Research Resources
In an effort to help other researchers study the Chinese experience in Montana, this section of the website will contain public domain documents for dissemination to interested parties. These resources may include census abstracts, newspaper extractions, pictures of selected Chinese artifacts, and many other types of documents. If anyone has additional information, or documents relating to this experience, please send Merritt an email that can be found under “Contact Us”.
Newspaper Extractions
The Missoula and Cedar Creek Pioneer (1869-1873)
--Missoula, MT
The Benton Record (1875-1884)
--Fort Benton, MT
--Special Thanks to the Overholser Historical Research Center
The Granite Mountain Star (1890-1891)
--Granite, MT
The Helena Independent (1875-1884, 1894, 1924-1954)
--Helena, MT
The Colored Citizen (1894-1894)
--Helena, MT
The Montana Plaindealer (1906-1911)
--Helena, MT
The Mineral County Independent (1906-present)
--Superior, MT
--Special Thanks to the Mineral County Historical Society
Census Records
1870 Federal Census Extraction for Chinese Individuals
1880 Federal Census Extraction for Chinese Individuals
1870 Federal Census, Chinese by Location
1880 Federal Census, Chinese by Location
1900 Federal Census, Chinese by Location
1910 Federal Census, Chinese by Location
1920 Federal Census, Chinese by Location
1930 Federal Census, Chinese by Location
Summary of Data
| Year |
# of Chinese in MT |
Total MT Population |
Chinese % of Population |
| 1870 |
1,933 |
20,595 |
9.39% |
| 1880 |
1,895 |
39,159 |
4.84% |
| 1890 |
2,564 |
142,924 |
1.79% |
| 1900 |
1,717 |
243,329 |
.71% |
| 1910 |
1,188 |
376,053 |
.32% |
| 1920 |
868 |
548,889 |
.16% |
| 1930 |
363 |
537,606 |
.07% |
| 1940 |
258 |
559,456 |
.05% |
| 1950 |
209 |
591,024 |
.04% |
| 1960 |
240 |
674,767 |
.04% |
| 1970 |
289 |
694,409 |
.04% |
| 1980 |
346 |
786,690 |
.04% |
| 1990 |
655 |
799,065 |
.08% |
| 2000 |
827 |
902,195 |
.09% |
Source: U.S. Federal Census, 1870-2000, Washington, D.C.