Butte, city, seat (1881) of Silver Bow county, southwestern Montana, U.S., on the western slope of the Continental Divide. Butte was laid out in 1886 and was named for Big Butte, a nearby conical peak locally called “the richest hill on earth.” The rich mineral deposits of the area attracted settlers; placer gold was discovered in 1864, and silver was first successfully treated there in ...

Butte College provides quality education, services, and workforce training to students who aspire to become productive members of a diverse, sustainable, and global society.

People visit Butte for a variety of reasons, whether it is to take in the rich history of the town or the picturesque landscape that surrounds it. As the fifth-largest city in Montana, visitors can be ensured there will be no shortage of things to do in Butte, MT.

Discover the best attractions in Butte, Montana—from historic sites and museums to tours, a waterpark, drive-in theatre, and family-friendly fun.

The Butte Hill and its huge copper deposits was once known as "the richest hill on earth." Today Butte's colorful history can be seen in its preserved Victorian uptown business district and stately mansions. The Butte Trolley tours historic sites in the summer. Activities and guided services for this area include ranch vacations, natural hot springs, hiking, boating, resort cabins, river ...

Most geographers say a butte is taller than it is wide, while a mesa is a much larger, slightly less elevated feature. Buttes are created as streams slowly cut through a mesa or plateau. The hard top layers of buttes, called caprock , resist weathering and erosion. As a result, the formations stay about the same height as the original plateau ...