Montana State History
Montana is a state in the north-western area of the United States.
Montana’s nicknames are “The Treasure State” and “Big Sky Country”.
Montana is a state in the North-western area of the United States. Montana’s nicknames are “The Treasure State” and “Big Sky Country”.
Related: Montana State Facts
It is the fourth largest state in the U.S.
There are many mountain ranges in Montana. All these mountains are the reason that Montana has the slogan “Land of the Shining Mountains”.
The word “Montana” comes from the Spanish word for “Mountain”, or “mountainous country”.
Montana borders Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Canada to the north.
Montana has lots of beautiful landscapes and national parks.
The Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Flathead Lake all attract people to visit the region.
History
When Europeans arrived in the area now known as Montana, they met many Native American groups.
These Native Americans were descendants of people who had lived in the region for centuries. These groups included the Cheyenne, the Blackfeet, the Assiniboine, the Gros Ventres, the Kottenai and the Salish.
The region was very important in the fur trade. France discovered Montana and used to rule it as part of a territory called Louisiana.
In 1803, the United States purchased Montana in the Louisiana Purchase.
In 1852, the first gold was discovered in Montana at Gold Greek. Later, gold, silver, copper, lead and coal were all discovered.
The discovery of these minerals saw an influx of miners to the region. By 1876, gold exports from the state were worth $144 million.
Montana became a United States territory in 1864. Montana saw many disputes between increasing numbers of settlers and Native Americans.
These fights were mostly about control of the land. Many major battles occurred in Montana including Red Cloud’s War, the Great Sioux War of 1876, and the Nez Perce War.
Other significant battles included the Battle of Little Bighorn (1876) and the Battle of the Big Hole (1877).
Interesting facts about Montana
- Montana has more species of mammal than other U.S. states. These include elk, sheep, caribou and bobcats.
- Montana has the longest free flowing river in the United States, the Yellowstone River.
- Montana’s national park, Glacier National Park, has 250 lakes.
- The Capital of Montana used to be Bannack. It is now a famous ghost town. The capital was moved to Virginia City.
- Yogo Sapphires come from Montana. These are thought to be some of the best sapphires in the world. They have a brilliant blue colour.
Quiz Time!
What type of Sapphires come from Montana?
How many lakes are there in Glacier National Park?
What are Montana’s nicknames?
What does “Montana” mean?
When was Montana purchased by the United States?
