Editing Walkerville, Montana

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Walkerville, Montana
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|image_skyline            = Lexington Mine Walkerville.JPG
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Lexington Mine in Walkerville
|image_map                = Silver_Bow_County_Montana_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Walkerville_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Walkerville in Silver Bow County, Montana
|pushpin_map              = Montana#USA
|pushpin_mapsize          = 280
|pushpin_map_alt          = 
|pushpin_map_caption      = 
|pushpin_label            = Walkerville
|pushpin_label_position   = 
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Montana}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Montana|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Silver Bow County, Montana|Silver Bow]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         = 
<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 5, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 5.77
|area_land_km2            = 5.77
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.23
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.23
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 639
|population_density_km2   = 110.81
|population_density_sq_mi = 286.93
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
|utc_offset               = -7
|timezone_DST             = MDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -6
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 6296
|coordinates              = {{coord|46|02|12|N|112|32|22|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 59701
|area_code                = [[Area code 406|406]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 30-77650
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2413442<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2413442}}</ref>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Walkerville''' is a town in [[Silver Bow County, Montana|Silver Bow County]], [[Montana]], United States, that is an [[enclave]] of the [[consolidated city-county]] of [[Butte, Montana|Butte]]. The population was 639 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 2, 2021}}</ref> Walkerville is a suburb of [[Butte, Montana|Butte]], and the only other incorporated community in the county, as well as the only part of the county that is not part of Butte.

Part of Walkerville is included in the [[Butte-Anaconda Historic District]]. Walkerville represents some of the earliest mines in the district and preserves the early [[mining camp]] flavor present in the 1890s to 1910s.

==History==
Walkerville is a suburb of Butte, Montana and is home to some of the earliest mining sites in the area. These sites attracted many investors to Walkerville in the late 1800s. Walkerville is named for four of those investors: brothers Joseph, Samuel, Matthew and David Walker of [[Salt Lake City]];<ref name=HistoricMT /> they had purchased the lucrative Alice mine upon recommendation by their agent (and later [[Copper Kings|Copper King]]) [[Marcus Daly]].<ref name="Glasscock">{{cite book | author=Glasscock, C.B. | title=The War of the Copper Kings | publisher=Riverbend Publishing | year=2002 | isbn=1-931832-21-8}}</ref>{{rp|46}}

There were many different types of materials mined depending on the location of a given site. Copper and silver were two of the most commonly mined materials. In 1893, silver prices dropped, but the town's economy continued to thrive due to its copper production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://southwestmt.com/communities/walkerville.htm|title = Walkerville, Montana &#124; Southwest Montana Tourism Information}}</ref> The town incorporated in 1890, and by the early 1900s almost 2,500 people lived there, mostly Cornish and Irish immigrants who came to work in the mines.<ref name="Leech">{{cite journal |last1=Leech |first1=Brian |title=Protest, Power, and the Pit: Fighting Open-Pit Mining in Butte, Montana |journal=Montana The Magazine of Western History |date=Summer 2012 |volume=62 |issue=2 |pages=26–38 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24414626 |access-date=January 2, 2024}}</ref> Walkerville's economic success continued until 1918 when the end of World War I caused copper prices to drop.

In 1955, the Anaconda Company decided to begin open-pit mining operations, which transformed Walkerville. Residents opposed open-pit mining on the grounds that it took away jobs. But extracting metals was cheaper with the open pit method, and as copper prices dropped after World War II, the old Alice Mine transformed into the Alice Pit. Blasting in the pit, located in the middle of Walkerville, angered residents who complained of noise, flying rocks, and cracking basements. The Anaconda Company offered to buy property at fair market prices and sold homes back to residents for one dollar on the stipulation that the home be moved. Many residents moved away. When the blasting and digging rendered Sibyl, Rose, and Pearl streets impassable, they were condemned and fenced off. Mayor Jimmy Shea responded by demanding that the Company formally petition the city council to discontinue and vacate the streets. With this leverage, the city council demanded the Company pay to repair city utilities, build a new road, repair damaged streets, build safety fences, keep the pit one hundred feet from homes, and build a new ballpark. Eventually, the Company acquiesced to most of these demands. Even so, Walkerville's fight with the Company became more bitter as the pit continued to expand. In 1961, the City of Walkerville sued Anaconda for damaging city property. The Alice Pit never reopened.<ref name="Leech" />

By 2015, nearly all of the town's many mines are abandoned. Some of these sites have become very dangerous and plans are being made to restore or remove them.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://epa.gov/aml/tech/silverbow-case.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=June 9, 2015 |archive-date=March 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305232743/http://www.epa.gov/aml/tech/silverbow-case.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[Berkeley Pit]] is {{convert|2|mi}} to the south. The town is on the U.S. [[Continental Divide of the Americas|Continental Divide]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|2.23|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name ="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref>

===Neighborhoods===
* Corktown<ref name=MTS>{{cite web | url=https://mtstandard.com/news/local/butte-in-no-walkerville-city-hall/article_9a5be68a-1aac-11e4-af61-001a4bcf887a.html | title=Butte in 75, No. 47: Walkerville City Hall | last= | first= | author= | author-link= | date= | year= | editor-first= | website=[[The Montana Standard]] | series= | publisher=[[Lee Enterprises]] | location= | page= | pages= | at= | language= | type= | access-date=April 25, 2020 | quote=}}</ref>
* Sun View Terrace <ref name=MTS />
* Seldom Seen <ref name=MTS />
* Dewey's Point <ref name=MTS />
* Chicken Flat <ref name=MTS />
* Butchertown <ref name=MTS /><ref>{{Google maps | url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Butchertown,+Walkerville,+MT+59701/@46.0362371,-112.5382776,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x535b099c2dac6485:0xc988e48546a74152!8m2!3d46.0362371!4d-112.5360889?hl=en | title=Butchertown, Walkerville | access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref>
* the Corra <ref name=MTS />

Butchertown was named for Rollo [[Butcher (surname)|Butcher]], Walkerville's first permanent resident.<ref name=HistoricMT>{{cite web | url=https://historicmt.org/items/show/41 | title=Walkerville, Butte | author=The Montana National Register Sign Program | author-link= | date= | year= | website=Historic Montana | series= | publisher=[[Montana Historical Society]] | location= | language= | type= | format= | access-date=April 25, 2020 | quote=}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1880= 444
|1890= 1743
|1900= 2621
|1910= 2491
|1920= 2391
|1930= 2052
|1940= 1880
|1950= 1631
|1960= 1453
|1970= 1097
|1980= 887
|1990= 605
|2000= 714
|2010= 675
|2020= 639
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 31, 2014}}</ref><ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="2010 Census">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 675 people, 304 households, and 175 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|302.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 344 housing units at an average density of {{convert|154.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 93.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 3.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.3% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.2% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.9% of the population.

There were 304 households, of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.4% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the town was 44.2 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.3% were from 25 to 44; 33.8% were from 45 to 64; and 15% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 714 people, 297 households, and 195 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|325.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 343 housing units at an average density of {{convert|156.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 94.26% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.14% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 4.06% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.28% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.70% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.56% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.22% of the population.

There were 297 households, out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $28,009, and the median income for a family was $29,861. Males had a median income of $27,404 versus $19,063 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $14,156. About 9.9% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Media==
The FM radio station [[KMTZ]] is licensed in Walkerville.<ref>{{cite web |title=KMTZ |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=166087 |publisher=FCC |access-date=December 24, 2023}}</ref> It plays adult hits.

==Education==
The municipality is in the Butte Elementary School District<!--ELM 05280--> and Butte High School District<!--SEC 05310-->.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st30_mt/schooldistrict_maps/c30093_silver_bow/DC20SD_C30093.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Silver Bow County, MT|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-10-04}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st30_mt/schooldistrict_maps/c30093_silver_bow/DC20SD_C30093_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> [[Butte Public Schools]] has two components: Butte Elementary School District and Butte High School District.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apps.opi.mt.gov/SchoolDirectory/frmdirectorydistrictpdf.aspx|title=Directory of Montana Schools|publisher=[[Montana Office of Public Instruction]]|date=2024-03-13|access-date=2024-03-13|pages=264–265/317}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Montana}}
* [[List of municipalities in Montana]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Walkerville, Montana}}
* [https://buttehistory.blogspot.com/2015/01/walkerville-1881.html Butte History and "Lost Butte": Walkerville, 1881]

{{Silver Bow County, Montana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Silver Bow County, Montana]]