Officially named the “Treasure State,” Montana is more commonly known as “Big Sky Country” for its wide-open land and vast wilderness. Known as an agricultural hub of the western United States, Montana is home to sprawling cattle farms and mountain ranches, and is a popular destination for skiers and fishermen alike.

Fun Facts About Montana

• Montana is the 4th largest state in the U.S., but ranks 48th out of 50 in population density.
• Montana is home to Yellowstone National Park.
• The state was named for the Spanish word for “mountain”
• Montana is only slightly larger than the entire country of Japan.
• Well-known Indian tribes that lived in the territory of present-day Montana included the Crow, the Cheyenne, and the Blackfeet.
• There were once over 13 million bison in Montana, but commercial hunting brought them to the verge of extinction in 1884. Now, only around 325 bison remain in the entire country.
• Montana’s statehood was approved by Congress in 1889 along with North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington. President Benjamin Harrison proclaimed Montana the 41st state on November 8, 1889.
• The population of Montana in 2015 was 1,032,949. Montana’s population has been projected to grow by 14.1% between 2013 to 2043.
• Approximately 66,000 people living in Montana are of Native American heritage.
• The Annual Crow Fair and Rodeo, established in 1909, is currently the largest Northern Native American gathering in the country.
• Montana is home to the Federation of Fly Fishers. Fly fishing is roughly a $750 million dollar market in America.
• In 1988, Ted Turner bought the 100,000-plus acre Flying D Ranch southwest of Bozeman for over $20 million.
• Montana is a major destination for skiers. It has 15 developed downhill ski areas.
• At 19.6%, Montana is ranked as the least obese state in the United States.
• In 1916, Montana became the first state to elect a woman to Congress.
• Montana is one of five states that does not have a sales tax.
• The state animal is a grizzly bear.

Montana’s population is growing; however, employment of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers is projected to decline over the next 10 years. The state is seeing a shift in demographic, leading some to wonder about the fate of the state’s economy and agriculture industry.
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