Introduction to Geography of Montana
Montana, one of the Mountain states of the United States. It is bounded on the north by the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan; on the east by North and South Dakota; on the south by Wyoming and Idaho; and on the west by Idaho.
Montana is the fourth largest state (after Alaska, Texas, and California). Montana has a total area of 147,046 square miles (380,850 km 2).
Montana's state bird is the western meadowlark.Montana in briefGeneral informationStatehood: Nov. 8, 1889, the 41st state.State abbreviations: Mont. (traditional); MT (postal).State capital: Helena, Montana's capital since 1875. Earlier capitals were Bannack (1864-1865) and Virginia City (1865-1875).State motto: Oro y Plata (Gold and Silver).Popular name: The Treasure State.State song: "Montana." Words by Charles C. Cohen; music by Joseph E. Howard.Symbols of MontanaState bird: Western meadowlark.State flower: Bitterroot.State tree: Ponderosa pine.State flag and seal: Montana's state flag, adopted in 1905, has a version of the state seal on a blue background. The word Montana was added to the flag in 1981. On the state seal, adopted in 1893, the mountains and the Great Falls of the Missouri River symbolize Montana's vast natural resources. The plow stands for agriculture, and the pick and shovel represent mining. The state motto is on a ribbon.Land and climateArea: 147,047 mi2 (380,849 km2), including 1,490 mi2 (3,859 km2) of inland water.Elevation: Highest--Granite Peak, 12,799 ft (3,901 m) above sea level. Lowest--1,800 ft. (549 m) above sea level along the Kootenai River in Lincoln County.Record high temperature: 117 °F (47 °C) at Glendive on July 20, 1893, and at Medicine Lake on July 5, 1937.Record low temperature: –70 °F (–57 °C) at Rogers Pass on Jan. 20, 1954.Average July temperature: 68 °F (20 °C).Average January temperature: 18 °F (–8 °C).Average yearly precipitation: 15 in (38 cm).PeoplePopulation: 902,195.Rank among the states: 44th.Density: 6 per mi2 (2 per km2), U.S. average 78 per mi2 (30 per km2).Distribution: 54 percent urban, 46 percent rural.Largest cities in Montana: Billings (89,847); Missoula (57,053); Great Falls (56,690); Butte (34,606); Bozeman (27,509); Helena (25,780).EconomyChief productsAgriculture: barley, beef cattle, hay, milk, sugar beets, wheat.Manufacturing: food products, machinery, refined petroleum, wood products.Mining: coal, copper, gold, natural gas, palladium, petroleum, platinum.GovernmentState governmentGovernor: 4-year term.State senators: 50; 4-year terms.State representatives: 100; 2-year terms.Counties: 56.Federal governmentUnited States senators: 2.United States representatives: 1.Electoral votes: 3.Sources of informationFor information about tourism, write to: Department of Commerce, Travel Montana, 301 S. Park Avenue, P.O. Box 200533, Helena, MT 59620. The Web site at http://www.visitmt.com also provides information.For information on the economy, write to: Department of Commerce, Census and Economic Information Center, 301 S. Park Avenue, P. O. Box 200505, Helena, MT 59620. The state's official Web site at http://www.discoveringmontana.com also provides a gateway to much information on Montana's economy, government, and history.Physical Geography
Montana is a state in the western part of the United States that lies along the Canadian border.LandMontana lies in two major physical regions of the United States: the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains.
The Rocky Mountain region spans the western two-fifths of the state and consists of more than 40 ranges. They trend northwest-southeast but occasionally join in complex knots. Capped by peaks of 8,000 to almost 13,000 feet (2,440 to 3,960 m), the ranges vary from low, rounded chains to ones of rugged alpine beauty.
Lewis and Clark Range, in the north, forms the majestic, glacier-carved backbone of Glacier National Park. Fringing most of the Idaho-Montana border is the Bitterroot Range. Its southern crest line, like that of the Lewis and Clark Range, forms part of the Continental Divide. Montana's highest point is Granite Peak, which reaches 12,799 feet (3,901 m). It lies in the Absaroka Range a short distance northeast of Montana's part of Yellowstone National Park. Also in the Rockies is the lowest point in the state—the valley of the Kootenai River at the Idaho border. Its elevation is about 1,800 feet (549 m).
In the northern part of the Rockies, other ranges include the Cabinet Mountains and the Swan and Mission ranges. In the central section are the Big Belt Mountains and the Garnet and Anaconda ranges. In the southern part are the Pioneer Mountains and the Ruby, Madison, and Gallatin ranges.
The Great Plains region, sometimes called the Missouri Plateau, lies at elevations of roughly 2,000 to 5,000 feet (600 to 1,520 m) and stretches eastward from the Rockies over the rest of Montana. This region consists mainly of rolling to rough grassy plains. There are also badlands, buttes, high mesas, steep-sided river valleys, and isolated mountains and ranges that lie away from the main body of the Rockies. Among the mountains are the Little Rocky, Bears Paw, and Big Snowy.
Montana's state flower is the bitterroot.WaterMontana's rivers drain to the sea by way of three major basins—westward in the Columbia basin to the Pacific Ocean, eastward in the Missouri-Mississippi basin to the Gulf of Mexico, and northward in the Saskatchewan-Nelson basin to Hudson Bay.
Most of the state is drained by the Missouri River. It is formed by the junction of the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers in the southwest and flows northward through mountainous terrain in deep gorges and over numerous falls. On the Great Plains, the Missouri flows eastward into North Dakota. Among the river's main tributaries are the Teton, Marias, and Milk rivers from the north and the Musselshell and Yellowstone rivers from the south. Feeding the Yellowstone are the Bighorn, Tongue, and Powder rivers. The only other major streams are the Clark Fork, Flathead, and Kootenai rivers in the northwest.
Dotting the mountains are many natural lakes, including numerous small glacial tarns at high elevations. The largest lake is Flathead Lake, with an area of 197 square miles (510 km 2 ). Reservoirs, created mainly as part of the Missouri River Basin project, predominate on the Great Plains. The largest is Fort Peck Lake, impounded by Fort Peck Dam. Other reservoirs include Lake Elwell and Fresno Reservoir on the plains, and Canyon Ferry and Hungry Horse reservoirs in the mountains.
ClimateMontana's climate varies enormously, mainly because of elevation differences within the state and the barrier effect of the mountains. East of the Rockies the severe continental climate of interior North America prevails, west of the Rockies the more temperate maritime climate of the Pacific Northwest. Thus, the western valleys have milder winters and cooler summers than do the eastern plains.
On the plains, winters are long and cold. January averages vary from about 8° to 26° F. (-13° to -3° C.), the coldest area being the northeast. There are many days with temperatures below 0° F. (-18° C.). Blizzards periodically strike the state, but few of them pass westward over the Rockies. Occasional warm periods come to the plains with chinook winds from the mountains. Summers on the plains are warm to hot, July temperatures averaging about 60° to 75° F. (16° to 24° C.); days are hot, nights cool.
Precipitation varies locally. On the plains it comes mainly during early summer and ranges from 10 to 20 inches (250–500 mm). Northwestern valleys receive as much as 35 inches (900 mm); the mountains, up to 100 inches (2,540 mm). Snowfall, too, is highly variable, ranging from as little as 20 inches (500 mm) on the plains to 300 inches (7,620 mm) in the mountains. Droughts occur occasionally. Hailstorms and tornadoes are among the destructive storms.
ForestsGreat coniferous forests of pine, fir, and spruce cover the slopes of the western mountains. About two-thirds of the timberlands are of commercial value; most are federally controlled. The forests make up one of hte chief economic resources of the western part of the state.
Interesting facts about MontanaGrasshopper Glacier, in the Custer National Forest, in south-central Montana, is named for the swarms of grasshoppers that became trapped in its ice long ago and can still be seen.Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge, in north-central Montana, is one of the most productive waterfowl nesting sites in the United States. Tens of thousands of waterfowl and shore birds are raised there annually.Bibles were first placed in hotel rooms in October 1908 in Iron Mountain (now Superior). Members of Gideons International, an association of Christian businessmen and professionals, placed them in the Superior Hotel.One of the richest deposits of gold ever found in the United States was discovered at Alder Gulch (now Virginia City) in 1863. Within a year, about 10,000 people had settled within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of the site.Giant Springs, in Great Falls, is among the largest springs in the world. Each day, about 156 million gallons (591 million liters) of water gush out of the ground there.More gem sapphires are found in Montana than in any other state.Montana's state tree is the ponderosa pine.Economy
The Montana quarter features a bison skull above a landscape of mountains and plains. The Rocky Mountains cover the western two-fifths of Montana, and the Great Plains stretch from the mountains to the state's eastern border. The bison skull was an important ceremonial symbol for Plains Indians.Service industries account for the biggest part of Montana's economy and employs most, or about 80 per cent, of the state's workers. Among other leading service industries in Montana are education, business, government, health care, wholesale and retail trade, tourism, hotels, finance, insurance, restaurants, real estate, transportation, and communication. In rural areas of the state, cattle ranching, wheat farming, and the mining of minerals and metals are among Montana's major economic activities.
During the past several decades the production of timber, crude petroleum, and coal and the emergence of manufacturing activities have helped bolster and diversify the economy. They have also helped ease unemployment brought on by the mechanization of farming, ranching, and copper mining. Tourism, based primarily on scenic attractions and sports and recreational activities in the mountains, is of rapidly increasing importance.
Agriculture. Beef cattle and wheat normally account for about three-fourths of all farm income in the state. Montana ranks among the top wheat-producing states in the United States. Barley, dairy products, hay, sugar beets, dry beans, potatoes, and black cherries are also important crops in Montana's farm economy. Farms are highly mechanized and average about 2,500 acres (1,010 hectares)—more than five times the national average. The state's 28,000 farms and ranches cover about two-thirds of Montana's land area. Montana is also home to some of the nation's largest cattle ranches. Farmers raise dairy cattle, hogs, and sheep.
Mining. Montana is an important source of copper, gold, lead, and silver. The Williston Basin, along the North Dakota border, leads in petroleum production in the state. Montana has four petroleum refineries. It also has many sawmills that manufacture much lumber and wood products, such plywood, telephone poles, and prefabricated houses. The southeast part of the state leads in natural gas production; and most of the coal in Montana is obtained from surface mines. Montana is the leading producer of talc in the nation. Talc is used in ceramics, paint and cosmetics. The state also produces sand and gravel, and limestone, which is used in cement. Factories produce aluminum, machinery, and paper products.
A major part of Montana's food-processing industry consists of milk processing, meat packing, grain milling, and the bottling of soft drinks.
Annual events in MontanaJanuary-March"Race to the Sky" Sled Dog Race in the Helena and Seeley Lake area (February); Winter Carnival in Whitefish (February); C. M. Russell Western Art Auction in Great Falls (March); National Ski-Joring Finals in Red Lodge (March); Butte’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration (March).April-JuneInternational Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula (April); Miles City Bucking Horse Sale (May); Bigfork Whitewater Festival (May); Governor's Cup Marathon in Helena (June); Lewis & Clark Festival in Great Falls (June); Custer's Last Stand Reenactment in Hardin (June); Libby Logger Days (June); Red Bottom Celebration in Frazer (June).July-SeptemberNorth American Indian Days in Browning (July); Wild Horse Stampede rodeo in Wolf Point (July); Bannack Days at Bannack State Park (July); Big Skyfest in Billings (July); Montana State Fair and Rodeo in Great Falls (July); Festival of Nations in Red Lodge (August); Northwest Montana Fair in Kalispell (August); Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Lewistown (August); Threshing Bee and Antique Show in Culbertson (September); Festival of the Book in Missoula (September); “Running of the Sheep” Sheep Drive in Reed Point (September).October-DecemberWest Yellowstone’s Rendezvous Nordic Ski Camp (November); Christmas at the Moss Mansion in Billings (December); Mondak Ethnic Christmas Celebration in Sidney (December); Cowboy Christmas Ball in Big Sky (December); Christmas Stroll in Bozeman (December); “First Night,” Missoula’s New Year’s Eve celebration (December).Government
Montana's State Capitol is in Helena, the capital since 1875.Montana's current Constitution went into effect in 1973. It replaced the constitution of 1889. Montana's governor and lieutenant governor are elected to four-year terms and may be reelected any number of times. Neither may seek reelection for the same office if they have already held the position for 8 years during a 16-year period. These officials can only be reelected by write-in vote. The governor appoints key officials in executive departments and many state institutions. The attorney general, auditor, secretary of state, and superintendent of public instruction are also elected to four-year terms. They must follow the same term limits as the governor and lieutenant governor.
The state's Legislature is composed of a 50-member Senate and a 100-member House of Representatives. Senators serve a four-year term and may serve no more than two terms in a 16-year period. Representatives are elected to a two-year term and may serve no more than four terms in 16 years.
The highest court in Montana is the state Supreme Court. The six associate justices and one chief justice of the Supreme Court are elected by the voters to eight-year terms. The state judiciary also consists of district courts, municipal courts, police courts, and justice of the peace courts.
Many of Montana's cities and towns have a mayor-council form of government. Several other cities use the council-manager system.