State of Montana Facts & Information

Montana is located within the western and Midwestern United States - its name probably comes the Spanish word montaña, for mountain. Fourth in the country for geographical size, Montana has a low population, as most of the state consists of rural land.

The state of Montana has an economy that is mostly based on ranching, but it also produces agricultural crops such as wheat, barley, and sugar beets. The state also has a major lumber and mineral industry. Most of the western side of Montana consists of mountain terrain, while in the east two-thirds is part of the northern Great Plains.

Montana was originally home to American Indians, until the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806 arrived. This expedition was the first group of European-American explorers to enter Montana.

The Montana we know and love today was formed as Montana Territory in 1864, but it didn't become the 41st state of the union until 1889. The state was the first to elect a female member of Congress, Jeannette Rankin. The state capital of Montana is Helena. The largest city in the state is Billings. If you plan on visiting Montana any time soon, be sure to get ready to have a great time.