Largest and Most Notable Cities in Montana

Montana is one of the most sparsely populated states in the US — about 1.1 million people spread across 147,000 square miles. Its cities are more like large towns by national standards, but each has a distinct character.

Billings — 120,000
Montana's largest city and the economic center of the Yellowstone River valley. Billings is a hub for agriculture, energy (Bakken oil field proximity), healthcare, and transportation. The Rimrocks — 400-foot sandstone cliffs rising immediately above the city to the north — are a distinctive geological feature. Little Bighorn Battlefield and the Beartooth Highway are within 60–90 minutes. Billings is the nearest major city to Yellowstone National Park's east and northeast entrances.

Missoula — 75,000
Home to the University of Montana and widely considered Montana's most livable city. Missoula sits at the confluence of the Clark Fork, Bitterroot, and Blackfoot rivers — Norman Maclean country. The city has an active arts, music, and food scene disproportionate to its size. The Rattlesnake Wilderness is literally within the city limits; hiking out the back neighborhoods is a daily activity for many residents.

Great Falls — 60,000
Named for the Great Falls of the Missouri River — a series of five waterfalls that Lewis and Clark spent 18 days portaging around in 1805. The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center here is one of the best expedition museums in the country. Malmstrom Air Force Base (a major ICBM wing) is the city's largest employer.

Bozeman — 55,000
The fastest-growing city in Montana and one of the fastest-growing in the western US. Bozeman's growth is driven by remote workers, technology companies, and the outdoor recreation industry. Montana State University anchors the economy. Proximity to Yellowstone (90 miles), Big Sky Ski Resort, and the Gallatin Canyon makes Bozeman the most outdoor-recreation-centric urban center in the state.

Butte — 34,000 and Helena — 33,000 round out the historic cities, with Helena serving as the state capital and Butte preserving Montana's most dramatic industrial history.