in 1889, Daly lobbied to have the capital moved to Anaconda, and Montana legislators decided to hold two referendums in 1892 and 1894 to choose a capital city. The campaigns for the referendums were heated, ending with a victory for Helena, the location supported by Daly's rival William A. Clark.

In 1903, the Socialist Party of America won its first victory west of the Mississippi when Anaconda voters elected a socialist mayor, treasurer, police judge, and three councilmen. The Socialist Party had grown within the expanding Montana labor movement. Initially, the Anaconda Copper Mining Company tolerated socialist activities, but when the Socialists gained political power and threatened to implement reform, the company systematically undermined the party. City workers and councilmen refused to cooperate with the new mayor, and the company began to fire Socialists. In the long run, labor lost ground in Anaconda and the company exerted ever greater political control.Jerry Calvert, "The Rise and Fall of Socialism in a Company Town, 1902–1905", Montana, Dec 1986, Vol. 36 Issue 4, pp 2-13

The Anaconda Company expanded smelting capacity over time; by 1919 the Washoe Reduction Works could boast that its 585-foot (178 m) smokestack (Anaconda Smelter Stack) was the tallest masonry structure in the world and that the smelter-refining complex constituted the world's largest non-ferrous processing plant.

In 1980, Atlantic Richfield Company closed the smelter, bringing an end to almost a century of mineral processing.Aarstad, Rich, Ellie Arguimbau, Ellen Baumler, Charlene Porsild, and Brian Shovers. [http://mhs.mt.gov/pub/press/reference.asp#PlaceNames Montana Place Names from Alzada to Zortman] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008060633/http://mhs.mt.gov/pub/press/reference.asp#PlaceNames |date=October 8, 2009 }}. Montana Historical Society Press. While some aspects of the operation had been cleaned up under environmental laws, closing the smelter resulted in a large area contaminated with hazardous wastes. Since then, an operation for environmental cleanup was put into place by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and executed with the assistance of ARCO. The multimillion-dollar cleanup and redevelopment has resulted in the "Old Works" Golf Course, a championship 18-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Anaconda joined with Deer Lodge County to form a consolidated city-county government in 1977.{{cite web|url=http://www.msulocalgov.org/documents/resources/Resources/1977%20Charter%20of%20Anaconda.pdf|title=Charter of Anaconda - Deer Lodge County|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408174122/https://www.montana.edu/extension/localgov/documents/resources/Resources/1977%20Charter%20of%20Anaconda.pdf|archive-date=Apr 8, 2023}} Part of Anaconda is included in the Butte-Anaconda Historic District.

Central Anaconda is {{convert|5335|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level, and is surrounded by the communities of Opportunity and West Valley.

• Elevation: {{convert|5335|ft|m|disp=or}}
• Average annual rainfall: {{convert|14|in|mm|disp=or}}
• Average length of growing season: 114 days
• Average annual snowfall: {{convert|48.0|in|m|2|disp=or}}
• Average annual temperature: {{convert|43.0|°F|°C|1}}

The county area is {{convert|736.53|sqmi|km2}}, characterized by densely timbered forestlands, lakes, mountains and recreation grounds. The county has common borders with Beaverhead, Butte-Silver Bow, Granite, Jefferson and Powell counties.

According to the Köppen climate classification, Anaconda has a humid continental climate.

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| collapsed = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Anaconda, Montana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1901–1927, 1982–present)

| Jan record high F = 60

| Feb record high F = 65

| Mar record high F = 71

| Apr record high F = 83

| May record high F = 91

| Jun record high F = 96

| Jul record high F = 100

| Aug record high F = 102

| Sep record high F = 97

| Oct record high F = 88

| Nov record high F = 74

| Dec record high F = 60

| year record high F =

| Jan high F = 36.6

| Feb high F = 39.3

| Mar high F = 47.5

| Apr high F = 54.7

| May high F = 64.1

| Jun high F = 72.5

| Jul high F = 82.7

| Aug high F = 81.5

| Sep high F = 72.2

| Oct high F = 57.1

| Nov high F = 43.4

| Dec high F = 34.4

| year high F = 57.2

| Jan mean F = 26.3

| Feb mean F = 27.8

| Mar mean F = 35.2

| Apr mean F = 41.5

| May mean F = 50.2

| Jun mean F = 57.8

| Jul mean F = 65.7

| Aug mean F = 64.4

| Sep mean F = 55.9

| Oct mean F = 43.8

| Nov mean F = 32.4

| Dec mean F = 24.6

| year mean F = 43.8

| Jan low F = 15.9

| Feb low F = 16.4

| Mar low F = 22.9

| Apr low F = 28.4

| May low F = 36.4

| Jun low F = 43.0

| Jul low F = 48.7

| Aug low F = 47.3

| Sep low F = 39.7

| Oct low F = 30.5

| Nov low F = 21.3

| Dec low F = 14.7

| year low F = 30.4

| Jan record low F = -37

| Feb record low F = -35

| Mar record low F = -21

| Apr record low F = -2

| May record low F = 14

| Jun record low F = 23

| Jul record low F = 30

| Aug record low F = 23

| Sep record low F = 11

| Oct record low F = -9

| Nov record low F = -22

| Dec record low F = -38

| year record low F =

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 0.57

| Feb precipitation inch = 0.99

| Mar precipitation inch = 1.15

| Apr precipitation inch = 1.50

| May precipitation inch = 2.13

| Jun precipitation inch = 2.21

| Jul precipitation inch = 1.30

| Aug precipitation inch = 1.20

| Sep precipitation inch = 1.15

| Oct precipitation inch = 1.00

| Nov precipitation inch = 0.97

| Dec precipitation inch = 0.72

| year precipitation inch = 14.89

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 9.2

| Feb precipitation days = 8.5

| Mar precipitation days = 11.2

| Apr precipitation days = 12.1

| May precipitation days = 13.8

| Jun precipitation days = 13.8

| Jul precipitation days = 9.3

| Aug precipitation days = 9.1

| Sep precipitation days = 7.9

| Oct precipitation days = 10.1

| Nov precipitation days = 10.5

| Dec precipitation days = 9.9

| year precipitation days = 125.4

| Jan snow inch = 11.4

| Feb snow inch = 11.3

| Mar snow inch = 11.8

| Apr snow inch = 9.9

| May snow inch = 2.0

| Jun snow inch = 0.6

| Jul snow inch = 0.0

| Aug snow inch = 0.2

| Sep snow inch = 0.4

| Oct snow inch = 3.3

| Nov snow inch = 12.1

| Dec snow inch = 12.1

| year snow inch = 75.1

| unit snow days = 0.1 in

| Jan snow days = 7.8

| Feb snow days = 7.7

| Mar snow days = 6.8

| Apr snow days = 4.9

| May snow days = 1.3

| Jun snow days = 0.5

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.3

| Oct snow days = 3.2

| Nov snow days = 6.8

| Dec snow days = 8.4

| year snow days = 47.7

| source = NOAA{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=mso

|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = December 13, 2023}}{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00240199&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = December 13, 2023}}

}}

{{see also|Deer Lodge County, Montana#Demographics}}

{{US Census population

|1880= 700

|1890= 3975

|1900= 9453

|1910= 10134

|1920= 11668

|1930= 12494

|1940= 11004

|1950= 11254

|1960= 12054

|1970= 9771

|1980= 12518

|1990= 10278

|2000= 9417

|2010= 9298

|2020= 9421

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|footnote=SourceMoffatt, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850–1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 127.
U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=29 September 2021}}

}}

For Anaconda, US Census Bureaus's 2015-2019 American Community Survey showed a median household income of $41,820. Anaconda had earlier peaks of population in 1930 and 1980, based on the mining industry.

File:Club Moderne, Anaconda, Montana.jpg (1937), Anaconda (Historic American Buildings Survey)]]

On main street is the Washoe Theater, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was the last theater constructed in the United States in the Nuevo Deco style. The theater was designed in 1930 by B. Marcus Priteca, an architect from Seattle and opened in 1936. It was listed by the NRHP for architectural significance in 1982. It currently is used for showing films, plus periodically hosting plays and other types of entertainment.

File:Anaconda-Courthouse.jpg

Deer Lodge County voters have a record as the most consistently Democratic county in Montana for Presidential elections. These voters have not supported a Republican candidate since Calvin Coolidge in 1924. In the last five elections before 2016, the Democratic candidate has won by 21% to nearly 49% of Deer Lodge County's vote. In gubernatorial elections, the only Republican to carry the county in the last twenty years was Marc Racicot in the 1996 election. In that election the original Democratic nominee, Chet Blaylock, died and Marc Racicot carried every county.[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/comparemaps.php?year=2008&fips=30&f=1&off=5&elect=0 David Leip's Election Atlas]

The city is currently in the 36th and 39th districts of the Montana Senate and is represented by Democrat Sara Novak and Republican Terry Vermeire in the 2025 legislative session respectively. Anaconda is also in the 71st and 77th districts of the Montana House of Representatives, which has been represented by Democrat Scott DeMarois and Republican John Fitzpatrick since 2023 and 2025 respectively. This is the first time since 1945 that the city has been represented by a Republican in the state House of Representatives.{{cite web |url=https://sosmt.gov/docs/769/results/49084/2022general-statecanvassreport-legislative |title=2022 General State Canvas Report Legislative (Montana) |publisher= Montana Secretary of State |access-date= June 25, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://sosmt.gov/Portals/142/Elections/archives/1940s/1944_Legislative_Assembly.pdf?dt=1523477333219 |title=1944 Montana Legislative Assembly Elected Members |publisher=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=June 25, 2023}}

Elected in 2017, Bill Everett is the current CEO. The CEO is elected by a plurality vote on a non-partisan ballot for a four-year term.{{Cite web|url=http://www.anacondadeerlodge.mt.gov/departments/clerk_recorder.aspx|title=Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, MT | Official Website}}

• Hunting – There are hundreds of square miles of hunting available to the public in the area. With permit, hunting is permitted for fowl, bear, mountain lion, elk, deer and moose.
• Fishing – Many nearby mountain lakes and streams offer such primary fishing spots as Silver Lake, Georgetown Lake, Echo Lake, Storm Lake, Racetrack Lake, Warm Springs Creek, Warm Springs Ponds, and the Big Hole River.
• Golf – The Old Works Golf Course is a Jack Nicklaus-signature golf course, developed of brownfield land. A local country club and an 18-hole championship golf course are located at Fairmont Hot Springs.
• Skiing – The area has many trails for cross-country skiers, and the nearby Discovery Ski Area has downhill skiing with 15 downhill double-black diamond trails and {{convert|5|km|mi|0}} of groomed cross-country ski trails.
• Darts -The annual Winter Getaway dart tournament, held in several local establishments, is the largest regional dart tournament in Montana.
• Museums – The Copper Village Museum and Arts Center provides visitors and residents with art and history of the local area.
• Hiking – Hiking opportunities in and around Anaconda include trails up to mountain lakes and a {{convert|10067|ft|m|adj=on}} mountain that can be climbed without technical equipment. A walking trail is on the north side of Anaconda next to Warm Springs Creek.
• Drag Racing – Lost Creek Raceway was founded in 1986 and hosts over 20 events a year bringing racers from Washington, Idaho and Montana.
• Mountain Biking

File:Hearst Free Library, Anaconda.jpg]]

Four schools are part of Anaconda School District 10, including a Head Start program; Lincoln Elementary (grades K-3), Fred Moodry Intermediate School (grades 4–6), and Anaconda Junior-Senior High School (grades 7–12).{{Cite web |url=http://www.anacondaschools.org/Page/1 |title=Anaconda Public Schools |access-date=2014-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514044828/http://www.anacondaschools.org/Page/1 |archive-date=2014-05-14 |url-status=dead }} The mascot of Anaconda Junior-Senior High School is the Copperheads.{{cite web |title=Member Schools |url=https://www.mhsa.org/memberschools |publisher=Montana High School Association |access-date=19 April 2021}}

The Hearst Free Library serves the area.{{cite web |title=Hearst Free Library |url=https://www.hearstfreelibrary.org/ |publisher=Hearst Free Library |access-date=13 April 2021}}Geil, M. (1998). Anaconda's treasure: The Hearst Free Library. Anaconda, MT: The Library.

Anaconda is on Montana Highway 1 off of Interstate 90. The Highway extends to Drummond and is known as the Pintler Scenic Loop. East of town is the Montana Highway 48 junction.

Bowman Field is a public airport located three miles (5 km) northeast of Anaconda.{{FAA-airport|ID=3U3|use=PU|own=PU|site=12243.*A}}, effective 2007-12-20 The nearest commercial airport is Bert Mooney Airport in Butte.

The Community Hospital of Anaconda provides medical care to the town.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.communityhospitalofanaconda.org/getpage.php?name=about_hospital |publisher=Community Hospital of Anaconda |access-date=14 September 2023}}

The Anaconda Leader is the local newspaper. It is published twice weekly.{{cite web |title=Anaconda Leader |url=https://discoveranaconda.com/businesses/anaconda-leader |publisher=Anaconda Chamber of Commerce |access-date=16 April 2021}}

KGLM-FM is licensed in Anaconda. It is owned by Butte Broadcasting Inc.{{cite web |title=KGLM-FM |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=669 |publisher=FCC |access-date=14 September 2023}}

Anaconda has been a filming location for a few movies, documentaries and a TV show, including:

• 1960 - Perch of The Devil, Harvey Richards Media Archive (Estuary Press)
• 1974 - The Legendary Mountain. Montana State University Film and T.V. Center
• 1978 - The Other Side of Hell, Aubrey-Lyon Productions
• 1981 - Today, NBC News Production
• 1985 - Runaway Train, Golan-Globus Productions
• 1986 - Better Pictures, Left Handed Pictures
• 1987 - Portrait Of America, Turner Broadcasting System
• 1992 - Return to Better Pictures, Sloppy Films
• 1993 - Return to Lonesome Dove, Artisan Home Entertainment
• 2005 - Backroads of Montana, Montana PBS
• 2008 - Prodigal Sons, Big Sky Productions
• 2012 - Diggers, Half Yard Productions
• 2016 - Dead 7, Syfy
• 2016 - Lester Leaps In, Montana Mafia Productions
• 2018 - Jeremy Bass: We Will Be You, Annie McCain Casting
• 2018 - Far Cry 5: Inside Eden's Gate, Asylum Entertainment
• 2019 - Worth The Wait, Maney Telefilm Co.
• 2019 - Mickey and the Bear, Utopia
• 2020 - Trail of Justice, Eagle Ridge Studios
• 2020 - Two Eyes, Two Eyes Productions
• 2020 - Backroads of Montana, Montana PBS
• 2022 - The Ghost Town Terror, Travel Channel
• 2022 - Father Stu, Sony Pictures Releasing
• 2022 - 1923 (TV series), MTV Entertainment Studios
• 2024 - Ghosts of Gold Creek, TBA
• 2025 - Broke (2025 film), Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• TBA - Brown , Dark Frames
• TBA - Hunter Grail, Moai Films, Screenland Productions

• Lucille Ball – actress; lived in Anaconda briefly as a child; she was born in Jamestown, New York.
• John H. Collins – classical scholar
• Frank Cope – New York Giants offensive lineman
• Joseph Paul Cretzer - Bank Robber & Alcatraz Inmate
• Marcus Daly – founder of Anaconda, and one of the "Copper Kings" of Butte
• Lester Dragstedt – first surgeon to successfully separate conjoined twins{{cite book |last=Corman |first=Marvin L. |date=2005 |title=Colon and Rectal Surgery |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=imEv3PqkJSEC&q=Lester+Dragstedt&pg=PA1574 |publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |page=1574 |isbn=0781740436 |access-date=May 30, 2015}}
• Wayne Estes – college basketball star
• Bert Glennon – cinematographer and director
• Raymond Hunthausen – Roman Catholic Archbishop of Seattle
• Rob Johnson – former Major League Baseball catcher
• Ed Kalafat – NBA Minneapolis Lakers basketball player
• Nancy Keenan – politician, NARAL president
• Hal C. Kern – film editor
• Angela McLean – Lieutenant Governor of Montana
• Jesse Laslovich - Montana Attorney & US District Attorney for District of Montana
• Milan Lazetich – football player for Los Angeles Rams
• George A. Lingo – politician in the Alaska Territory
• Jack Morris, S.J. – born in Anaconda, founded and named the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.{{cite news |title=Founder of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps movement dies |url=http://www.catholicsentinel.org/Main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=35&ArticleID=19386 |work=Catholic Sentinel |date=2012-10-02 |access-date=2012-10-11 |archive-date=July 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711184152/http://www.catholicsentinel.org/main.asp?SectionID=2 |url-status=dead }}
• Casper Oimoen – Olympic ski jumper
• Bill Ray – Alaska businessman, politician, writer
• Roger Rouse - Professional Boxer
• Michael Sells – Islamic studies expert
• Bridget Sullivan - Lizzie Borden's maid. Lived in Anaconda for the rest of her life until her death.
• George Leo Thomas – First Roman Catholic Archbishop of Las Vegas.
• Ralph "Papa" Thorson – bounty hunter, subject of The Hunter starring Steve McQueen
• Lester Thurow – economist
• John H. Tolan – U.S. Congressman from California
• Gene Vuckovich - Montana Senate of 39th District
• Thomas J. Ward – Medal of Honor recipient in the Civil War{{cite web|url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/3014 |title=Thomas J. Ward |access-date=July 1, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715003116/http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=3014 |archive-date=July 15, 2014 }}

• Atlantic Cable Quartz Lode

{{Reflist}}

• Mercier, Laurie. Anaconda: Labor, Community, and Culture in Montana's Smelter City (University of Illinois Press, 2001) 300pp

{{Commons category|Anaconda, Montana}}

{{wikivoyage|Anaconda}}

{{EB1911 poster|Anaconda (city)|Anaconda, Montana}}

• [http://adlc.us/ Official website]
• [http://www.anacondamt.org/ Chamber of Commerce]
• [http://www.cfwep.org/ Clark Fork Watershed Education Program]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20141219171719/http://clpmag.org/article.php?article=Anaconda_00202 Video portrait of Anaconda]
• {{Cite Americana|wstitle=Anaconda (Montana)|display=Anaconda, Mont |short=x}}

{{Deer Lodge County, Montana}}

{{Montana}}

{{Montana county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Company towns in Montana

Category:Cities in Deer Lodge County, Montana

Category:County seats in Montana

Category:Populated places established in 1883

Category:1883 establishments in Montana Territory

Category:Cities in Montana

Category:Anaconda Copper

Category:Consolidated city-counties