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Montana (state)

State of Montana
Flag of Montana State seal of Montana
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): Big Sky Country, The Treasure State
Motto(s): Oro y Plata (Gold and Silver)
Map of the United States with Montana highlighted
Official language English
Demonym Montanan
Capital Helena
Largest city Billings
Largest metro Billings Metropolitan Area
Area Ranked 4th
 • Total 147,040 sq mi
(380,800 km2)
 • Width 630 miles (1,015 km)
 • Length 255 miles (410 km)
 • % water 1
 • Latitude 44° 21′ N to 49° N
 • Longitude 104° 2′ W to 116° 3′ W
Population Ranked 44th
 • Total 1,042,520 (2016 est.)
 • Density 7.09/sq mi  (2.73/km2)
Ranked 48th
 • Median household income $51,395 (37th)
Elevation
 • Highest point Granite Peak
12,807 ft (3903.5 m)
 • Mean 3,400 ft  (1040 m)
 • Lowest point Kootenai River at Idaho border
1,804 ft (557 m)
Before statehood Montana Territory
Admission to Union November 8, 1889 (41st)
Governor Steve Bullock (D)
Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney (D)
Legislature Montana Legislature
 • Upper house Senate
 • Lower house House of Representatives
U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D)
Steve Daines (R)
U.S. House delegation Greg Gianforte (R) (list)
Time zone Mountain: UTC -7/-6
ISO 3166 US-MT
Abbreviations MT, Mont.
Website www.mt.gov
Montana state symbols
Flag of Montana.svg
Seal of Montana.svg
Living insignia
Bird Western meadowlark
Butterfly Mourning cloak
Fish Westslope cutthroat trout
Flower Bitterroot
Mammal Grizzly bear
Tree Ponderosa pine
Inanimate insignia
Fossil Petrified wood
Gemstone Sapphire, Agate
Motto Spanish: Oro Y Plata
(Gold and Silver)
Slogan Big Sky Country
Song "Montana"
State route marker
Montana state route marker
State quarter
Montana quarter dollar coin
Released in 2007
Lists of United States state symbols

Montana /mɒnˈtænə/ is a state in the northwestern region of the United States. The state's name is derived from the Spanish word montaña (mountain). Montana has several nicknames, although none official, including "Big Sky Country" and "The Treasure State", and slogans that include "Land of the Shining Mountains" and more recently "The Last Best Place".

Montana is the 4th largest in area, the 7th least populous, and the 3rd sparsely populated of the 50 U.S. states. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller island ranges are found throughout the state. In total, 77 named ranges are part of the Rocky Mountains. The eastern half of Montana is characterized by western prairie terrain and badlands.

The economy is primarily based on agriculture, including ranching and cereal grain farming. Other significant economic activities include oil, gas, coal and hard rock mining, lumber, and the fastest-growing sector, tourism. The health care, service, and government sectors also are significant to the state's economy. Millions of tourists annually visit Glacier National Park, the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, and Yellowstone National Park.


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