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Billings is a city located in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of Montana.

Billings is rapidly growing; As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 89,847, and a 2006 city estimate indicates the city's population has grown to 101,182 (up 10.9% or 11,281 since 2000). Billings is the chief city in the Billings Metropolitan Area and is the county seat of Yellowstone County. In terms of population, it is the largest metropolitan area in Montana. It is nicknamed the Magic City because of its rapid growth from its founding as a railroad town in 1882. It was said that Billings "grew like magic." Billings is named for Frederick H. Billings, president of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Due to Billings' status as the largest city in a 500 mile radius (south-central and eastern Montana and northern Wyoming), it serves as a shopping and accommodation center for area residents and highway travelers. The city's proximity to Yellowstone National Park, Pompey's Pillar, and the area where the Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought also draws a large number of tourists, especially during the summer months. Such traffic in recent years is largely due to Billings being on the most significant highway in Montana, Interstate 90.

History

Prehistory

Most of Billings is located in the Yellowstone Valley, carved out by the Yellowstone River. Over 10 million years ago, this valley was underwater with the tops of the Rims being a prehistoric beach. It is not unusual to find fossilized fish in the area.

19th century

Billings was founded in 1877 and established in 1882 in the Montana Territory near the already-existing town of Coulson. Coulson had been situated on the Yellowstone River, which made it ideal for the commerce that Steamboats brought up the river. However, when the Montana & Minnesota Land Company oversaw the development of potential railroad land, they ignored Coulson, and platted the new town of Billings several miles to the West. When the Northern Pacific Railroad was built, Coulson died as Billings flourished. The land that was once the town of Coulson is now Coulson Park. Northern Pacific Railroad President Frederick Billings, along with other executives of the railroad, bought land in the Yellowstone Valley, then later sold it back to his own railroad. This practice was both legal and common at the time.

20th century

Billings suffered from a major flood in 1937. After World War II, Billings boomed into a major financial, medical and cultural center in the region. In the 1960's, Billings surpassed Great Falls as Montana's largest city. In the 1970's, Billings suffered a short decline in population due to the oil crisis. The population quickly rebounded in the early 1980's and has never declined since. Billings was affected by the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in May; the city received about an inch of ash on the ground. Billings received the All-America City Award in 1992.

21st century

Today Billings continues to be the financial, medical, agriculural, and cultural center in a 500 mile radius and continues to be the "Star of the Big Sky Country." In 2002 Skypoint was completed. Sixteen- and twelve-story mixed-use buildings are proposed for downtown Billings. In 2005, the people of Billings elected former Police Chief Ron Tussing as Mayor. He was sworn in January 9, 2006

Future

Billings has experienced continued growth in the recent years, never declining in population like most of the rest of the eastern portion of the state, as well as most of the Great Plains states. It has avoided this trend by being in close proximity to the mountainous regions of Wyoming and Montana, making it a tourist hotspot.

This growth can be seen all over the city, with a new Wal-Mart and Target popping up in the Heights (making them the second of both in the city, the others are on the West End). New housing subdivisions are crowding a once sparse highway to the nearby town of Laurel and the medical corridor never seems to stop expanding. The population of the city is constantly on the march toward the 100,000 mark. Some see Billings becoming the next Boise, Idaho or Reno, Nevada.

Famous people

More widely famous people who have lived in Billings include Charles Lindbergh, who once worked as a mechanic at the Billings Logan Airport and performed as a barn stormer. "Calamity Jane" Canary also lived in the Billings area toward the end of her life. Arlo Guthrie was briefly a student at Rocky Mountain College. A handful of retired Baseball players were born or lived in Billings including Dave McNally and Jeff Ballard, both who pitched for the Baltimore Orioles, as well as New York Mets pitcher Les Rohr, San Diego Padres pitcher Joe McIntosh and Atlanta Braves pitcher Gary Neibauer. Former NBA players Brad Holland (now Head Coach of the University of San Diego) and Jim Creighton and ABA player Roy McPipe. Also, former NFL player Kirk Scrafford and former NHL player Greg Smith lived in Billings. Current Baltimore Ravens player Dwan Edwards was born in Billings. LPGA golfer Leslie Spalding has lived in Billings her entire life. Famous Biologist Paul V. Casey calls Billings his home. Sportscaster Brent Musburger lived in Billings for several years when he was a youth, as well as ESPN anchor Matt Winer, who did sports for the local news in the early 90's. Deniz Tek of the influential Australian punk band Radio Birdman worked in Billings as a doctor. Movie director John Dahl was born in Billings, as was General Hospital actor Wally Kurth. Famous western artist Will James has a middle-school named after him in Billings, near his original home.

Geography

Billings is located at (45.786553, -108.537139), with two thirds of the city in the Yellowstone Valley, the city being divided into the Valley and the Heights by the Rims, a long cliff, also called the Rimrocks. Billings is surrounded by six mountain ranges, the Beartooth Mountains to the west, the Pryor Mountains and Bighorn Mountains to the south, the Crazy Mountains to the northeast, the Big Snowy Mountains to the north and the Wolf Mountains to the south east.

The Yellowstone River runs through the City. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 106.0 km² (41.0 mi²). 104.7 km² (40.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.33%) is water.

Demographics

Population

Historical populations
Census
year 		Population
1870 145
1880 587
1890 836
1900 3,211
1910 10,031
1920 15,100
1930 16,386
1940 23,261
1950 31,834
1960 52,851
1970 61,581
1980 66,798
1990 81,151
2000 89,847
2006 (Est.) 101,182
2010 (Proj.) 105,746

As of the census of 2000, there were 89,847 people, 37,525 households, and 23,152 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,029.1/km² (2,665.1/mi²). There were 39,293 housing units at an average density of 450.0/km² (1,165.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.87% White, 0.55% African American, 3.44% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.45% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.18% of the population.

There were 37,525 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,147, and the median income for a family was $45,032. Males had a median income of $32,525 versus $21,824 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,207. About 9.2% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

Suburbs

Neighborhoods

  • 27th Street Corridor
  • Airport
  • Alkali Creek
  • Briarwood
  • Downtown Business District
  • Entryway
  • Gregory Hills
  • Heights
  • Lockwood
  • Medical Corridor
  • West End
  • Wilshire Heights
  • South Hills
  • South Side
  • Yellowstone Country Club
  • Ironwood

Mountains

Nearby communities

Government

The mayor of Billings is Ron (Ronald) Tussing. Billings is divided into five city Council Wards.

Public safety

Police Department

Billings Police Department is located in Billings Montana. It is the largest city police force in Montana with about 125 sworn officers/80 civilian employees covering 41 square miles and a population of about 98,000. The Billings police chief is Rich St. John. The Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office which is the Chief law enforcement agency in the county has approximately 200 employees.

Fire Department

Economy

Geographically, Billings has one of the largest trade areas in the United States, serving more than 350,000 people.

Services

Agricultural

Companies

Transportation

Interstates and highways

Interstate 90 runs east/west through Billings. Interstate 94 begins a few miles east of the city limits. U.S. Highway 87 is the north/south highway that begins on the edge on the Heights and is northest of Downtown Billings. Note: US 87 North does not go through Billings, It turns into Main Street in the Heights before connecting to U.S. Highway 87 East.

Major roads

East/West
  • Broadwater Avenue
  • Central Avenue
  • Grand Avenue
  • King Avenue West
  • Poly Drive

North/South

  • 24th Street West
  • Division Street
  • Shiloh Road
  • Main Street
  • North 27th Street

Bus

The Billings METropolitan Transit, the MET, provides public transportation. Greyhound has an eastern terminus at Billings; Rimrock Trailways also provides regional and interstate bus service.

Train

The nearest Amtrak stop is on the Hi-Line, 200 miles north of Billings.

Air

Billings Logan International Airport, located northwest of downtown Billings, offers non-stop service to a number of cities in the western United States and within Montana.

Medical facilities

The Billings Metro Area has two Level II trauma hospitals, St. Vincent Healthcare and the Billings Clinic. Other medical facilites include the Northern Rockies Cancer Center, Rimrock Foundation and various mental health services from Billings Clinic.

Education

K-12

Public
Billings Public Schools operates 21 elementary schools, four middle schools, and three public high schools

Private
The Billings Catholic Schools operates Billings Central Catholic High School (grades 9-12), St. Francis Upper (grades 6-8), St Francis Intermediate (grades 3-5), St Francis Primary, (K-2) and St Francis Daycare.

Trinity Lutheran Church operates Trinity Lutheran School (grades k-8).

Billings Christian School serving grades K-12.

Colleges and universities

Public
Major institutions of higher education are Montana State University-Billings (formerly Eastern Montana Normal School and Eastern Montana College, founded in 1927), Montana State University - College of Technology.

Private
Rocky Mountain College (founded in 1878). Yellowstone Baptist College also offers a limited curriculum.

Culture

Arts

Recreation/Events

There are a number of activities in and around Billings. From hiking, rock climbing, mountain climbing, fishing, art walks, Alive after 5, food fairs and rodeos. Some annual events include:
  • Wine & Food Festival at MSU-Billings - MAY
  • Strawberry Festival under Skypoint - JUN
  • SummerFair at North Park - JUL
  • Battle of the Little Big Horn Re-enactment near Crow Agency, Montana - JUN
  • Farmers Market under Skypoint - Every Saturday JUN to OCT
  • Big Sky State Games - JUL
  • Skyfest (Hot air balloons) - JUL/AUG.
  • MontanaFair at the MetraPark Arena fairgrounds - AUG
  • Crow Fair & Rodeo in Crow Agency, Montana - AUG
  • Burn the Point (classic car show) - SEP in Downtown Billings
  • Harvest Fest - OCT
  • Christmas Parade in Downtown Billings - NOV 24
  • Festival of Trees - DEC
  • The Christmas Stroll in Downtown Billings - DEC.

Media

The Billings Metropolitan Area is served by two major news television stations, four major non-news television stations, one community television station, twenty-two commercial radio stations and one major daily newspaper.

Attractions

Sports

Venues

Photo gallery

Image:Billingscountry.jpg|Out in the country, west of Billings

External links

Cities in Montana | Yellowstone County, Montana | All-America City | Billings Metropolitan Area | County seats in Montana

Billings (Montana) | Billings | Billings, Montana | ビリングス (モンタナ州) | Billings (Montana) | Billings | Billings | Billings

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Billings, Montana".

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