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Montana, 41st State
“Oro y Plata”
(Gold and Silver)
- Name (Spanish): “montaña”; “mountanious region”.
- Governor: Stephen Clark Bullock (Democratic Party)
- Capital: Helena
- Population: 1,086,760 (2020), (44th most populous)
- Location: Montana is located north of Western United States.
- North: Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia (Canada),
- East: North Dakota and South Dakota,
- South; Wyoming and Idaho,
- West: Idaho.
- Area: 380,848 km2/147,046 mi2, 4th by rank
- Postal Abbreviation: MT
- Admitted to Union: November 8, 1889
- Official language: English
1. State’s Symbols
- State Soil: Scobey Soil Series
- State tree: Ponderosa Pine
- State Grass: Bluebunch Wheatgrass
- State flower: Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout
- State food: none
- State Animal: Grizzly Bear
- State Fish: Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout
- State Amphibian: none
- State Dinosaur: none
- State Reptile: none
- State Bird: Western Meadowlark
- State Horse: none
- State Butterfly: Mourning Cloak Butterfly
- State Fossil: Duck-billed Dinosaur
- State Rock: none
- State Gemstone:
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- Montana Agate
- Sapphire
- State mineral: none
- State Song: “Montana”
- State Lullaby: “Montana Lullaby”
- Poet Laureates: Melissa Kwasny and M.L. Smoker
- State Dance: none
- State Cowboy Hall of Fame: Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center
- State Ballad: “Montana Melody”
- State Arboretum: U of MT Missoula Campus
- State Firearm: none
- State Ship: none
2. Geography Facts
- Land: 376,989 km2 (145,556 mi2), 4th
- Water: 3,859 km2 (1,490 mi2), 26th
- Shoreline: 1,520 mi, 2446 km
- State Forests: 7
- State Parks: 53
- Water: 1.0%
- Largest city (by area): Billings (112.7 km²)
- Largest city (by population): Billings (109,868 people)
- Lowest point: Montana; 1800 feet, 46th lowest
- Highest point: Granite Peak; 12,799 feet, (3,901 m.), 10th tallest
3. Facts about Montana
- Montana is also known as the seedstock capital of the world.
- Montana has the largest Grizzly Bear population in the lower 48 states.
- Montana has the largest area among other landlocked States.
- Montana has the largest migratory elk herd in the USA, and it is home to over 8,000 moose populations.
- Montana has the largest T-Rex specimen (thirteen) in the world.
- Montana has the largest dinosaur fossil collections in the world. It also has a giant Tyrannosaurus skeleton known as “Tufts-Love Rex”. It is one the largest intact T.Rex skeletons ever found and one of the 15 in the world.
- Montana has the largest variety of mammals in the USA. There are about 100 species of mammals, including bobcat, bighorn sheep, elk, and caribous.
- Montana has the largest (fifteen inches) snowflakes in the history of the world.
- Montana is the first state to have a woman elected to the U.S. Congress. She was Jeannette Rankin from Missoula in 1916.
- Montana is the only state to have its jewel (Sapphire) included in British crown jewels.
- Montana is the only state to have more cows (2.6 million) than people (1.08 million).
- Montana’s first capital was Virginia City, and then in 1875, the capital was moved to Helena.
- Montana offers charming locations and scenes for nature admirers and lovers.
- It is a popular spot for lovers of the great outdoor games. It offers winter sports, water sports, hiking, biking, and more.
- Nickname/s: Big Sky Country, The Treasure State, Bonanza State, Land of the Shining Mountains, Stubbed-Toe State, The Headwaters State.
- Key Cities: Billings, Helena, Great Falls, Missoula, Bozeman
- Major industries: Agriculture, service, tourism, timber, mining, manufacturing.
- Famous for: Glacier Park, Yellowstone Park, Bighorn Mts., Wildlife
- Area code: 406
4. Natural Resources
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- Grain
- Sugar beets
- Potatoes
- Fruit
- Barley
- Wheat
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- Seedstock
- Meat
- Milk
- Oleomargarine
- Gelatin
- Marshmallows
-
Wildlife:
- Grizzly bears
- Rocky Mountain goats
- Bighorn sheep
- Moose
- Gray wolves
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Mining:
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- Talc (mineral for cosmetics)
- Copper
- Gold
- Silver
- Garnets
- Sapphires
- vermiculite
- Clay and gravel
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Hydroelectricity
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Fossil fuel:
-
- Petroleum
- Natural gas
- Coal
5. Mountains
Mountain Ranges: 100 (named)
Best Mountains to Visit:
- Divide Mountain
- Mount Grinnell
- Holland Peak
- Flinsch Peak
- Trapper Peak
- Triple Divide Peak
- Rising Wolf Mountain
- Stanton Mountain
- Allen Mountain
- Mount Oberlin
6. Divisions
- 56 Counties
- 53 Cities
- 76 Towns