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City of Montpelier
HISTORY:
The Bear Lake valley has long been known as a potential settlement area. The first vanguard of Mormon colonists was sent to the valley by their leader Brigham Young.in September 1863. The following spring, the first sixteen families settled the Montpelier area to establish a fledgling community.
Like most western communities, the town name was changed numerous times. First known by Oregon Trail travelers as Clover Creek, it later became Belmont and finally was given the name Montpelier by Brigham Young after a town in his birth state of Vermont. Within the first year, businesses sprang up along the strip later known as Fourth Street. It was a choice location because of the heavy Oregon Trail "traffic". Trail travelers tell of fresh produce, dairy products and beef that was available for purchase.
On August 13, 1896, Montpelier was the site of an infamous bank heist that became an integral part of Bear Lake folklore. Click on Butch Cassidy and the Montpelier Bank Robbery for more information.
With the arrival of the railroad, the first dent in an all Mormon population occurred and soon two communities developed: "Uptown" or "Mormon" Montpelier and "Downtown" or "Gentile" Montpelier. Montpelier served as a Home Terminal for the trains, engine crews and subdivision point until October 1, 1972, when the terminal was moved to Pocatello, Idaho. By 1900 and largely due to the railroad, Montpelier grew to be the largest city in the Bear Lake valley and had captured most of the businesses of the valley.
Today, Montpelier continues to be the central city in the Bear Lake valley. With a population nearing 3,000 and the home for the majority of valley businesses, the city continues to remember its roots with an eye to the future. The largest employers in Montpelier are Bear Lake Memorial Hospital and Bear Lake County School District. Farmers and ranchers continue to raise barley, wheat, beef cattle and dairy products in abundance. Recently, tourism has flourished thanks to the city's location between Salt Lake City, Utah and Jackson Hole/Yellowstone on U.S. Highway #89. Also, beautiful Bear Lake and its surrounding mountains and wildlife continue to draw visitors to the area. Montpelier is also proud of the recent addition of The National Oregon/California Trail Center, a living history interpretive center dedicated to the memory of our western pioneer heritage.
The Bear Lake valley has long been known as a potential settlement area. The first vanguard of Mormon colonists was sent to the valley by their leader Brigham Young.in September 1863. The following spring, the first sixteen families settled the Montpelier area to establish a fledgling community.
Like most western communities, the town name was changed numerous times. First known by Oregon Trail travelers as Clover Creek, it later became Belmont and finally was given the name Montpelier by Brigham Young after a town in his birth state of Vermont. Within the first year, businesses sprang up along the strip later known as Fourth Street. It was a choice location because of the heavy Oregon Trail "traffic". Trail travelers tell of fresh produce, dairy products and beef that was available for purchase.
On August 13, 1896, Montpelier was the site of an infamous bank heist that became an integral part of Bear Lake folklore. Click on Butch Cassidy and the Montpelier Bank Robbery for more information.
With the arrival of the railroad, the first dent in an all Mormon population occurred and soon two communities developed: "Uptown" or "Mormon" Montpelier and "Downtown" or "Gentile" Montpelier. Montpelier served as a Home Terminal for the trains, engine crews and subdivision point until October 1, 1972, when the terminal was moved to Pocatello, Idaho. By 1900 and largely due to the railroad, Montpelier grew to be the largest city in the Bear Lake valley and had captured most of the businesses of the valley.
Today, Montpelier continues to be the central city in the Bear Lake valley. With a population nearing 3,000 and the home for the majority of valley businesses, the city continues to remember its roots with an eye to the future. The largest employers in Montpelier are Bear Lake Memorial Hospital and Bear Lake County School District. Farmers and ranchers continue to raise barley, wheat, beef cattle and dairy products in abundance. Recently, tourism has flourished thanks to the city's location between Salt Lake City, Utah and Jackson Hole/Yellowstone on U.S. Highway #89. Also, beautiful Bear Lake and its surrounding mountains and wildlife continue to draw visitors to the area. Montpelier is also proud of the recent addition of The National Oregon/California Trail Center, a living history interpretive center dedicated to the memory of our western pioneer heritage.