Anaconda was a mountain and a valley for hunter-gatherers until 1883, when “Copper King” Marcus Daly arrived and created the Anaconda Mining Company. The manufacturer, a producer of copper, aluminum, silver and uranium, helped the city and state become a giant in the mining industry. The industry held strong for nearly a century until it started trending downwards, and the effects of the smelters left the city heavily polluted. Fast forward to the present day, the town went through a significant cleanup. Anaconda is now a thriving small town with lots of recreation and a strong community feel. “There are people that were born and raised here for generations. You may mention someone, and they’ll say, ‘Oh, that’s my cousin, and oh, that’s my uncle,” says Marge Tucker, a real estate agent at Century 21 Shea Realtor and 11-year resident of town. Nods to the city’s mining industry can be spotted around town, through its buildings, antique signage and historic districts.
Anaconda was an older mining town and you'll see historic equipment on display throughout the city.
Anaconda used to ship all of it's minerals to Butte via trains.
Much of Anaconda's economy was mined from the surrounding mountains.
Gold miners used to sift for gold in the rivers in Anaconda.
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Multiple homes on the National Register of Historic Places
Many homes in Anaconda are registered on the National Register of Historic Places because of their significance to the city’s inception. “A lot of the town was built from the mining, and those became focal points,” Tucker says. “We still have people moving here. They like the uniqueness; once they have been here once, they’ll come back.” The city has two historic districts with residences. Goosetown, situated towards the east side, includes craftsmen and bungalows from the early 20th century. These mainly housed the working class and other ethnic communities. The West Side Historic District also includes the early 20th century and homes from the 1800s. Since this area houses primarily the upper class, some homes are large Queen-Annes or Richardson Romanesque homes. Properties with acreage can be located on the outskirts. The median home price is $255,000, about $40,000 less than Butte.
Anaconda is home to historic Italianate buildings which people coming from all over to admire.
Historic Anaconda is filled with history from the gold rush era.
Anaconda is full of stunning historic Queen Annes style homes.
Many buildings in Anaconda are built in the historic Queen Annes style.
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Home to the state's longest zipline course
Anaconda has a total of five parks. Beaver Dam Park has a basketball court and a bike trail, while Washoe Park is a newer gathering spot with a swimming pool, splash pad and fish hatchery. The city has two golf courses: Old Works Golf Course is a premier golf course with 18 holes and a restaurant, and Anaconda Country Club is a smaller 9-hole golf course with a clubhouse. Wildlife roams at Lost Creek State Park, a scenic area with waterfalls where people go hiking, picnicking, fishing and camping. Georgetown Lake, 22 miles away in Phillipsburg, is a popular summer boating and windsurfing spot. When winter comes, there’s ice-fishing and snowmobiling at the lake. A zipline course, Montana Zipline Adventures, is the longest in the state, and Discovery Ski Area is the regional skiing destination, with its 67 trails.
Over 80 vendors show their work at Art in Washoe Park
Every year, Anaconda has a Smeltermans Day Celebration to pay homage to its mining days. It’s a three-day event with an art walk, live music and a parade. The Anaconda Winter Festival embraces the best of the season with an ice carving competition, winter activities at Discovery Ski Area and frozen turkey bowling. Movies are screened at Anaconda’s historic Washoe Theatre, a nationally-registered historic site with Art Deco architecture and furniture. Art in Washoe Park, held in July, showcases over 80 vendors, live music and ethnic foods. “They get a lot of people from out of state. You see painting and ceramic work. A lot of them are from Anaconda and Montana,” Tucker says.
Italianate buildings in Historic Downtown Anaconda
Historic Downtown Anaconda has multiple buildings that maintain their original 19th- and 20th-century architecture. Along Park Street and Commercial Avenue are brick Victorian and Italianate structures encompassing retail stores, restaurants and city offices. Restaurants serve American food, Mexican cuisine and pizza, and locals can also find plenty of spots for a nighttime beverage as the city is home to multiple bars and breweries. Shopping options include thrift shops and gift stores; Anaconda Community Market is held on Thursday evenings between July and September. Albertsons on Park Avenue sells groceries, and big box options like Walmart Supercenter are located in Butte.
Downtown Anaconda is full of brick Italianate buildings.
You known you're in Anaconda when you see the Italianate style buildings.
Downtown Anaconda is sprinkled with historic buildings, right by more modern buildings.
St. Peters Catholic Church is a historic building in Montana that people travel from all over to view.
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Students attend one of two school districts
Students are assigned to the Anaconda Elementary School District, which earns a C rating from Niche. The district has three schools: a primary school, an intermediate school and a junior/senior high school. The student body is around 1,000 students. Deer Lodge Elementary School District is another option that earns a C rating from Niche. It consists of four schools. Nearby colleges include Montana Technological University in Butte.
Anaconda Junior High offers quality education in Anaconda.
Lincoln Elementary School offers safe education for students in Anaconda.
Lincoln Elementary School Anaconda
Anaconda Senior High School is one of the few schools in Anaconda.
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Drivers use Highway 1 to reach Butte
Residents either stay local for work or commute to Butte. Highway 1 connects to Interstate 90, which goes directly to Butte. Anaconda has no public transportation, and Bert Mooney Airport is 30 miles away, offering direct flights to Salt Lake City and Denver. However, some locals may prefer to drive further to other airports. “It depends on what airline they’re looking for. Missoula is where some people go, or they’ll go to Bozeman; you’re only about an hour and a half from both,” Tucker says. Medical services are available at the Community Hospital of Anaconda.
Butte offers large Casinos and nigh time fun near Anaconda.
Butte is full of large retail stores near Anaconda.
Walmart offers discounted goods near Anaconda.
Highway 1 is the fastest way to get from Anaconda to Butte.
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Crime trending downwards in Deer Lodge County
Crime in Deer Lodge County remains on a downward trend. The county tallied 504 offenses in 2023, a 25% decrease from 2022. While Anaconda receives four seasons, some may last longer than others. “We probably have a half/half winter and summer. We get good summer weather, but it doesn’t last long. I’d say it’s four months of winter and summer, then two months of fall and spring,” she says. Anaconda does experience some days with unhealthy air quality days.
Written By
Courtney Murphy
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Teal Mandzik
Video By
Jeffrey Knight
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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