The Bear Lake valley has long been known as a potential settlement area. The first vanguard of Mormon colonists was sent to the valley by their leader Brigham Young.in September 1863. The following spring, the first sixteen families settled the Montpelier area to establish a fledgling community.

Today, Montpelier continues to be the central city in the Bear Lake valley. With a population nearing 3,000 and the home for the majority of valley businesses, the city continues to remember its roots with an eye to the future. The largest employers in Montpelier are Bear Lake Memorial Hospital and Bear Lake County School District. Farmers and ranchers continue to raise barley, wheat, beef cattle and dairy products in abundance. Recently, tourism has flourished thanks to the city's location between Salt Lake City, Utah and Jackson Hole/Yellowstone on U.S. Highway #89. Also, beautiful Bear Lake and its surrounding mountains and wildlife continue to draw visitors to the area. Montpelier is also proud of the recent addition of The National Oregon/California Trail Center, a living history interpretive center dedicated to the memory of our western pioneer heritage.

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