Montana

The Treasure State Established 1889, 41st State

Climate

Average Seasonal High and Low Temperatures # Spring: 56/32°F # Summer: 80/51°F # Fall: 56/32°F # Winter: 32/14°F

Geography

Montana is the fourth largest state, with a total area of 147,046 square miles (380,847 sq km). Only Alaska, California, and Texas are larger. Montana is made up of basically two regions: the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains. The Rocky Mountains are located in western Montana. This area consists of high mountains and deep valleys. The Great Plains region covers the eastern two-thirds of the state. This area is mainly flat, ideal for grazing cattle and farming. The state's largest river is the Missouri, which flows eastward and eventually empties into the Mississippi River. Rivers on the west side of Montana, such as the Clark Fork and Kootenai rivers, flow westward to the Pacific Ocean.

Resources and Economy

Montana became known as the Treasure State because of its mineral resources. The minerals that contribute the most to the state's economy today are coal, oil, natural gas, copper, silver, and gold. But there are other `treasures` in Montana. The land is valuable for farming and ranching. Wheat is Montana's leading crop. Barley, oats, and sugar beets are important as well. Montanans also harvest the state's large forestlands, producing lumber, plywood, and paper products. But the biggest part of Montana's economy involves service industries. These include financial services, real estate, government work, and trade. Montana's colorful history and scenic beauty contribute to a thriving tourist industry.

Population

957,861

Government

Capital:
State Abbreviation: MT
Governor: Brian Schweitzer (Democrat)
U.S. Senators: 2
Max Baucus (Democrat)
Jon Tester (Democrat)
U.S. Representatives: 1
    Republicans: 1
    Democrats 0
State Senators: 80
State Representatives: 100
Counties: 56

Fun Facts

* Montana means `mountain` in Spanish. * The town of Eureka calls itself the Christmas Tree Capital of the World because of the many thousands of Christmas trees it produces each year. * A world record for temperature change in a 24-hour period was set in Browning in 1916. The temperature dropped 100 degrees, from 44°F (7°C) to -56°F (-49°C). * Glacier National Park has 250 lakes within its boundaries. * Together, the elk, deer, and antelope populations outnumber the humans in Montana. * Montana is home to seven Native American reservations. * Water from Montana's rivers and streams empties into three different oceans—the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans. * Montana has the largest grizzly bear population in the United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. * Yellowstone National Park, in southern Montana and northern Wyoming, was the first national park in the country.