Capital: Helena
Population: 902,195
Governor: Brian Schweitzer (D, to January 2009)
Entered the Union: November 8, 1889 as the 41st state
Motto: Oro y plata (Gold and Silver)
Nickname: Treasure state
Flower: Bitterroot
Bird: Western Meadowlark
Song: Montana
Sports: Teams None
Origin of Name: Chosen from Latin dictionary by J. M. Ashley; it is a Latinized Spanish word meaning "mountainous"
Major Industries: Wheat, barley, rye, oats, flaxseed, sugar beets, and potatoes, and sheep and cattle raising
Historical Sites: Custer Battlefield National Monument in Hardin, Museum of the Plains Indians in Browning, Fort Union Trading Post, and Grant-Kohr's Ranch National Historic Sites
Points of Interest: Glacier National Park on the Continental Divide and Yellowstone National Park
Bordering States: Montana borders North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho.
Source: State of Montana
Population, 2006 estimate: 944,632
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006: 4.7%
Population, 2000: 902,195
Persons under 5 years old, percent, 2006: 6.1%
Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2006: 23.1%
Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2006: 13.8%
Female persons, percent, 2006: 50.0%
White persons, percent, 2006 (a): 90.8%
Black persons, percent, 2006 (a): 0.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2006 (a): 6.4%
Asian persons, percent, 2006 (a): 0.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2006 (a): 0.1%
Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2006: 1.6%
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2006 (b): 2.5%
White persons not Hispanic, percent, 2006: 88.7%
Living in same house in 1995 and 2000, pct 5 yrs old & over: 53.6%
Foreign born persons, percent, 2000: 1.8%
Language other than English spoken at home, pct age 5+, 2000: 5.2%
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000: 87.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2000: 24.4%
Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000: 145,732
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16+, 2000: 17.7
Housing units, 2006: 432,023
Homeownership rate, 2000: 69.1%
Housing units in multi-unit structures, percent, 2000: 15.7%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2000: $99,500
Source: U.S.Census Bureau
(a) Includes persons reporting only one race.
(b) Hispanics may be of any race, so also are included in applicable race categories.
Total Gross Domestic Product by State: 29,915
Private industries: 25,066
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting: 1,295
Crop and animal production (Farms): 1,091
Forestry, fishing, and related activities: 204
Mining: 1,449
Oil and gas extraction: 503
Mining, except oil and gas: 610
Support activities for mining: 336
Utilities: 1,052
Construction: 1,990
Manufacturing: 1,383
Durable goods: 858
Wood product manufacturing: 377
Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing: 98
Primary metal manufacturing: 25
Fabricated metal product manufacturing: 65
Machinery manufacturing: 100
Computer and electronic product manufacturing: 33
Electrical equipment and appliance manufacturing: 5
Motor vehicle, body, trailer, and parts manufacturing: 13
Other transportation equipment manufacturing: 13
Furniture and related product manufacturing: 37
Miscellaneous manufacturing: 92
Nondurable goods: 525
Food product manufacturing: 141
Textile and textile product mills: 6
Apparel manufacturing: 5
Paper manufacturing: 79
Printing and related support activities: 41
Petroleum and coal products manufacturing: 179
Chemical manufacturing: 61
Plastics and rubber products manufacturing: 15
Wholesale trade: 1,634
Retail trade: 2,162
Transportation and warehousing, excluding Postal Service: 1,293
Air transportation: 42
Rail transportation: 558
Water transportation: 1
Truck transportation: 419
Transit and ground passenger transportation: 37
Pipeline transportation: 47
Other transportation and support activities: 181
Warehousing and storage: 7
Information: 859
Publishing including software: 173
Motion picture and sound recording industries: 18
Broadcasting and telecommunications: 604
Information and data processing services: 65
Finance and insurance: 1,470
Federal Reserve banks, credit intermediation and related services: 899
Securities, commodity contracts, investments: 126
Insurance carriers and related activities: 440
Funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles: 5
Real estate and rental and leasing: 3,529
Real estate: 3,350
Rental and leasing services and lessors of intangible assets: 178
Professional and technical services: 1,413
Legal services: 290
Computer systems design and related services: 196
Other professional, scientific and technical services: 926
Management of companies and enterprises: 63
Administrative and waste services: 601
Administrative and support services: 536
Waste management and remediation services: 65
Educational services: 119
Health care and social assistance: 2,685
Ambulatory health care services: 1,170
Hospitals and nursing and residential care facilities: 1,269
Social assistance: 246
Arts, entertainment, and recreation: 369
Performing arts, museums, and related activities: 59
Amusement, gambling, and recreation: 310
Accommodation and food services: 967
Accommodation: 343
Food services and drinking places: 624
Other services, except government: 733
Government: 4,850
Federal civilian: 1,072
Federal military: 517
State and local: 3,260
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Longitude: 104° 2'W to 116° 2'W
Latitude: 44° 26'N to 49°N
Greatest Dimensions: Montana is about 559 miles from east to west and about 321 miles from north to south.
Geographic Center: The geographic center of Montana is located in Fergus County, 11 miles W of Lewistown.
Borders: Montana is bordered by Canada on the north and by Idaho and Wyoming on the south. On the east, Montana is bordered by North and South Dakota and on the west Montana is bordered by Idaho.
Total Area: Montana covers 147,046 square miles, making it the 4th largest of the 50 states right after Alaska, Texas, and California.
Land Area: 145,556 square miles of Montana are land areas.
Water Area: 1,490 square miles of Montana are covered by water.
Highest Point: The highest point in Montana is Granite Peak at 12,799 feet above sea level.
Lowest Point: The lowest point in Montana is the Kootenai River at 1,800 feet above sea level.
Mean Elevation: The Mean Elevation of the state of Montana is 3,400 feet above sea level.
Major Rivers: Clark Fork River, Missouri River, Yellowstone River
Major Lakes: Flathead Lake, Fort Peck Lake
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
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