Billings, Montana
Billings, MT is where the Old and the New West Meets. It can be considered the heart of Montana State since it is the largest city in the state. For those who want to enjoy the adventure and the excitement of the West and at the same time, have all the comforts and amenities modern cities offer, Billings MT is the only place to be. One can explore the old West trails, the mountains and the caves or simply enjoy the beautiful surroundings, go shopping, dine with friends or family or watch a rodeo or an exhibit.
Going to and getting around the city is easy and inexpensive. For many who live within short distance to the city, they enjoy taking their horses on a ride to the city. But for those visiting from other places, there are other convenient ways to visit the city. There are daily direct flights to Billings from Seattle, WA, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Denver, CO and Salt Lake City, UT. There are several flights a week from Phoenix, AZ, Billings, NV and Los Angeles, CA. Then there are regular seasonal flights from Chicago, IL. Now, around the city, there are different transportation services one can choose from, including recreation. vehicle, limousine service, taxi services and others. Of course there is the public transport system, Billings Metropolitan Transit.
Billings is a great place to live in. There are intriquing options in entertainment, education, affordable living and many other benefits the city offers its residents. Many businesses in the city also thrive.
Billings History
The area of Billings has been a major travel route for many migratory people in the past, such as the Sioux, Cheyenne and the Crow. Today, many of their cave drawings can still be seen in the many sites in around Billings. In 1806 Lewis and Clark expedition passed the city and climbed Pompey's Pillar. Billings, unlike other cities, did not become a settlement of the European Explorations. This is because of the strong resistance of the people or the tribes who are in the area during that time. The natives were ready to fight for their lands and refused even the US army into settling in the area. One example is the Sioux War. There was also the Battle of the Little Big Horn which happened only 65 miles of Billings.
In 1882 Billings was founded by the Northern Pacific Railroad. The region was named after the president of the Northern Pacific Railroad, Frederick Billings. As a rail hub it soon had more than 2,000 people settling in the area within six months. The city was later incorporated in 1885. The people soon realized that the city was good for cattle grazing. Ranches were established around the city and by the early twentieth century homesteaders soon arrived in the area. Many families arrived with their possessions in freight cars. They received 40 acre land from which they built their farms. Although the elements were rough, many of them succeeded in establishing profitable farms.
By 1879, irrigation became available in Yellowstone Valley. Farmers grew sugar beet and by 1906, the first sugar refinery was built in the city. As the city's farms grew more laborers were needed to tend to the farms and the fields. Immigrants then started arriving in the city. The Japanese, the Russo Germans and the Mexicans came to the city to find work in the farms. The Russo Germans soon had their own lands that by 1940 they were one third of the population of the city.
The City of Billings grew economically during the twentieth century. This was primarily because of the abundant natural resources in the area. There was even a time when it was the largest shipping point of wool in the country. Also in 1933 livestock industry boomed in the city after the sugar refinery had installed pulp drying equipment which enabled animals to eat beet pulp. With such agricultural and industrial growth, by 1938 over 600,000 acres of land was being irrigated.
Then by the end of the homestead era, the oil production began. Natural gas was also soon discovered. By the end of the Second World War, the city became a major cultural, medical and financial center of Montana. And with the many attractions in the city, it was also developed to meet the demands of its citizens as well as accommodate the needs of the many tourists who come to the city for its many attractions.
About Billings, Montana
Billings, MT is also known as The Magic City because when the railroad reached the city, the population exploded rapidly which gave the people an impression of magic. Today, it seems more appropriate to call Billings a magic city because it has so many things up its sleeves for residents and visitors alike, regardless of their age and their tastes. So aside from the fact that the city is on continuous economic growth because of oil in the city and because it is the major distribution center for Wyoming, North and South Dakota and the rest of Montana, the City of Billings is its many attractions and destinations. Some of the major attractions of the city are the Yellowstone National Park, Little Bighorn National Monument, Chief Plenty Coups State Park, Red Lodge Mountain Resort, Pompey's Pillar, Bighhorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Zoo Montana, Pictograph Cave and Beartooth Mountain.
Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872. The park extends to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. It is now one of the most famous parks in the country and about two million tourists visit it every year. The park is one of the best places for hunting (only in surrounding forests), camping, hiking, fishing and other outdoor activities. It also has a museum and nine other visitor centers. The place also has several protected lands, such as the Caribou-Targhee, Custer, Bridger-Teton National Forests, Gellatin and Shoshone. Bighhorn Canyon National Recreation Area offers the beauty of the forest, mountains, prairie, canyons, valleys, lakes, desert and wetlands. It is simply one of the best recreation areas in the country. It has two visitor centers and other facilities for outdoor activities.
Pompey's Pillar National Monument, a natural rock formation, is where visitors can see the drawings on the rocks from people who have in the past come to the area for various reasons. It is also the place where visitors can see the trail of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. On one of the rocks is the signature of Captain William Clark which he signed in 1806. Visitors can also enjoy the Lewis and Clark Tour offered in Pompey.
Aside from these major attractions, visitors can enjoy the trips and tours available in the city. One can go for the "Best of the West", a two day country scenic tour into the badlands, highlands and flatlands. Then there are tours such as the Historic Billings Tours, such as Calamity Jane Stomping Ground Tour, Western Hat and Suds Tour, Slice of the Country Tour, and Tour de Chocolate. The City of Billings also has some of the best restaurants, spas and other modern amenities and facilities so visitors can pamper themselves after an exciting and exhausting outdoor activity.
About Yellowstone County, Montana
Billings belongs to Yellowstone County, Montana. It is located in south central Montana and the most populous county of the state. Billings is its county seat and its largest city. The county was established in 1883. It has a total land area of 2,635 sq. m. and 13.9 sq. m. of water. The cost of living index in the county is less than the US average at 86.7. The major employment of the city is educational, social service and health, followed by retail trade, and followed by recreation, arts, entertainment and food services.
The county is diverse, with the majority of the population comprising White, followed by Hispanic or Latino, American Indian and Alaska Native, with minority lead by two or more races, Asians and African Americans. Its neighboring counties are Big Horn County, Carbon County, Golden Valley County, Musselshell County, Rosebud County, Stillwater County and Treasure County.
The county has several notable locations, including Fortney Ranch, Mitchell Y-P Ranch, Broadview Pond Fishing Access Site, Webster School, Buffalo Mirage Fishing Access Site, Voyagers Rest Fishing Access Site, Captain Clark Fishing Access Site, Vermillion Ranch, Popelka Ranch, Pompeys Pillar Fishing Access Site, PK Ranch and Pine View. Its parks are the Pompeys Pillar National Historic Landmark, Pictograph Cave State Park and Place Where the White Horse Went Down Historical Marker. It also has several lakes and reservoirs, including Twin Lakes, Anita Reservoir, Broadview Pond, Rattlesnake Reservoir and Alkali Pond. The cemeteries in Yellowstone are the Laurel Cemetery, Holy Cross Cemetery, Comanche Cemetery, Huntley Cemetery, Riverside Cemetery and Hoskins Basin Cemetery. The major highways of Yellowstone County are Interstate 90, Interstate 94, US Highway 12, US Highway 87, US Highway 212, US Highway 310, US Highway 312, Montana Highway 3 and Montana Highway 47.
The cities of the county are Billings and Laurel. It has one town, Broadview. Other communities in the county are Acton community, Comanche community, Hesper community and Pompey's Pillar community. The national protected areas in the county are the Ne Perce National Historical Park, which part of it lies in the county, and the Pompey's Pillar National Monument.