Distinctly Montana Magazine

87 w w w. d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m article and photos by BRYAN SPELLMAN G E T T O K N O W G E T T O K N O W A C O U N T Y A C O U N T Y D E E R L O D G E C O U N T Y D E E R L O D G E C O U N T Y O NE OF THE NINE ORIGINAL COUNTIES AT MONTANA'S BIRTH, Deer Lodge County was one of two counties lying almost entirely west of the Continental Divide. Like Missoula County, Deer Lodge County predates Montana. As Missoula was originally created by Washington Territory, Deer Lodge was one of Idaho Territory's counties. At that time, it covered 5,525 square miles, almost as large as Beaverhead County, today's largest in area. In time, Silver Bow, Granite, and Powell Counties all took land away from the original, leaving Deer Lodge County as Mon- tana's second smallest in area. Only Silver Bow County is small- er. On a side note, I feel obliged to note that while we generally think of the Divide as running north/south, it cuts today's Deer Lodge County in half east to west. The county's southern line, adjoining Beaverhead County, is the middle of the Big Hole River. With the creation of Powell County in 1901, Deer Lodge County was left with an area of 742 square miles of which 4.7 is water. The 2020 U.S. Census counted 9,421 residents, down from a 1960 high of 18,640. The current population puts the county at 23rd place of Montana's 56. The county number is 30. ANACONDA Today, the city of Anaconda and Deer Lodge County are consol- idated political entities. The two merged in 1977, one of two such entities in Montana. (The other being Butte-Silver Bow.) But while Deer Lodge County predates even Montana Territory, Anaconda became seat only in 1896. Prior to that, the original seat was Silver Bow, which is now located in Silver Bow County, then Deer Lodge which has been the seat of Powell County since 1901. Marcus Daly, usually considered to be the "father" of Anaconda, was not terribly concerned with his town being a mere county seat. No, in his mind, Anaconda should be the capital of the new state. Two elections were held, the first in 1892 and the second in 1894. Seven communities sought the honor in 1892, with the top two contenders facing off in 1894. In the 1894 contest, every county west of the Divide voted for Anaconda, as did Cascade and Gallatin, but the final vote count showed Helena won by a mere 2,000 votes. I have oft maintained that the impressive Deer Lodge County Court House was designed to substitute for the state capitol—at least in Daly's vision. Walk up Main Street and look at that building. Tell me that's not a state cap- itol. Step inside and take in the lobby, the staircases and the dome. This is one beautiful building. ANACONDA

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