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Travel & Geography > The States & Territories
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The Regions of the United States | Facts & Statistics

Montana, the "Big Sky Country" "Treasure State"
Abbreviation:
MT

Montana Flag
State Flag
Montana Seal
State Seal

Montana derives from the Latin word meaning "mountainous." Montana was admitted into the Union as the 41st state in 1889. The state is the fourth largest state of the United States. Western Montana is a land of tall, rugged mountains; while eastern Montana is a land of broad plains. Montana experienced sudden development when gold was discovered in 1862.  Montana was also the scene of the Native Americans' last effort to keep their land. The last stand of Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer was fought in Montana, as were the final battles of the Nez Perce Wars.  The mountains, the battlefields, the old gold camps, and the vast, lonely distances give visitors a unique perspective of the American frontier.

"Montana" wird vom lateinischen Wort für "bergig" abgeleitet. 1889 wurde Montana der 41. Staat der Union. Montana ist der viertgrößte Bundesstaat der Vereinigten Staaten. Der Westen Montanas besteht aus hohen, zerklüfteten Bergen, während der Osten durch weite Tiefebenen geprägt ist. Montana erfuhr einen Entwicklungsschub, als 1862 Gold entdeckt wurde. Montana war der Schauplatz der letzten Kämpfe der Indianer um ihr Land. Das letzte Gefecht des berühmten Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer wurde in Montana ausgetragen, ebenso wie die letzten Schlachten der Nez Perce Kriege. Die Berge, Schlachtfelder, die alten Goldgräbercamps und die einsamen Weiten des Landes geben dem Besucher einen einmaligen Blick auf die „American Frontier", der Grenze zur Wildnis.

GOVERNMENT
Capital:
Helena
Governor: Brian Schweitzer, D (to Jan. 2009)
Senators: Max Baucus, D (to Jan. 2015); Jon Tester, D (to Jan. 2013)
House of Representatives: 1 district | Search by zip code

STATISTICS
Population (July 2005):
936,000; National Rank: 44; Percent change since April 2000: 3.7%
Land Area: 145,556 sq mi. (376,991 sq km); National Rank:
4
10 largest cities (2005 est): Billings, 98,721; Missoula, 62,923; Great Falls, 56,338; Bozeman, 33,535; Butte-Silver Bow,1 32,282; Helena, 27,383; Kalispell, 18,480; Havre, 9,390; Anaconda–Deer Lodge County, 8,948; Miles City, 8,162

ECONOMY
Total Gross State Product 2005 prel. (billions of current dollars): 29.9
Per Capita Personal Income 2005: $29,387; National Rank: 39
State Exports 2005 (millions of dollars): 711; National Rank: 49
Agriculture:
Cattle, wheat, barley, sugar beets, hay, hogs.
Industry: Mining, lumber and wood products, food processing, tourism.

Government
·
State of Montana Official Homepage
· Project VoteSmart
·
State and Local Government on the Internet

Statistics
·
Montana Profile - Fedstats
·
U.S. Census Bureau: 2000 Data for the State of Montana
·
U.S. Census Bureau: State Data Centers: Montana

Economy
· Montana - Regional Accounts Data

Background
· 50States.com
·
InfoPlease
·
Wikipedia: Montana

 

Travel
·
State of Montana Tourist Office
· Map (MapQuest)
· Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

For High School Students
·
Explore the States
· Montana is For Kids!
·
State Report: Montana
·
Stately Knowledge

Teacher Resources
·
ProTeacher: Lessons by State: Montana

Link Lists
·
GovEngine.com: Federal, State & Local Government Site

· Montana (Google)
·
Montana (Yahoo)

 
Texts are abridged from U.S. State Department IIP publications and other U.S. government materials.
 
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Any reference obtained from this server to a specific commercial product, process, or service does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the United States Government of the product, process, or service, or its producer or provider. The views and opinions expressed in any referenced document do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government.
 
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Updated: January 2009