Montpelier, Idaho
Montpelier is a city of 2,694 people in Bear Lake County, Idaho, founded in 1864.
Why visit Montpelier
Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 8 parks and trails, 9 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Centre Theatre, John A. Bagley House and Montepelier Odd Fellows Hall.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 7°F, and about 91 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Montpelier
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Montpelier
Montpelier is a city in Bear Lake County, Idaho, United States. The population was 2,643 at the 2020 census. The city is the largest community in the Bear Lake Valley, a farming region north of Bear Lake in southeastern Idaho along the Utah border. It was settled in 1863 by Mormon pioneers on the route of the Oregon Trail.
From the Wikipedia article Montpelier, Idaho (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks8
John A. Bagley House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Idaho, United States
Montepelier Odd Fellows Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Building in Idaho, United States
Montpelier Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic district in Idaho, USA
Parks, trails and playgrounds8
Restaurants and cafes9
History
As happened for many western towns, the name has been changed numerous times. First it was known as Clover Creek by Oregon Trail travelers, later it became Belmont and finally was given the name Montpelier by Brigham Young, one of the early leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), after the capital of his birth state of Vermont. The city was first settled in 1864.
The Oregon Short Line Railway started in Granger, Wyoming from the existing Union Pacific station, and reached Montpelier on August 5, 1882 (the rail line reached Huntington, Oregon in 1884). The terminal was located here until 1972. The railroad brought a population that made Montpelier the county's "Gentile Town" as opposed to nearby Mormon-run Paris that was the county seat. Both cities would have tabernacles built in their city limits.
On August 13, 1896, the Bank of Montpelier was the site of a heist by Butch Cassidy and members of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch, Elzy Lay and Henry "Bub" Meeks, who were supposedly trying to get enough money to bail out fellow gang member Matt Warner. They escaped with roughly $7,000. This historical footnote has become a notable component of the town's identity and is commemorated by a plaque on Washington Street (Highway 89).
From the History section of Montpelier, Idaho on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Churches and places of worship5
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Healthcare3
Map of Montpelier
50 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 7°F | 1.7 in | 23.3 in |
| Feb | 32°F | 9°F | 1.6 in | 19.0 in |
| Mar | 42°F | 18°F | 1.5 in | 9.2 in |
| Apr | 53°F | 27°F | 1.7 in | 4.9 in |
| May | 64°F | 34°F | 2.3 in | 1.3 in |
| Jun | 74°F | 40°F | 1.3 in | 0.1 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 46°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 45°F | 1.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 36°F | 1.4 in | 0.1 in |
| Oct | 59°F | 27°F | 1.7 in | 2.9 in |
| Nov | 43°F | 18°F | 1.4 in | 9.2 in |
| Dec | 30°F | 9°F | 1.7 in | 20.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Bern Hcn (4 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Bear Lake County has had 3 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-04-09: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2005-09-13: Hurricane Katrina (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Afton Municipal Airport (AFO) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 32 miles away.
- Paris 9 mi southwest, about 14 min by car
- Georgetown 11 mi north, about 18 min by car
- Cokeville 25 mi southeast, about 40 min by car
- Soda Springs 27 mi northwest, about 44 min by car
- Franklin 34 mi southwest, about 55 min by car
- Smithfield 43 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- North Logan 46 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Logan 49 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Malad City 50 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Hyrum 56 mi southwest, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Montpelier Idaha 072417, wilson44691, CC0
- JohnBagleyHouse, William R Sterling, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Montpelier ID Odd Fellows Hall, UltraSparky, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Montpelier Stake Tabernacle, Ntsimp, CC0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.