Virginia City, Montana

Virginia City, Montana
Town
Virginia City from a nearby hillside
Location of Virginia City, Montana
Coordinates: 45°17′39″N 111°56′28″W / 45.29417°N 111.94111°W / 45.29417; -111.94111Coordinates: 45°17′39″N 111°56′28″W / 45.29417°N 111.94111°W / 45.29417; -111.94111
Country	United States
State	Montana
County	Madison
Area[1]
• Total	0.95 sq mi (2.46 km2)
• Land	0.95 sq mi (2.46 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	5,761 ft (1,756 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	190
• Estimate (2012[3])	196
• Density	200.0/sq mi (77.2/km2)
Time zone	Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
• Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code	59755
Area code(s)	406
FIPS code	30-77125
GNIS feature ID	0778036

Virginia City is a town in and the county seat of Madison County, Montana, United States.^[4] In 1961, the town and the surrounding area was designated a National Historic Landmark District, the Virginia City Historic District.^[5] The population was 190 at the 2010 census.

History

Founding

Thomas Francis Meagher House, Virginia City

In May 1863, a group of prospectors were headed towards the Yellowstone River and instead came upon a party of the Crow tribe and were forced to return to Bannack. On May 26, 1863, Bill Fairweather and Henry Edgar discovered Gold near Alder Creek.^[6] The prospectors could not keep the site a secret and were followed on their return to the gold bearing site. A mining district was set up in order to formulate rules about individual gold claims. On June 16, 1863 under the name of "Verina" the township was formed a mile south of the gold fields. The name was intended to honor Varina Howell Davis, the first and only First Lady of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. Verina, although in Union territory, was founded by men whose loyalties were thoroughly Confederate. Upon registration of the name, a Connecticut judge, G. G. Bissell, objected to their choice and recorded it as Virginia City. ^[7]

Within weeks Virginia City was a boomtown of thousands of prospectors and fortune seekers in the midst of a gold rush. The remote region of the Idaho Territory was without law enforcement or justice system with the exception of miners' courts. In late 1863, the great wealth in the region, lack of a justice system and the insecure means of travel gave rise to serious criminal activity, especially robbery and murder along the trails and roads of the region. Road agents as they became known were ultimately responsible for up to 100 deaths in the region in 1863 and 1864. This resulted in the formation of the Vigilance committee of Alder Gulch and the infamous Montana Vigilantes. Up to 15 road agents were hanged by the vigilantes in December 1863 and January 1864, including the sheriff of Bannack, Montana and alleged leader of the road agent gang, Henry Plummer.^[8]

The Montana Territory was organized out of the existing Idaho Territory by Act of Congress and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 26, 1864.^[9] Although Bannack was the first territorial capital, the territorial legislature moved the capital to Virginia City on February 7, 1865.^[10] It remained the capital until April 19, 1875 when it moved to Helena, Montana.^[11] Thomas Dimsdale began publication of Montana's first newspaper, the Montana Post in Virginia City on August 27, 1864.^[12] Montana's first public school was established in Virginia City in March 1866.^[13]

Gilbert Brewery, Wallace Street, Virginia City

Ghost town

In the 1940s, Charles and Sue Bovey began buying the town, putting much needed maintenance into failing structures. The ghost town of Virginia City began to be restored for tourism in the 1950s. Most of the city is now owned by the state government and is a National Historic Landmark operated as an open-air museum. Of the nearly three hundred structures in town, almost half were built prior to 1900. Buildings in their original condition with Old West period displays and information plaques stand next to thoroughly modern diners and other amenities.

The Historic District of Virginia City and Nevada City is currently operated by the Montana Historic Commission and is the top state-owned tourist attraction in Montana. The Commission operates gold panning, a historic hotel, and the longest continuously operating live summer theater company in the western United States. ^{[14] [15]}

Virginia City also has a Boothill Cemetery.^[16] There is also the 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge Alder Gulch Short Line Railroad, which transports passengers by rail to the nearby ghost town of Nevada City, Montana, and back.

Notable residents

• Calamity Jane lived here for some time.
• Granville Stuart, prospector, vigilante, merchant, cattleman operated a store in Virginia City for many years during the gold boom
• Helen M. Duncan, geologist and paleontologist, grew up in Virginia City
• John Bozeman, prospector, vigilante, merchant and founder of Bozeman, Montana and Bozeman Trail
• Nathaniel P. Langford, prospector, vigilante and first superintendent of Yellowstone National Park
• Joseph Millard, later a United States Senator from Nebraska, lived and opened a bank here.
• Nelson Story, prospector, merchant and cattleman, famous for 1866 cattle drive from Texas to Montana
• Wilbur F. Sanders, founding member of the Vigilance Committee and United States Senator from Montana, lived here.^[17]
• Sarah Bickford, African American businesswoman, one of the few African Americans to own a utility company
• Hezekiah L. Hosmer, first Chief Justice of the Montana Territory Supreme Court, held court here.
• George Laird Shoup, Governor of Idaho, moved here after the Civil War.
• Sam V. Stewart, Governor and Supreme Court justice of Montana, practiced law here.
• William Boyce Thompson, founder of Newmont Mining, was born here.

Geography

Virginia City is located at 45°17′39″N 111°56′28″W / 45.29417°N 111.94111°W / 45.29417; -111.94111 (45.294107, -111.941230).^[18]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.95 square miles (2.46 km²), all of it land.^[1]

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Virginia City has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.^[19]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 190 people, 102 households, and 55 families residing in the town. The population density was 200.0 inhabitants per square mile (77.2/km²). There were 171 housing units at an average density of 180.0 per square mile (69.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.6% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 7.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 102 households of which 17.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.1% were non-families. 42.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.86 and the average family size was 2.49.

The median age in the town was 51.3 years. 15.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 39.6% were from 45 to 64; and 18.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[23] of 2000, there were 130 people, 72 households, and 32 families residing in the town. The population density was 140.4 people per square mile (54.0/km²). There were 122 housing units at an average density of 131.7 per square mile (50.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.62% White, 2.31% Native American, 0.77% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.

There were 72 households out of which 18.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were married couples living together, 1.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.2% were non-families. 47.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.81 and the average family size was 2.52.

In the town the population was spread out with 14.6% under the age of 18, 0.8% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 46.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,000, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $37,500 versus $19,167 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,182. There are 5.7% of the population living below the poverty line, including those under eighteens and over 64.

Notes

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Virginia City, Montana.

• Virginia City Chamber of Commerce website
•  "Virginia City, a city and the county seat of Madison co., Montana". The American Cyclopædia. 1879. 

Municipalities and communities of Madison County, Montana, United States County seat: Virginia City Towns Ennis Sheridan Twin Bridges Virginia City CDPs Alder Big Sky‡ Harrison Unincorporated communities Cameron Jefferson Island Laurin McAllister Norris Pony Silver Star Union City Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties