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Billings, Montana

Billings, Montana
City
Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Flag of Billings, Montana
Flag
Official seal of Billings, Montana
Seal
Nickname(s): Magic City
Motto: Billings Pride, City Wide
Location in Yellowstone County and Montana
Location in Yellowstone County and Montana
Location of the state of Montana in the United States
Location of the state of Montana in the United States
Billings, Montana is located in the US
Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 45°47′12″N 108°32′14″W / 45.78667°N 108.53722°W / 45.78667; -108.53722Coordinates: 45°47′12″N 108°32′14″W / 45.78667°N 108.53722°W / 45.78667; -108.53722
Country United States
State Montana
County Yellowstone
Founded 1877
Incorporated 1882
Government
 • Type Mayor-Council
 • Mayor Tom Hanel
 • City Admin. Christina "Tina" Volek
 • Governing body City Council
Area
 • City 43.52 sq mi (112.72 km2)
 • Land 43.41 sq mi (112.43 km2)
 • Water 0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2)
Elevation 3,123 ft (952 m)
Population (2010)
 • City 104,170
 • Estimate (2015) 110,263
 • Rank US: 261st
 • Density 2,399.7/sq mi (926.5/km2)
 • Urban 114,773 (US: 273th)
 • Metro 168,283 (US: 247th)
Time zone Mountain (UTC-7)
 • Summer (DST) Mountain (UTC-6)
ZIP codes 59101-59117
Area code(s) 406
FIPS code 30-06550
GNIS feature ID 0802034
Highways I-90.svg I-94.svg US 87.svg
Website www.cityofbillings.net

Billings is the largest city in the state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area with a population of 166,855. It has a trade area of over half a million people.

Billings is located in the south-central portion of the state and is the seat of Yellowstone County, which had a 2015 population of 157,048. The 2015 Census estimates put the Billings population at 110,263, making it the only city in Montana with over 100,000 people. The city is experiencing rapid growth and a strong economy; it has had and is continuing to have the largest growth of any city in Montana. Parts of the metro area are seeing hyper growth. From 2000 to 2010 Lockwood, an eastern suburb of the city, saw growth of 57.8%, the largest growth rate of any community in Montana. Billings has avoided the economic downturn that affected most of the nation 2008–2012 as well as avoiding the housing bust. With the Bakken oil development in eastern Montana and western North Dakota, the largest oil discovery in U.S. history, as well as the Heath shale oil discovery just north of Billings, the city's already rapid growth rate is escalating.

Billings was nicknamed the "Magic City" because of its rapid growth from its founding as a railroad town in March 1882. The city is named for Frederick H. Billings, a former president of the Northern Pacific Railroad. With one of the largest trade areas in the United States, Billings is the trade and distribution center for much of Montana east of the Continental Divide, Northern Wyoming, and western portions of North Dakota and South Dakota. Billings is also the retail destination for much of the same area. With more hotel accommodations than any area within a five-state region, the city hosts a variety of conventions, concerts, sporting events, and other rallies.


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