Montana

 {{US state |

 Name = Montana | 	 
 Fullname = State of Montana | 	 
 Flag = Flag of Montana.svg |

Flaglink = Flag of Montana |

 Seal = Montanastateseal.jpg | 	 
 song= "Montana"

Flower = Bitterroot | Tree = Ponderosa Pine |

 Map = Map_of_USA_highlighting_Montana.png | 	 
 Nickname = Treasure State, Big Sky Country | 	 
 Motto = Oro y plata |

 Congressmen = Denny Rehberg (R)
 PostalAbbreviation = MT |

AreaRank = 4^th |

 TotalAreaUS =147,165 |
 TotalArea = 381,156 |
 LandAreaUS = 145,674 |
 LandArea = 377,295 |
 WaterAreaUS =1,491 |
 WaterArea = 3,862 |
 PCWater = 1 |

PopRank = 44^th |

 2000Pop = 902,195 |

DensityRank = 48^th |

 2000DensityUS = 6.19 |
 2000Density = 2.39 |

AdmittanceOrder = 41^st | AdmittanceDate = November 8, 1889 | TimeZone = Mountain: UTC-7/DST-6 | Latitude = 44°26' N to 49° N |

 Longitude = 104°2' W to 116°2' W |
 WidthUS = 255 |
 Width = 410 |
 LengthUS = 630 |
 Length = 1,015 |

HighestPoint = Granite Peak |

 HighestElevUS = 12,799 |
 HighestElev = 3,901 |
 MeanElevUS = 3,396 |
 MeanElev = 1,035 |
 LowestElevUS = 1,802 |
 LowestElev = 549 |
 PostalAbbreviation = MT|
 ISOCode = US-MT |

Website = www.mt.govMontana is a state in the Pacific Northwest and Great Plains regions of the United States. The central and western two-thirds of the state have numerous mountain ranges (approximately 77 named) of the northern Rocky Mountains; thus the state's name, derived from the Spanish word montaña ("mountain"). The state nickname is the "Treasure State." Other nicknames include "Land of Shining Mountains", "Big Sky Country", and the slogan "the last best place". The state ranks fourth in size but has a relatively low population (with only six states having fewer people) and consequently a very low population density. The economy is primarily based on agriculture and significant lumber and mineral extraction. Tourism is also important to the economy with millions of visitors a year to Glacier National Park, the Battle of Little Bighorn site, and three of the five entrances to Yellowstone National Park.

Geography

Missouri Breaks region in central Montana

With a land area of 145,552 square miles (376,978 km²), the state of Montana is the fourth largest in the United States (after Alaska, Texas, and California).

To the north, Montana and Canada share a 545-mile (877 km) portion of the world's longest undefended border. The state borders the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, more provinces than any other state. To the east the state borders North Dakota and part of South Dakota. To the south is Wyoming and about a mile of South Dakota, and on the west and southwest is Idaho.

The topography of the state is diverse, but roughly defined by the Continental Divide, which runs on an approximate diagonal through the state from north to southwest, splitting it into two distinct eastern and western regions. Montana is best-known for its mountainous western region, part of the northern Rocky Mountains. However, about 60% of the state is actually prairie, part of the northern Great Plains. Nonetheless, even east of the Continental Divide and the Rocky Mountain Front, there are a number of isolated "Island Ranges" that dot the prairie landscape. The entire state contains approximately 77 named mountain ranges.

St. Mary's Lake in Glacier National Park

Major mountain ranges of Montana include:The Bitterroot Mountains which form most of the western boundary of the state, the southern third of the range blending into the Continental Divide. Mountain ranges between the Bitterroots and the top of the Continental Divide include the Cabinet Mountains, the Missions, the Garnet, Sapphire, Flint Creek, and Pintlar ranges.

The northern section of the Divide, where the mountains give way rapidly to prairie, is known collectively as the Rocky Mountain Front. East of the Divide, several parallel ranges march across the southern half of the state, including the Gravelly Range, the Tobacco Roots, the Madison Range, Gallatin Range, Big Belt Mountains, Bridger Mountains, Absaroka Range and Beartooth Mountains. The Beartooth Plateau is the largest continuous land mass over 10,000 feet (3,000 m) in the lower 48 states and contains the highest point in the state, Granite Peak, 12,799 feet (3,901 m) high.

Between the Mountain ranges are many scenic valleys, rich in agricultural resources, rivers and possessing multiple opportunities for tourism and recreation. Among the best-known areas are the Flathead Valley, Bitterroot Valley, and Gallatin Valley.

East and north of this transition zone are the vast, sparsely populated Northern Plains, with rolling tableland prairies, "island" mountain ranges, and scenic badlands extending into the Dakotas, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Wyoming. The isolated "Island" ranges east of the Divide include the Castle Mountains, Crazy Mountains, Little Belt Mountains, Snowy Mountains, Sweet Grass Hills, Bull Mountains and, in the southeastern corner of the state near Ekalaka, the Long Pines and Short Pines.

The area east of the divide in the north-central portion of the state is known for the dramatic Missouri Breaks and other significant rock formations. Three stately buttes south of Great Falls are familiar landmarks. These buttes, Square Butte, Shaw Butte, and Crown Butte, are made of igneous rock, which is dense and has withstood weathering for many years. The underlying surface consists of shale. Many areas around these buttes are covered with clay surface soils. These soils have been derived from the weathering of the Colorado Formation. Farther east, areas such as Makoshika State Park near Glendive, and Medicine Rocks State Park near Ekalaka also higlight some of the most scenic badlands regions in the state.

Montana also contains a number of rivers, many of which are known for "blue-ribbon" trout fishing, but which also provide most of the water needed by residents of the state, as well as being a source of hydropower. Montana is the only state in the union whose rivers form parts of three major North American watersheds: The Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson Bay.

West of the divide, the Clark Fork of the Columbia (not to be confused with the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River) rises in the Rocky Mountains near Butte, flows west toward Missoula, Montana where it is joined by the Blackfoot River and the Bitterroot River and turns to the northwest, entering Idaho just above Lake Pend Oreille, becoming part of the Columbia River, which flows to the Pacific Ocean. The Clark Fork discharges the greatest volume of water of any river exiting the state. The Flathead River and Kootenai River also drain major portions of the western half of the state.

East of the divide, the Missouri River, formed by the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin rivers, crosses the central part of the state, flows through the Missouri breaks and enters North Dakota. The Yellowstone River rises in Yellowstone Park in Wyoming, flows north to Livingston, Montana, where it then turns east and flows across the state until it joins the Missouri River a few miles east of the North Dakota boundary. The Yellowstone River is the longest undammed, free-flowing river in North America. Other major Montana tributaries of the Missouri include the Milk, Marias, Tongue, and Musselshell Rivers. Montana also claims the disputed title of possessing the "world's shortest river", the Roe River, just outside Great Falls, Montana. These rivers ultimately join the Mississippi River and flow into the Gulf of Mexico.

Due to the configuration of mountain ranges in Glacier National Park, the Northern Divide, which begins in the Seward Peninsula crosses this region and turns east in Montana at Triple Divide Peak. Thus, the Waterton, Belly, and Saint Mary Rivers flow north into Alberta, Canada joining the Saskatchewan River, and ultimately emptying into Hudson Bay.

Water is of critical importance to the state for both agriculture and hydropower. In addition to its rivers, the state is nome to Flathead Lake, the largest natural fresh-water lake west of the Great Lakes. Man-made reservoirs dot Montana's rivers, the largest of which is Fort Peck Reservoir, on the Missouri river, contained by the largest earth-filled dam in the world.

Vegetation of the state includes ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, larch, fir, spruce, aspen, birch, red cedar, ash, alder, rocky mountain maple and cottonwood trees. Forests cover approximately 25% of the state. Flowers native to Montana include asters, bitterroots, daisies, lupins, poppies, primroses, columbine, lilies, orchids and dryads. Several species of sagebrush and cactus and many species of grasses are common. Many species of mushrooms and lichens are also found in the state.

Montana contains Glacier National Park and portions of Yellowstone National Park, including three of the Park's five entrances. Other federally-recognized sites include the Little Bighorn National Monument, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Big Hole National Battlefield, Lewis and Clark Caverns, and the National Bison Range. Montana has eight National Forests and over 20 National Wildlife Refuges. The Federal government administers 36,000,000 acres (146,000 km²). 275,000 acres (1,100 km²) are administered as state parks and forests.

Areas managed by the National Park Service include:
*Big Hole National Battlefield near Wisdom
*Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area near Fort Smith
*Glacier National Park
*Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site at Deer Lodge, Montana
*Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
*Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument near Crow Agency
*Nez Perce National Historical Park
*Yellowstone National Park

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

See also: List of Montana counties, List of Montana rivers

History

Main article: History of Montana

Native Americans were the first inhabitants of Montana. Groups included the Crows in the south-central area, the Cheyenne in the southeast, the Blackfeet, Assiniboine and Gros Ventres in the central and north-central area and the Kootenai and Salish in the west. The smaller Pend d'Oreille and Kalispel tribes were found around Flathead Lake and the western mountains, respectively.

Subsequent to the Lewis and Clark expedition and after the finding of gold and copper in the state in the late 1850s, Montana became a United States territory (Montana Territory) on May 26, 1864 and the 41st state on November 8, 1889.

Fort Shaw (Montana Territory), was established in the spring of 1867. It is located west of Great Falls in the Sun River Valley and was one of three posts authorized to be built by Congress in 1865. The other two posts in the Montana Territory were Camp Cooke on the Judith River and Fort C.F. Smith on the Bozeman Trail in south central Montana Territory. Fort Shaw, named after Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, who commanded the 54th Massachusetts, one of the first all African-American regiments, during the American Civil War, was built of adobe and lumber by the 13th Infantry. The fort had a parade ground that was 400 feet (120 m) square, and consisted of barracks for officers, a hospital, and a trading post, and could house up to 450 soldiers. Completed in 1868, it was used by military personnel until 1891.

After the close of the military post, the government established Fort Shaw as a school to provide industrial training to young Native Americans. The Fort Shaw Indian Industrial School was opened on April 30, 1892. The school had at one time 17 faculty members, 11 Indian assistants and 300 students. The school made use of over 20 of the buildings built by the Army.

The revised Homestead Act of the early 1900s greatly affected the settlement of Montana. This act expanded the land that was provided by the Homestead Act of 1862 from 160 acres to 320 acres (65-130 ha). When the latter act was signed by President Taft, it also reduced the time necessary to prove up from five years to three years and permitted five months absence from the claim each year.

In 1908, the Sun River Irrigation Project, west of Great Falls was opened up for homesteading. Under this Reclamation Act, a person could obtain 40 acres(16 ha). Most of the people who came to file on these homesteads were young couples who were eager to live near the mountains where hunting and fishing were good. Many of these homesteaders came from the Midwest and Minnesota.

Montana was the scene of the Native Americans' last effort to keep their land, and the last stand of U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer was fought near the present day town of Hardin. Montana was also the location of the final battles of the Nez Perce Wars.

Cattle ranching has long been central to Montana's history and economy. The Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site in Deer Lodge Valley is maintained as a link to the ranching style of the late 19th century. It is operated by the National Park Service but is also a 1,900-acre (7.7 km²) working ranch.

Demographics

Population

Montana Population Density Map

As of 2005, Montana has an estimated population of 928,670, which is an increase of 8,750, or 0.9%, from the prior year and an increase of 33,475, or 3.7%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 13,674 people (that is 58,001 births minus 44,327 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 21,074 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 2,141 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 18,933 people. 16,500 of state residents are foreign-born, accounting for 1.8% of the total population.

The state ranks fourth in size at 147,000 square miles (381,000 km²) but has a relatively low population (with only six states having fewer people) and consequently a very low population density.

Race and ancestry

Caucasian 91.6%

American Indian/Alaskan Native 6.2%

African American 0.3%

Pacific Islander/Other 0.2%

Historical populations
Census year	Population

1870	20,595
1880	39,159
1890	142,924
1900	243,329
1910	376,053
1920	548,889
1930	537,606
1940	559,456
1950	591,024
1960	674,767
1970	694,409
1980	786,690
1990	799,065
2000	902,195
2005 Estimate	935,670

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

German ancestry is the largest reported ancestry in most of Montana. Residents of Scandinavian ancestry are a plurality in parts of the state, particularly in the northeast. There are several predominantly Native American counties, especially in the north and east. The residents of the western Rocky Mountains are largely of British origin.

Religion

The religious affiliations of the people of Montana:
*Christian – 82%
**Protestant – 55%
***Lutheran – 15%
***Methodist – 8%
***Baptist – 5%
***Presbyterian – 4%
***United Church of Christ – 2%
***Other Protestant or general Protestant – 21%
**Roman Catholic – 24%
**LDS – 3%
*Other Religions – <1%
*Non-Religious – 18%

Economy

The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that Montana's total state product in 2003 was $26 billion. Per capita personal income in 2003 was $25,406, 47th in the nation. However, this number is rapidly increasing. According to the Missoulian, the economy has grown rapidly since 2003; in 2005, Montana ranked 39th in the nation with an average per capita personal income of $29,387.

The economy is primarily based on agricultureand significant lumber and mineral extraction (gold, coal, silver, talc, and vermiculite). Tourism is also important to the economy with millions of visitors a year to Glacier National Park, Flathead Lake, the Missouri River headwaters, the site of the Battle of Little Bighorn and three of the five entrances to Yellowstone National Park.

Montana personal income tax contains 7 brackets, with rates ranging from 1% to 6.9%. Montana has no sales tax. In Montana, household goods are exempt from property taxes. However, property taxes are assessed on livestock, farm machinery, heavy equipment, automobiles, trucks and business equipment. • The amount of property tax owed is not determined solely by the property's value. The property's value is multiplied by a tax rate, set by the Montana Legislature, to determine its taxable value. The taxable value is then multiplied by the mill levy established by various taxing jurisdictions -- city and county government, school districts and others.

Transportation

Major highways include:
*Interstate 15
*Interstate 90
*Interstate 94
*U.S. Highway 2
*U.S. Highway 212
*U.S. Highway 93

In addition, Amtrak's "Empire Builder" train runs through the north of the state, stopping in the following towns: Libby, Whitefish, West Glacier, Essex, East Glacier Park, Browning, Cut Bank, Shelby, Havre, Malta, Glasgow, and Wolf Point.

Law and government

See: List of Montana Governors

The 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 congressman is Denny Rehberg (Republican).

The state was the first to elect a female member of Congress (Jeannette Rankin), and was one of the first states to give women voting rights; (see suffrage). Despite its sizable American Indian population, Montana is one of the most homogenous states— nearly 90% of its residents are of European descent, with a large number of immigrants of German, Irish, Norwegian, Welsh, Cornish, Italian, Slovak and Swedish heritage arriving in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A significant portion of Chinese (Cantonese) immigrants also came and left an indelible mark on the state, especially in the mining cities of Helena, Butte, and Anaconda.

Politics

Historically, Montana was a Swing state of cross-ticket voters with a tradition of sending "conservatives to Helena (the state capital) and liberals to Washington." However, there have also been long-term shifts of party control. During the 1970s, the state was dominated by the Democratic party, with Democratic governors for a 20-year period, and a Democratic majority of both the national congressional delegation and during many sessions of the state legislature. This pattern shifted, beginning with the 1988 election, when Montana elected a Republican governor and sent a Republican to the U.S. Senate for the first time since the 1940s. This shift continued with the reapportionment of the state's legislative districts that took effect in 1994, when the Republican party took control of both houses of the state legislature, consolidating a party dominance that lasted until 2004. The state last supported a Democrat for president in 1992, Bill Clinton's first election.

Thus, in recent years, Montana has been classified as a Republican-leaning state, and the state supported President George W. Bush by a wide margin in his 2004 re-election. However, since a new reapportionment plan went into effect with the 2004 election, Democrats have fared better. The state currently has a Democratic governor (Brian Schweitzer), elected in 2004 and a Democrat-controlled state legislature. Also, incumbent Republican Senator Conrad Burns faces a tough fight for reelection against Democratic State Senate President Jon Tester in the 2006 election.

Montana is an Alcoholic beverage control state.

Important cities and towns

Billings skyline & Sacrifice Cliff, 2005

Some of the cities in Montana are:

*Anaconda
*Billings
*Bozeman
*Butte
*Great Falls

*Havre
*Helena
*Kalispell
*Miles City
*Missoula

Some of the major towns in Montana are:

*Belgrade
*Columbia Falls
*Cut Bank
*Deer Lodge
*Dillon
*Glasgow
*Glendive
*Hamilton

*Hardin
*Laurel
*Lewistown
*Livingston
*Polson
*Shelby
*Sidney
*Whitefish

Education

Colleges and universities

The state-funded Montana University System consists of:
*Montana State University - Bozeman
**Montana State University - Billings
**Montana State University - Northern - Havre
*University of Montana - Missoula
**Montana Tech of the University of Montana - Butte
**University of Montana Western - Dillon
**University of Montana - Helena College of Technology
*Flathead Valley Community College
*Dawson Community College
*Miles Community College

Major Tribal Colleges in Montana include:
*Little Big Horn College
*Fort Peck Community College or Ft. Peck Community College
*Salish Kootenai College
*Stone Child College

Major Private Colleges and Universities include:
*Carroll College
*University of Great Falls
*Rocky Mountain College

Professional sports teams

The Minor League baseball teams are:
*Missoula Osprey
*Great Falls White Sox
*Helena Brewers
*Billings Mustangs

Miscellaneous topics

The state's name is derived from the Spanish word montaña ("mountain"). The state nickname is the "Treasure State." Other nicknames include "Land of Shining Mountains", "Big Sky Country", and the slogan "the last best place".

The battleship USS Montana was named in honor of the state.

The Hell Creek Formation is a major source of dinosaur fossils. For example, Jane was discovered in 2001 in Hell Creek and is the world's most complete juvenile tyrannosaurus rex.

In 1902, a group of female students from the Fort Shaw Indian Industrial School began playing basketball and traveled throughout Montana, defeating high school teams and some college teams. In 1904, the girls' basketball team traveled by train to the St. Louis World's Fair. Over a period of five months, the team was challenged by numerous other basketball teams and won every contest, returning to Fort Shaw with the "world champion" trophy. On May 1, 2004, a monument in honor of the basketball team was unveiled at the entrance of the present-day Fort Shaw Elementary School.

In the movie 'Star Trek: First Contact', Montana is the location of the fictitious first contact between humans and an alien race, the Vulcans.

Montana has the largest grizzly bear population in the lower 48 states.

Montana is the only state with a triple divide, allowing water to flow into the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Hudson Bay. This phenomenon occurs at Triple Divide Peak in Glacier National Park.

In 1888, Helena (the current state capital) had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the world.

Montana is one of two states in the continental United States which in addition to not having a major metropolitan area over 1,000,000 in population, also does not border a state that does have one (Maine is the other). (However, it does border the Canadian Provinces Alberta and British Columbia, which together have three cities with a metro population of over 1,000,000.)
* Scouting in Montana

State symbols

*State flower: Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva), since 1895
*State tree: Ponderosa Pine, since 1949
*State animal: Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), since 1862
*State bird: Western Meadowlark, since 1931
*State fish: Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout, since 1977
*State Song: "Montana", since 1945
*State Ballad: "Montana Melody", since 1983
*State Gemstones: Yogo Sapphire & Agate
*State Fossil: Duck-billed Dinosaur (Maiasaura peeblesorum), since 1985
*State Butterfly: Mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), since 2001
*State Grass: Bluebunch Wheatgrass, since 1973
*State Motto: "Oro y Plata" (Spanish: Gold and Silver)

Ski areas

Montana has several ski areas including:
*Bear Paw Ski Bowl near Havre, Montana
*Big Mountain near Whitefish
*Big Sky Resort near Big Sky, Montana
*Blacktail near Lakeside
*Bridger Bowl Ski Area near Bozeman
*Discovery Basin near Philipsburg
*Great Divide near Helena, Montana
*Lost Trail near Darby, Montana
*Lookout Pass near St. Regis, Montana
*Maverick Mountain near Dillon, Montana
*Montana Snowbowl near Missoula
*Moonlight Basin near Big Sky, Montana
*Red Lodge Mountain near Red Lodge
*Showdown Ski Area near White Sulphur Springs, Montana
*Snowbowl Ski Area near Missoula, Montana
*Turner near Libby

Montana: Encyclopedia BETA

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