Butte, the city built on a hill surrounded by mountains, rivers, and prairies began as a mining town in the late 19th century. At first only gold and silver were mined, then the advent of electricity created a demand for copper. Copper being abundant in the area helped to make Butte one of the most prosperous cities in the country. The city nicknamed "The Richest Hill on Earth" drew workers from far away places like Ireland, Wales, Finland, Italy, and Croatia to work in the mines. The Irish immigrants left their mark on the city and today with a population of under 40,000, one can find many Sullivan's, O'Brien's, and Shea's. Butte's Irish heritage is recognized each year with the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade where thousands of people line the streets to enjoy the parade and celebrate afterwards in bars with names like Maloney's and The Irish Pub Bar. Because I homeschool and take advantage of holidays and videos to round out the lessons, I'll leave you with a short video on the history of St. Patrick's Day.