Butte's African American Community

4 Locations | Curated by Story of Butte

After the Civil War, the American west signified opportunity for wealth and a new start. No one knew that better than the hundreds of African Americans who came to Butte for a better life as free men and women. Charles Flagg was one of the first African Americans to settle in Butte, arriving in the 1880s. Others followed in his footsteps, finding success in the booming town as doctors, lawyers, teachers, business owners, cowboys and laborers. Butte was nothing if not multi-ethnic; roughly 50 nationalities resided in Butte at one time. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 African Americans lived in Butte in the early 1900s. By 1920, the population began to decline, and even more so after World War II.

Because mining was strenuous and dangerous, many Butte newcomers avoided the mines. African Americans, like other ethnic groups on the margins of the society, understood the dangers but also sensed an opportunity. They took the jobs they could and started to establish their own neighborhood with churches, lodges, and businesses. Life in Butte was still difficult and full of racial strife, and racism. Too many residents did not welcome the African American community with open arms, offering instead substandard housing, segregated spaces, and inadequate public amenities.

Residents established multiple clubs and associations including the Colored Democratic Club, Colored Progressive League, Colored Masons, and Crisenda Club. But the most notable social reforms came from women’s clubs. Founded in 1902, the Afro-American Women’s Club is believed to be the first…
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While some African Americans in Butte were doctors, lawyers, and business owners, most Black residents worked humble jobs, using their backs and brawn to build homes, neighborhoods, and community. African American miners, waitresses, porters, cooks, maids, and seamstresses worked to keep the city afloat.
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Most of the African Americans who moved to Montana were born enslaved, leaving for the west in search of freedom and opportunity. Religion was fundamental to the growth and prosperity of the Black community in Butte. As sacred places of worship, education, and safety, churches became places of unity, identity, and stability.
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Butte featured numerous saloons and night clubs—at its height there were over 206 saloons in the bustling city. These businesses were the pinnacle for social entertainments, but only a select few welcomed African American patrons.
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