Montana, state in the western United States, the northernmost of the Rocky Mountain states. Montana is called the Treasure State because of its mineral wealth. The name Montana comes from the Spanish word meaning ''mountainous'' and was first used when the area was designated a territory in 1864. Montana entered the Union on November 8, 1889, as the 41st state. Helena is the capital. Billings is the largest city.
Although many people consider Montana completely mountainous, two-thirds of the state is part of the Great Plains. From the majestic peaks of Glacier National Park in the northwest to the comparatively level terrain near the eastern border the Montana landscape is one of great beauty, an ever-changing panorama of forest and prairie, highland and broad valley.
Tourism is a leading source of income. Easterners were attracted to Montana as early as the late 19th century, and Montana's dude ranches have been popular since they first opened in 1920. Today, Yellowstone and Glacier national parks and the numerous state parks and recreation and wilderness areas are leading summer attractions. More than 6 million tourists visit Yellowstone and Glacier national parks annually. The state has many popular winter ski resorts, including Red Lodge Mountain; Big Mountain, near Whitefish; Montana Snow Bowl, near Missoula; and Big Sky and Bridger Bowl, near Bozeman.
Montana's history has been turbulent. The region experienced an early and active fur-trading era. With the discovery of gold it developed a vigorous and wealthy mining frontier and later saw a brief but exciting period of the open-range cattle industry. Eventually, dryland and irrigated agriculture spread into many parts of the state. Today despite the arrival of urbanization and modern society, much of the old flavor of the frontier West survives in Montana.
