Montana
Montana is located in the Western United States and shares a long border with Canada. With an area of 147,040 square miles (380,800 km²) and a population of about 1.1 million, it is one of the largest and at the same time one of the most sparsely populated states. In appreciation of its vast expanses of untouched nature and seemingly endless horizons, Montana is also known as "The Big Sky Country".
Before Europeans entered the region, it was inhabited by many indigenous peoples, including the Crow, Cheyenne, Blackfeet, Assiniboine, Gros Ventres, Kootenai, Salish, Pend d'Oreille and Kalispel. The first permanent European settlement was not established until 1841. However, the Lewis and Clark Expedition traversed, explored and mapped Montana after most of the territory was acquired by the United States through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The remaining portion was recognized by the British as U.S. possession through the Oregon Treaty of 1846. In 1889, Montana was admitted to the Union as the 41st state.
The state motto "Oro y Plata" (Spanish for "Gold and Silver") pays tribute to Montana's rich mineral resources. Gold was discovered at Gold Creek in 1852, followed by other important minerals such as silver, copper, lead and coal. The mining town of Bannack, founded in 1862, was a major site of the gold rush. Today it is a ghost town and a National Historic Landmark.
A number of large battles between Native Americans and the U.S. Army took place in Montana. The most prominent of these was the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, in which the combined forces of several tribes won a great victory.
The westslope cutthroat trout is Montana's state fish and has been designated a fish of special concern due to its importance to the ecosystem. It owes its name to the red stripes on its lower jaw.
Facts
- Capital city: Helena
- Largest city: Billings
- Area: 147,040 square miles (380,800 km²)
- Population: 1.1 million
- Date of statehood: 8th November 1889
- Rank of the admission: 41st
Montana Folding Card
Montana's wilderness is the habitat of a variety of animals, including the grizzly bear. After Alaska, the state is home to the largest population in the United States. Among its favorite prey are trout. This note from the 50 U.S. States Program focuses on Montana's nature and its state animals. It features the head of a grizzly bear, a jumping westslope cutthroat trout, a geographic depiction of Montana with the abbreviation MT, a pine cone, the state motto "Oro y Plata" (Spanish for "Gold and Silver"), and the year of admission to the Union.
100 Souvenir Dollars
Obverse: Grizzly bear (state mammal), landscape with Gallatin River, jumping westslope cutthroat trout (state fish), geographic depiction of Montana with abbreviation MT, pine cone
Reverse: United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., seals of the commemorative series
| Dimensions: 7.07 x 3.00 inches (179.50 x 76.20 mm) Material: Paper |
