Community Overview

Welcome to Montana!! “Big Sky Country”

Dubbed ‘Big Sky Country’, Montana is the 4th largest state in total land area and is composed of vast rolling prairie land in the east and rugged Rocky Mountain peaks in the west. The Missouri is the state’s most important river, which forms the region in central Montana known as the Missouri Breaks. Other major rivers include the Flathead and Yellowstone rivers, the latter being the longest river in North America without a dam. Glacier National Park in the extreme north of the state is one of the most striking nature reserves in the world. The state is also home to the largest population of American Bison. Cheyenne, Crow, and Blackfeet were just a few of the numerous Native Indian tribes that had settled in the area for over a thousand years. Spurred on by the discovery of gold and copper in the region, the U.S. Government established the Territory of Montana on May 26th, 1864. The Territory was the scene of the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, where General George Armstrong Custer made his last stand against an overwhelming force of Native Indian tribes led by Crazy Horse. Some 13 years later, Montana became the 41st state to be admitted to the Union.

Despite its large geographic size, Montana has just over one million people in the state, making it 44th in terms of population. The largest city is Billings, a major transport and tourist hub, and the capital is Helena. Other major cities include Butte, on the edge of the Rocky Mountain peaks, and Missoula, a cultural hot spot and university town. Agriculture is arguably the most important economic sector, with cattle, wheat, and barley leading the way. Mining and lumber products are also important industries. A growing and traditionally important economic sector is tourism, with largely unspoiled mountain ranges, excellent fishing and hunting, and large National Parks.

Visit Billings Guidebook

To us, the best people in the world are outsiders. People who embrace pure, unencumbered montana in all its forms. Rock walls. Mighty rivers. Mountains stretching into big, blue skies. But it’s also the people who go against the grain and believe that normal just isn’t good enough. People who crave boldness and authenticity, rather than settling for the same old. Billings was built on that outsider spirit. That despite appearances and naysayers, no climb was too steep. No trail was too rocky. No burger was too juicy. On the idea that staying true to our roots is more important than fitting in with everyone and everything else. That’s what is great about Billings. We’ve been authentic Montana since 1882. And maybe that makes us the outsiders of the bunch. Not sure about you, but that’s just fine with us. Because as we say: forge your own path.

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Billings, Montana

Billings is a community of 150,000 and is the largest city in the state. The catchment area of over 800,000 goes east to the North Dakota border, north to the Canadian border, west to about halfway to Great Falls, and south into the northern parts of Wyoming.

You will find the state of Montana to have a western feel for those people that have a sense of adventure. The type of person that relocates to Montana enjoys the outdoors. The largest landowner, Ted Turner, owns about 2% of the land. This is all protected land that is not slated for development. Montana does not have a state sales tax and is the fourth largest state behind Alaska, Texas, and California. The western part of the state is where you will find the northern edge of the Rocky Mountains. Our state capital, Helena is located here. Our next largest city is Great Falls located close to the center of the state. Billings is about 2 hours west of Great Falls.

The Montana economy is based on energy, agriculture, and tourism and has an unemployment rate of about 4%. The eastern part of the state has benefited economically from the Bakkan Basin oil shale deposit. The majority of the deposit is located in western North Dakota and parts of Northwestern South Dakota. Montana has been providing support services to the development and employment opportunities in the eastern region of Montana have been excellent; Billings is one of the beneficiaries of this development.

Wheat, corn, barley, and sugar beet processing also provide economic opportunity in the region. Major employers include both hospitals, universities, Wells Fargo (900 employees), General Electric (300 employees in its finance division), and First Interstate (200+ employees). Billings is at the convergence of four states’ high-speed internet services.

Most of the area’s residents go to Red Lodge for skiing, hiking, and other mountain activities about 60 minutes west of town. On a clear day, you can see the ski runs from Billings. Charles Kuralt calls the Bear Tooth Mountains, where Red Lodge is located, “The Most Scenic Drive in America”. On the other side of the Bear Tooth Mountains, you enter Yellowstone National Park about an hour and a half away.

You will find most of your box stores in Billings. Billings is the regional center of commerce for eastern Montana. The west side of Billings is where you will find most of the retail and housing growth in the area. Sam’s Club and Cabella’s are the exceptions being located on the east side of town just off Interstate 90. On the west side, you will find Costco, Super Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy, Cost Plus World Market, Old Navy, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, and Kohl’s. Billings also has a 14-screen theatre next to the Kohl’s on Shiloh Avenue.

Billings International Airport has direct flights to 8 major hubs, so you will be able to get anywhere you want to go on direct flights or 1-connection.