Montana, the Treasure State, is the 4th largest and 43rd most populous American state. It is located in the northwestern region of the U.S. and is well-known for its splendid sceneries, mountain ranges and ecosystems, huge mineral deposits, and liveability. Discover more about the state’s diverse culture, local cuisine, and significant role in nation-building in this article.
Beyond its Native American heritage and thriving agriculture and mining industries, Montana is known for its gigantic national parks, flourishing wildlife, recreational perks, and breath-taking summits. There is plenty to discover in the Big Sky Country.
Here are 14 Montana facts that provide a sneak peek of what the state has to offer:
- Montana became a state in 1889.
- The state name comes from the Spanish word montaña.
- It got its nickname and state motto from its rich mineral reserves.
- Out of the 50 U.S. states, MT has the 4th most extensive land area.
- Frontier counties comprise approximately 89% of the state.
- Part of the 1st U.S. national park established in 1872 is in Montana.
- The Crown of the Continent is found in Glacier National Park in MT.
- Silver Bow County, MT, is home to the “Richest Hill on Earth.”
- Montana holds the world record for extreme temperature changes.
- It is the only U.S. state to share several land borders with Canada.
- One of America’s fastest-growing cities is in the Treasure State.
- Montana does not have an official state fruit.
- The state has the largest concentration of grizzly bears in all of U.S.
- Juicy game meat and other palate wonders can be found here.
Though not encompassing, the list above paints a pretty good picture of what lies in store for you in the land of elk and huckleberries. If this piece of rural heaven interests you, then stick around and continue reading this guide.
What Is Montana Famous For? (Fun Facts)
1. Montana became a state in 1889.
Montana is one of the last ten (10) states to form what is now called the United States of America. While the U.S. acquired Montana by buying 530M acres of North American territory from France for $15M USD (a.k.a. the Louisiana Purchase of 1803), boundary disputes between America and the United Kingdom carried on until the Oregon Treaty of 1846. MT finally attained statehood on November 8, 1889 – barely a week after North and South Dakota joined as the 39th and 40th states.
2. The state name comes from the Spanish word montaña.
Being one of the nine mountainous states in western U.S., it makes perfect sense that Montana is derived from a Spanish word that best describes it – montaña (Latin montanea), which means mountain or mountainous country. Two-fifths of the state (its western part) collectively have over 100 mountains, with 77 named mountain ranges in the Rocky Mountains alone. Meanwhile, three-fifths of the state (its eastern part) lies upon the Great Plains. Beautiful highlands, forests, prairies, and valleys are also part of Montana’s geographic profile.
3. It got its nickname and state motto from its rich mineral reserves.
The Treasure State is home to abundant natural and mineral resources, such as zinc, copper, lead, oil, manganese, timber, gold, and silver. Substantial deposits of gold were first discovered in MT in 1852. Since then, the state has thrived in mining. Eventually, its plentiful reserves of gold and silver gave rise to its motto “Oro y Plata” (Spanish for gold and silver) and current nickname. Diamonds, varieties of quartz, topaz, tourmaline, agates, and sapphires (among others) can also be found in the state.
4. Out of the 50 U.S. states, MT has the 4th most extensive land area.
The Land of the Shining Mountains has a land area of 147,040 mi2 (or 380,832 km2), making it slightly larger than Japan. It is so vast that it can fit the states of New York, Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania inside it. It is no wonder that it can house tons of grizzly bears, wild buffaloes, moose, and golden eagles, thousands of lakes and reservoirs, and enormous national and county parks. Because of its size and the absence of big-city structures, Montana has also earned the nickname Big Sky Country for its uninterrupted, never-ending view of the skies.
5. Frontier counties comprise approximately 89% of the state.
50 out of 56 counties in Montana have roughly six people per square mile. These counties are referred to as frontier counties – defined by the National Center for Frontier Communities as “sparsely populated areas that are geographically isolated from population centers and services.” Sure, there won’t be a lot of mingling or social activity in any one of these counties. But majestic mountain views and serenity more than suffice as a trade-off.
6. Part of the 1st U.S. national park established in 1872 is in Montana.
While a huge portion of the Yellowstone National Park is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming, it also extends to Gardiner and West Yellowstone in Montana. Often mistaken as the world’s first national park, the U.S. Congress established the Yellowstone National Park six months after the Hayden Expedition. Subsequently, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act on March 1, 1872. This monumental park was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978 and today continues to be home to the world’s largest collection of geysers.
7. The Crown of the Continent is found in Glacier National Park in MT.
The Triple Divide Peak (a.k.a. the Crown of the Continent) is a one-of-a-kind feature in the Glacier National Park and among the world’s major hydrographic apexes. Located in the Lewis Range part of the Rocky Mountains, this summit is the only point in the U.S. where rain and snowmelt flow down three (3) separate oceans, namely — the Atlantic Ocean, the Hudson Bay (an Arctic Ocean tributary), and the Pacific Ocean. Not only is the Triple Divide Peak unique, but it is also responsible for extreme climates in this part of the state.
8. Silver Bow County, MT, is home to the “Richest Hill on Earth.”
Butte, Montana earned this moniker because of its rich mining history. Formerly the largest city in the Rocky Mountains, it housed tons of mining operations of copper, silver, and gold (first discovered in 1864). Its thriving mining industry (valued at $162B USD, USGS estimate) led immigrants worldwide and many Irish folks to flock to the city. However, the city’s progress came to a halt when the population and economy plummeted, and the cleanup of mining sites became a struggle. Presently, Butte has only one active mine – the Continental Pit, where copper and metal molybdenum are pulled out.
9. Montana holds the world record for extreme temperature changes.
In the Guinness Book of World Records, the cities that hold the world record for extreme, short-duration temperature changes are both in Montana. Fairfield, MT, recorded the most significant temperature change in 12 hours on December 14, 1924 (from 63o F to -21o F), while the town of Loma recorded extreme temperature changes in 24 hours between January 14 and January 15, 1972. The temperature started from -54o F on the 14th and rose by a staggering 103o F (57.2o C). It was due to a downslope chinook wind, ending at 49o F on the morning of the 15th.
10. It is the only U.S. state to share several land borders with Canada.
Montana shares a large international border worth three provinces with Canada. These provinces are British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan — found in the westernmost region of the Great White North. Fourteen border crossings span the 545-mile northern border between Montana and Canada, with Piegan-Carway Border, Sweetgrass-Coutts Border, and the US 93 in Roosville being the most traveled ports.
11. One of America’s fastest-growing cities is in the Treasure State.
Being “the most liveable place” is what Bozeman, Montana, is known for. This outdoor enthusiast’s haven promotes recreational activities such as fly fishing, rock climbing, biking, skiing, backcountry exploring, and hunting and boasts excellent food and a booming economy. The city’s growth has been so dramatic that housing prices in the area have skyrocketed – with the cost of living being 20% higher than the U.S. national average (according to a 2021 Bloomberg report).
12. Montana does not have an official state fruit.
Despite agriculture being one of MT’s main revenue-generating industries (alongside mining and livestock farming), the Big Sky Country does not have an official state food. Predominantly, this is due to MT’s snowcapped mountains and overall rugged growing conditions.
The closest thing to an official state fruit would be huckleberries, grown in abundance and used in many local treats like jams, pies, milkshakes, and cakes (and even used as medicine in the olden days). Flathead cherries and Dwarf Sour cherries are also quite representative of the state and used for making ale, barbecue sauce, and chutney. Currently, Montana State University is taking the initiative to increase the supply and demand for these small, purplish berries and other locally-grown fruits.
13. The state has the largest concentration of grizzly bears in all of U.S.
Montana has played a huge part in recovering the once-endangered grizzly bear species (Latin Ursus arctos horribilis), and other natural habitats found in northwest Wyoming, eastern Idaho, and Washington. Since 1975, the thinning population of grizzly bears has found refuge in the state’s Rocky Mountain Front and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (to name a few). At present, there are approximately 1,900 grizzlies that live in the region.
14. Juicy game meat and other palate wonders can be found here.
What food is Montana known for? Here are a few of the state’s must-trys:
Bison
This staple Montana meat continues to entice both locals and tourists with its delightful tenderness, right amount of sweetness, and lower fat and cholesterol content than beef. Restaurants in Montana have different takes on bison meat — either as Bison Rocks (with butternut squash, kale, spices, and cheese on a homemade bun), meatloaf sandwich, or mole (with butternut squash, roasted red peppers, onions, and tomatoes).
Huckleberry Swirls and Turnovers
There are many uses for huckleberries in Montana — from bear claws, cinnamon rolls, and cookies to scones and pocket sandwiches. But of all the local pastries, the small, purplish fruit is best served as a swirl or turnover.
Huckleberry Swirls (an original by Libby Cafe in Mineral Avenue) are loads of huckleberries added to potato flapjack batter, dusted with finely-ground walnuts, sugar, and lemon, and topped with huckleberry cream frosting. Meanwhile, Huckleberry Turnovers are a specialty by Polebridge Mercantile & Bakery in northwest Montana. Excluding the time it takes to forage the huckleberries, these exquisitely flaky delights take three (3) whole days to make from scratch.
Pasties
A local dish inspired by the cravings of copper miners from Cornwell, England, pasties are baked pastries traditionally filled with beef skirt, potato swede, and onion, and with origins tracing back to Mexico and the United Kingdom. These meat-and veggie pockets were first served in Butte, MT, in the late 1800s and remained in the city’s eateries even after most of the underground mines closed in 1975. Current versions of this hearty, filling dish are made with ground beef and weigh over a pound each.
Fry Bread
This Pan-Indian food is not indigenous to Native American cuisine but arose when the Navajo Nation and other tribes were forcedly displaced and sent to prison camps in the mid-1800s. While it symbolizes Native American oppression, fry bread is undeniably delicious — not to mention simple to prepare. This flat dough bread can be enjoyed on its own, with taco toppings, cinnamon, or sugar, or smeared in honey. For those living outside of Montana, you can look up the recipe online and cook from home or head to the Crow Fair held every 3rd weekend of August to enjoy this treat.
Beans and Sheepherders
Bob Seward’s well-known pinto-bean-and-ham soup has been making waves with the locals since 1948 when he started dishing it out in a remote bar in Ingomar. The famous bean soup came with garlic-toast croutons and spicy, homemade hot sauce, adding to its comforting yet complex flavors.
The dish went solo for a few years until Bill Seward (Bob’s son) invented Sheepherders — a prairie hors d’oeuvre consisting of sliced orange, onions, and small cheddar cubes stacked on a saltine and savored in a single bite. This popular duo complements each other and has become part of sought-after, signature Montana dishes.
Grizzly Paws
The Sweet Palace in Philipsburg is not famous for its Victorian-era style but for creating different types of sweets — like taffies, jawbreakers, homemade marshmallows, brittles, fudge, and cinnamon sticks — and hard candy. One of its well-loved treats is the Grizzly Paws — handmade vanilla caramel shaped into a bear paw (with slivered cashew for claws) and dipped in either chocolate or milk, with a white chocolate “grizzle” swirled on top. Not only is the treat mouth-watering, but it is also a cute way of honoring the official state animal.
Rocky Mountain Oysters (a.k.a. Prairie Oysters, Mountain Tenders, Cowboy Caviar)
Presumably as notorious as the Philippines’ Soup No. 5, Rocky Mountain Oysters is oddly similar to the former — in the sense that both dishes make use of animal testicles. The difference is that the Montana delicacy’s main ingredient comes from a calf (not a bull). Plus, the “oysters” are cut, cleaned, coated in a mixture of flour, eggs, and crushed saltines, and then deep-fried (not boiled or simmered). Some locals, specifically those near White Sulphur Springs, prefer to leave the testicle casing on when cooking to create that pop when you bite into the cooked meat.
Conclusion – Fun Facts About Montana
So, what is Montana known for? Here is a list that summarizes the Treasure State’s fine points:
- Montana became a state in 1889.
- The state name comes from the Spanish word montaña.
- It got its nickname and state motto from its rich mineral reserves.
- Out of the 50 U.S. states, MT has the 4th most extensive land area.
- Frontier counties comprise approximately 89% of the state.
- Part of the 1st U.S. national park established in 1872 is in Montana.
- The Crown of the Continent is found in Glacier National Park in MT.
- Silver Bow County, MT, is home to the “Richest Hill on Earth.”
- Montana holds the world record for extreme temperature changes.
- It is the only U.S. state to share several land borders with Canada.
- One of America’s fastest-growing cities is in the Treasure State.
- Montana does not have an official state fruit.
- The state has the largest concentration of grizzly bears in all of U.S.
- Juicy game meat and other palate wonders can be found here.
Be its abundant wildlife, breath-taking surroundings, delectable food, or tons of recreation opportunities, Montana has a lot to offer! The fourteen fun facts in this article cannot begin to describe how amazing Montana is. If you want to know whether the Big Sky Country is just another rural state or one of America’s gems, there is no better way to experience Montana first-hand.