Union City, Montana, human settlement in Madison County, Montana, United States of America
Union City is an abandoned settlement high in the mountains of Madison County, Montana, at about 7,580 feet (2,310 meters) in elevation. The site contained worker housing, storage sheds, and the remains of the Christenot Mill, which was equipped with Chilean rollers for crushing quartz.
Union City emerged in 1867 following the discovery of gold in nearby Alder Gulch in 1863. An investor named Christenot built a modern mill with imported machinery that began processing quartz and extracting gold in 1867.
The site was named Union City and developed as a worker settlement centered on the Christenot Mill operation. Visitors can observe how the settlement was organized around resource processing and how daily life revolved around the mining work.
The site is located in the mountains and can be reached from the Virginia City area nearby. Visitors should expect rough terrain, windy conditions at this elevation, and limited access to some structures since many are in ruins or require careful footing.
The Christenot Mill used unusual Chilean roller technology instead of the stamping mills common at the time, making it innovative for its era. Equipment arrived in 52 ox-drawn wagons over the Bozeman Trail, a logistical feat that reflected the operation's ambitious scope.
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