Is The Most “Irish” Town In America Here In Montana?

Ahhh, St. Patrick's Day. A day that even if you aren't Irish, you can pretend to be and no one gets offended.

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Here in Montana, we do St. Patrick's Day right. Not only are there celebrations all across Big Sky Country, but we also have one of the biggest and best parades in the country.

In case you were wondering, just a little over 13 percent of Montanans have Irish heritage. However, some areas are a little more Irish than others. It's been said that the most "Irish" town in America is right here in America.

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While folks from places like Boston, New York, and Chicago might disagree, when it comes to the percentage of actual Irish heritage, one Montana town leads the entire country. Before we break down the numbers, let's look at the best Montana towns to raise a family.

Which Montana town is the most Irish in America?

According to the 2010 Census, the city of Butte has more Irish lineage than any other city in the country. So, how Irish is Butte? While the numbers differ (one report suggests 25 percent while another says it's over 30 percent), the safe bet is it's somewhere in between. Either way, it's a larger percentage than Boston, which is considered the most Irish city in America.

So, for those of you who weren't as lucky as the rest of us to be born Irish, you can still dust off your old "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" t-shirts and get ready to celebrate.

If you live in Montana, Butte on St. Patrick's Day is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. The parade kicks off each year in Uptown Butte at noon. This year, the parade will be on a Monday, but don't let that stop you from all of the festivities.

Following the parade, all kinds of shenigins take place, including delicious food and lots of beer. Oh, and speaking of food, don't forget that the oldest Chinese restaurant in America is located in Butte as well.

READ MORE: Which of these Butte-made sandwiches is the best?

In typical Butte fashion, there will be all kinds of events before and after the parade, with many businesses celebrating the holiday long before March 16th. Either way, Butte is the place to be this St. Patrick's Day, even if you're not Irish.