Montpelier, Idaho

Montpelier was founded in 1863 by Mormon pioneers who were traveling the Oregon Trail and decided this was far enough. The settlement changed names several times before Brigham Young finally gave it the name of a town in his birth state of Vermont. In 1892, the railroad arrived and built a depot in town. The depot was in operation until 1972. Because of that train, Montpelier grew to be the largest town in the county, and to have the largest non-Mormon population of any town in the county. However, the county seat is at Paris and Paris is almost entirely Mormon.

Butch Cassidy and a couple of his compadres came to Montpelier and robbed the bank in 1896. Supposedly, they were trying to get together enough cash to bail out another gang member. Years ago, the town of Montpelier decided to grab onto that particular historical footnote and wrap part of the the civic identity around it: there is a commemorative plaque mounted on Washington Street in downtown that tells the whole story.

US Highways 89 and 30 cross each other in the heart of Montpelier. If you're traveling the Oregon Trail-Bear Lake Scenic Byway, this is where you get off one highway and get on the other. While you're in Montpelier, you might want to check out the National Oregon/California Trail Center on the corner of US 89 & 30.