Basic Information About Montana

Montana is the fourth-largest US state by area at 147,040 square miles, but the seventh least populous with only about 1.1 million residents. This gives Montana one of the lowest population densities of any state — about 7.5 people per square mile. The state capital is Helena; Billings is the largest city.

Nickname: The Treasure State — a reference to its mineral wealth: gold, silver, copper, coal, and oil have all been extracted in significant quantities. A secondary nickname is "Big Sky Country," which reflects the dramatic openness of Montana's landscapes.

Statehood: November 8, 1889 — the 41st state admitted to the union.

State Flower: Bitterroot — a small, beautiful pink flower that blooms in spring on dry, rocky hillsides throughout western Montana. It was an important food source for Native American peoples.

State Bird: Western Meadowlark.

State Tree: Ponderosa Pine.

Climate: Montana has a semi-arid continental climate with extreme temperature variability. The record temperature range is 187°F — from -70°F to 117°F — the greatest of any US state. Eastern Montana (the High Plains) has very cold winters and hot, dry summers. Western Montana, influenced by Pacific air masses, is more moderate. Whitefish and the Flathead Valley have a significant snowfall. Chinook winds (warm, dry Pacific air that descends the eastern slopes of the Rockies) can raise temperatures 40-50°F in a matter of hours.

Geography: The Rocky Mountains occupy the western third of the state; the Great Plains dominate the eastern two-thirds. The Continental Divide runs roughly north-south through the Rocky Mountain section.

Native American Heritage: Montana has seven federally recognized tribal nations and the Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Blackfeet, Flathead, Fort Belknap, Fort Peck, and Rocky Boy's reservations. Native American culture is an integral part of Montana's identity.