Montpelier, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Montpelier, Idaho
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Montpelier, Idaho, downtown view.
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Location of Montpelier in Bear Lake County, Idaho.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Idaho |
| County | Bear Lake |
| Named for | Montpelier, Vermont |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.32 sq mi (6.00 km2) |
| • Land | 2.32 sq mi (6.00 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,978 ft (1,822 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,643 |
| • Density | 1,094.91/sq mi (422.70/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP codes |
83220, 83254
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| Area code(s) | 208, 986 |
| FIPS code | 16-53920 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411150 |
Montpelier is a city in Bear Lake County, Idaho, in the United States. In 2020, about 2,643 people lived there. It is the biggest town in the Bear Lake Valley. This area is a farming region north of Bear Lake, close to the Utah border.
Montpelier was first settled in 1863 by Mormon pioneers. It was built along the famous Oregon Trail, a path used by many early settlers. The border with Wyoming is also nearby to the east.
Contents
Montpelier's Early History
Like many towns in the western United States, Montpelier has had a few different names. At first, travelers on the Oregon Trail called it Clover Creek. Later, it was known as Belmont. Finally, Brigham Young, an important early leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gave it the name Montpelier. He named it after the capital city of his home state, Vermont. The city was officially settled in 1864.
The Railroad Arrives
The Oregon Short Line Railway came to Montpelier on August 5, 1882. This railroad line helped connect the town to other places. Montpelier became a key railroad stop, and the main station was there until 1972. The railroad brought more people and helped the town grow.
Famous Bank Event
On August 13, 1896, the Bank of Montpelier was involved in a famous event. A group led by Butch Cassidy took about $7,000 from the bank. This historical moment is now a big part of the town's story. A special plaque on Washington Street (Highway 89) remembers this event.
Modern Roads
Today, two important U.S. Routes, 89 and 30, meet in Montpelier. These roads help people travel to and from the city.
New Temple Announcement
On April 3, 2022, Russell M. Nelson, a leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced that a new LDS Temple would be built in Montpelier.
Things to See and Do
Montpelier has several interesting places to visit that share its history and culture.
National Oregon/California Trail Center
The National Oregon/California Trail Center is a special place in Montpelier. It's an interactive museum where you can learn all about the history of the trails that passed through the town. You can experience what it was like for pioneers traveling west.
_on_the_California_and_Oregon_National_Historic_Trails_(2007)_(acbb44b8-71ae-46d7-aae2-74ef34fdea42).JPG)
Butch Cassidy Museum
The Butch Cassidy Museum is located inside the old Bank of Montpelier building, which was built in 1891. This bank still has its original vault. It's the only bank that Butch Cassidy was involved with that is still standing today.
Historic Places in Montpelier
Several buildings in Montpelier are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. These include:
- The city hall
- A high school and its gymnasium
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' Stake Tabernacle
Other historic buildings are the John A. Bagley House, Montpelier Odd Fellows Hall, and the Montpelier Carnegie Library.
Montpelier's Geography and Climate
Montpelier covers an area of about 2.33 square miles (6.0 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Local Climate
Montpelier has a type of climate called a warm-summer humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold, snowy winters.
| Climate data for Montpelier, Idaho, 1991–2020 simulated normals (5951 ft elevation) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 29.7 (−1.3) |
32.5 (0.3) |
42.1 (5.6) |
52.5 (11.4) |
62.8 (17.1) |
73.2 (22.9) |
83.5 (28.6) |
82.6 (28.1) |
72.5 (22.5) |
58.1 (14.5) |
42.4 (5.8) |
30.9 (−0.6) |
55.2 (12.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 18.5 (−7.5) |
20.5 (−6.4) |
30.2 (−1.0) |
39.7 (4.3) |
48.9 (9.4) |
57.4 (14.1) |
65.5 (18.6) |
64.2 (17.9) |
54.7 (12.6) |
43.0 (6.1) |
30.6 (−0.8) |
20.1 (−6.6) |
41.1 (5.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 7.3 (−13.7) |
8.4 (−13.1) |
18.3 (−7.6) |
27.0 (−2.8) |
35.1 (1.7) |
41.5 (5.3) |
47.3 (8.5) |
45.9 (7.7) |
36.9 (2.7) |
27.7 (−2.4) |
18.9 (−7.3) |
9.5 (−12.5) |
27.0 (−2.8) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.56 (39.55) |
1.51 (38.37) |
1.37 (34.75) |
1.55 (39.26) |
1.95 (49.52) |
1.20 (30.60) |
0.66 (16.82) |
0.76 (19.20) |
1.23 (31.27) |
1.27 (32.37) |
1.20 (30.59) |
1.38 (35.01) |
15.64 (397.31) |
| Average dew point °F (°C) | 11.5 (−11.4) |
13.1 (−10.5) |
19.9 (−6.7) |
25.2 (−3.8) |
32.4 (0.2) |
37.4 (3.0) |
40.8 (4.9) |
38.8 (3.8) |
32.2 (0.1) |
25.7 (−3.5) |
19.2 (−7.1) |
13.1 (−10.5) |
25.8 (−3.5) |
| Source: Prism Climate Group | |||||||||||||
Population and People
Montpelier has seen its population change over the years. Here's how it has grown and changed:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 120 | — | |
| 1880 | 546 | 355.0% | |
| 1890 | 1,174 | 115.0% | |
| 1900 | 1,444 | 23.0% | |
| 1910 | 1,924 | 33.2% | |
| 1920 | 2,984 | 55.1% | |
| 1930 | 2,436 | −18.4% | |
| 1940 | 2,824 | 15.9% | |
| 1950 | 2,682 | −5.0% | |
| 1960 | 3,146 | 17.3% | |
| 1970 | 2,604 | −17.2% | |
| 1980 | 3,107 | 19.3% | |
| 1990 | 2,656 | −14.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,785 | 4.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,597 | −6.8% | |
| 2020 | 2,643 | 1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives in Montpelier?
In 2010, there were 2,597 people living in Montpelier. Most residents were White (96.2%). About 4.9% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in the city was 36.4 years old. About 29.1% of the people were under 18 years old.
Education in Montpelier
Montpelier is home to Bear Lake High School. This school serves the students in the area.
See also
In Spanish: Montpelier (Idaho) para niños
