Montana Information

Here is some general information about Montana:

Recommended Reading

State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide

This guide contains information about the symbols, mottoes, flowers, trees, birds, songs, and even license plates for each of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories.

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Name
Offical Name	State of Montana
Nicknames	Big Sky Country, Land of Shining Mountains, Treasure state
Abbreviations	MT, US-MT
Origin of Name	"Mountain" in Spanish

Government
Official Language	English
Admission to Union	8 November 1889
Time Zone	Mountain
Official Web Site	www.mt.gov

Population
Capital	Helena
Largest City	Billings
Population	902,195 (as of 2000 census)
Economy	Agriculture: wheat, barley, sugar beets, oats, rye, seed potatoes, honey, cherries, cattle and sheep ranching, lumber Industry: mineral extraction (gold, coal, silver, talc, vermiculite), tourism

Geography
Area	147,165 square miles (381,156 km²)
Major Rivers	Clark Fork River, Missouri River, Yellowstone River
Major Lakes	Fort Peck Lake, Flathead Lake
Highest Point	Granite Peak - 12,799 feet (3,901 meters)
Bordering States	North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho
Bordering Country	Canada
Bordering Body of Water	None

Symbols
Flag
Motto	"Oro y plata" - Gold and silver
Song	Montana
Ballad	Montana Melody
Slogan	The Last Best Place
Animal	Grizzly Bear
Bird	Western Meadowlark
Butterfly	Mourning Cloak
Fish	Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout
Fossil	Maiasaura Peeblesorum
Flower	Bitterroot
Tree	Ponderosa Pine
Grass	Bluebunch Wheatgrass
Gemstones	Yogo Sapphire, Montana Agate
Soil	Blackdog