Montpelier, city in Bear Lake County, Idaho, United States
Montpelier is a small city near Bear Lake in southeastern Idaho with about 2,500 residents. It has a simple layout with well-maintained historic buildings dating from the early settlement period, and sits at an elevation of nearly 6,000 feet (1,800 meters), creating crisp, cool air.
The city was founded in 1864 by Mormon pioneers and named after Montpelier in Vermont. The railroad reached town in the early 1880s and became central to its growth, while the Oregon Trail also passed through the region.
Montpelier was founded by Mormon pioneers whose religious heritage continues to shape community life today. Residents actively preserve their pioneer traditions through local events and a strong sense of connection to the early settlers who built the town.
The city is easy to reach as highways 89 and 30 run directly through it, and you can walk through the historic downtown on foot. Summer offers swimming, boating, and picnicking at nearby Bear Lake, while winter enables skiing and snowmobiling in local mountains.
The city is known for an 1896 bank robbery carried out by Butch Cassidy and his gang, who stole about 7,000 dollars in gold and silver. Visitors can tour the original bank building, now converted into a museum that still displays the original vault.
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