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Montana

Principal Locations
  1. Anaconda
  2. Billings
  3. Bozeman
  4. Butte
  5. Great Falls
  6. Helena
  7. Kalispell
  8. Missoula


Resources

Montana


This article is about the state. For other meanings, see Montana (disambiguation).
State of Montana
State flag of MontanaState seal of Montana
(Flag of Montana)(Seal of Montana)
State nickname: Treasure State
Map of the U.S. with Montana highlighted
Other U.S. States
CapitalHelena
Largest cityBillings
GovernorBrian Schweitzer
Official languagesEnglish
Area381,156 km² (4th)
 - Land377,295 km²
 - Water3,862 km² (1%)
Population (2000)
 - Population926,865 (44th)
 - Density2.39 /km² (48th)
Admission into Union
 - DateNovember 8, 1889
 - Order41st
Time zoneMountain: UTC-7/DST-6
Latitude44°26' N to 49° N
Longitude104°2' W to 116°2' W
Width410 km
Length1,015 km
Elevation
 - Highest3,901 m
 - Mean1,035 m
 - Lowest549 m
Abbreviations
 - USPSMT
 - ISO 3166-2US-MT
Web sitewww.mt.gov

Montana is a state in the western United States. The name probably comes from the Spanish word montaña ("mountain"). The state ranks fourth in size but has a low population and population density, with much of the state being rural. The economy is primarily ranching-based, with some agricultural crops (wheat, barley, sugar beets) and a significant lumber and mineral industry.

The western one-third of the state is primarily mountainous terrain, while the eastern two-third is part of the northern Great Plains. Originally inhabited by Native Americans, modern-day Montana became Montana Territory in 1864 and later became the 41st state in 1889. The state became the first to elect a female member of Congress, Jeannette Rankin. Montana's people are largely homogenous, with 89.5 percent of the population white (but with a sizable American Indian representation at 6.2 percent). The state is generally regarded as Republican; many are surprised to hear that the state has a Democratic governor (Brian Schweitzer), Democratic-controlled legislature (the Montana State Legislature), and one Democratic U.S. Senator (Max Baucus).

The state capital is Helena. The largest city is Billings. Its U.S. postal abbreviation is MT. The USS Montana was named in honor of the state.

Contents

Geography

The capital of Montana is Helena and its current Governor is Brian Schweitzer (Democrat) who was sworn in on January 3, 2005. Its two U.S. senators are Max Baucus (Democrat) and Conrad Burns (Republican). Montana's lone congressman is Denny Rehberg.

Several Indian reservations are located in Montana: Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Crow Indian Reservation, Rocky Boys Indian Reservation, Blackfeet Indian Reservation, and the Flathead Indian Reservation.

Economy

The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that Montana's total state product in 2003 was $26 billion. Per capital personal income in 2003 was $25,406, 47th in the nation. Its agricultural outputs are cattle, wheat, barley, sugar beets, hay, and hogs. Its industrial outputs are mining, lumber and wood products, food processing, and tourism.

Demographics

As of 2003, the population of Montana was 917,621. The racial makeup of the state is:

  • 90.6% White
  • 0.3% Black
  • 6.2% American Indian
  • 2.0% Hispanic
  • 0.5% Asian
  • 1.7% Mixed race

The five largest ancestry groups in Montana are:
German (27%), Irish (14.8%), English (12.7%), Norwegian (10.6%), American (5.1%).

German-Americans are the largest part of the population in most of Montana. Residents of Scandinavian ancestry are a plurality in parts of the state, particularly in the northeast. There are several predominantly American Indian counties, especially in the north and east. The residents of the western Rocky Mountains are largely of British origin. Silver Bow county is largely Irish-American.

Religion

The religious affiliations of the people of Montana are:

  • Christian — 82%
    • Protestant — 55%
      • Lutheran — 16%
      • Methodist — 8%
      • Baptist — 5%
      • Presbyterian — 4%
      • Other Protestants/general Protestants — 22%
    • Roman Catholic — 24%
    • Other Christian — 3%
  • Non-Christian religions — 0%
  • No Religion — 18%

Important cities and towns

Montana's largest city is Billings.

Some of the major cities and towns in Montana are:

  • Anaconda-Deer Lodge County
  • Billings
  • Bozeman
  • Butte
  • Glasgow
  • Great Falls
  • Havre
  • Helena
  • Kalispell
  • Miles City
  • Missoula
  • Three Forks

Education

Colleges and universities

  • Carroll College
  • Flathead Valley Community College
  • Montana State University System
    • Montana State University - Billings
    • Montana State University - Bozeman
    • Montana State University Northern
  • Rocky Mountain College
  • Miles Community College
  • Salish Kootenai College
  • University of Great Falls
  • University of Montana System
    • University of Montana
    • Montana Tech of The University of Montana
    • Western Montana College of The University of Montana

Professional sports teams

The Minor League baseball teams are:

  • Missoula Osprey
  • Great Falls White Sox
  • Helena Brewers
  • Billings Mustangs

Ski areas

Montana has several ski areas including:

  • Big Mountain near Whitefish
  • Big Sky near Bozeman
  • Blacktail near Lakeside
  • Bridger Bowl near Bozeman
  • Discovery near Philipsburg
  • Moonlight Basin near Bozeman
  • Red Lodge Mountain near Red Lodge
  • Showdown Ski Area near White Sulphur Springs
  • Turner near Libby

Miscellaneous information

  • State flower: Bitterroot
  • State tree: Ponderosa Pine
  • State animal: Grizzly Bear
  • State bird: Western Meadowlark
  • State fish: Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout
  • Shortest river in the world: The Roe River
  • In the movie 'Star Trek: First Contact', Montana is the location of the historical first contact between humans and an alien race, the Vulcans.

Transportation

The current Montana sample license plate. A variety of other license plate images are available in Montana as fund-raisers for non-profit organizations.
Enlarge
The current Montana sample license plate. A variety of other license plate images are available in Montana as fund-raisers for non-profit organizations.

Major highways include:

  • Interstate 15
  • Interstate 90
  • Interstate 94
  • U.S. Highway 2
  • U.S. Highway 212
  • U.S. Highway 93

Further reading

  • Howard, Joseph Kinsey. Montana: High, Wide, and Handsome. Bison Books: 2003. ISBN 0803273398.
  • Lang, William L., et. al. Montana: A History of Two Centuries. University of Washington: 1991. ISBN 0295971290.
  • Toole, Kenneth Ross. Montana: An Uncommon Land. University of Oklahoma: 1984. ISBN 0806118903.
  • Doig, Ivan, Dancing at the Rascal Fair.
  • Doig, Ivan, English Creek.
  • MacLean, Norman, A River Runs Through It.
  • MacLean, Norman, Young Men and Fire.





Some information in this article originated at Wikipedia and is licensed under the GFDL.
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