The United States acquired territory including Montana through the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. The first non-Native American explorers known to have set foot in Montana were the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–06). Fur trappers and traders followed, setting up forts to trade with the Native Americans.
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Who settled Montana?
Roman Catholic missionaries followed the trappers into Montana. They established Saint Mary’s Mission in the Bitterroot Valley, thought to be the first permanent settlement in Montana.
When was Montana founded?
After the discovery of gold in the region, Montana was designated as a United States territory (Montana Territory) on May 26, 1864 and, with rapid population growth, as the 41st state on November 8, 1889.
Who made Montana a state?
In July 1889, Montanans convened their third constitutional convention and produced a constitution accepted by the people and the federal government. On November 8, 1889, President Benjamin Harrison proclaimed Montana the union’s 41st state.
How did Montana get its name?
Although the name Montana is derived from the Spanish montaña (“mountain” or “mountainous region”), it has an average elevation of only 3,400 feet, the lowest among the Rocky Mountain states.
Who lived in Montana before it became a state?
People have lived in the land of Montana for thousands of years. Archeologists call the first people that lived there the Paleo-Indians. By the time the Europeans arrived in the 1700s, Native American tribes lived throughout the state.
Who is the most famous person from Montana?
Five of the Most Famous People Born in Montana
- Getty Images for The New Yorker. Phil Jackson.
- Evel Knievel. Famed daredevil motorcyclist and cultural icon Evel Knievel was born in Butte, Montana.
- Gary Cooper. Gary Cooper was born in Helena, Montana.
- Jerry Kramer.
- Getty Images for Sony Pictures T.
Did the Spanish discover Montana?
In fact, there is no Colonial Spanish heritage in Montana since Spanish explorers never made it to the area. Montaña means mountain or mountainous in Spanish, and was proposed by a congressman from Ohio when the area applied to become a territory.
Who was the first person in Montana?
In the Beginning — The first people believed to have wondered at the land we now call Montana was Folsom Man, who arrived sometime after the end of the last Ice Age about 12,000 years ago, and lived here until superseded by the Yuma culture about 6,800 years ago.
What is Montana nickname?
Big Sky CountryThe Treasure State
Why is the sky so big in Montana?
Do you know why Montana is often called Big Sky Country? If you’ve ever been there, then you know that the sky seems so “big” because the state is sparsely populated and free of tall buildings. The sky goes on forever, uninterrupted by a lot of structures, like you see in many big cities.
What does the word Montana mean?
mountainous
Montana is a word derived from the Spanish word meaning “mountainous.” The western portion of the state is dominated by the rugged Rocky Mountains.In 1864 Montana became a territory approved by Abraham Lincoln. It was at this time that the territory officially became known as Montana.
What is special about Montana?
Montana has the largest migratory elk herd in the nation. The state boasts the largest breeding population of trumpeter swans in the lower United States. At the Rocky Mountain Front Eagle Migration Area west of Great Falls more golden eagles have been seen in a single day than anywhere else in the country.
Why does Montana have a low population?
Montana. Montana, Wyoming’s neighbor to the north, has a population density of 7.1 people per square mile.This population spread contributes to the low density of people here as well as the main economic activity, agriculture. Huge swaths of land are needed to cultivate cereal grain and raise cattle.
What are 5 interesting facts about Montana?
Interesting facts about Montana
- The name Montana has a Spanish origin.
- The motto of Montana is “oro y plata” and this means “gold and silver” in Spanish.
- Butte, Montana is called the “richest hill on planet earth”.
- Montana has a very low population density.
- Montana has a large population of grizzly bears.
What’s Montana’s state tree?
Ponderosa pine
What is Montana State animal?
grizzly bear
State animal. The grizzly bear, Ursus arctos horribilis, as preferred by a vote of Montana schoolchildren, is the official Montana state animal.
Do any celebrities live in Montana?
Notable members include a number of American celebrities & icons such as Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, Warren Miller, Phil Mickelson, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, Dan Quayle, Greg LeMond, Jack Kemp, Tom Brady, Jeff Bridges, and of course, Bill Gates. Apparently, Montana is the place to be.
Where do the rich live in Montana?
Missoula
In Montana, Missoula is home to more billionaires than any other city. A total of two billionaires live in Missoula with a combined net worth of $8.3 billion. Of Missoula residents with a minimum 10-figure net worth, Dennis Washington is the wealthiest, worth an estimated $6.3 billion.
What celebrity owns a ranch in Montana?
Michael Keaton
Keaton owns a ranch in southern Montana, where he has spent much of his time in the past 28 years. Keaton once said in an interview, “Once you see the west, there is no going back,” and for him it may just be true.
Who was the first white man in Montana?
The first white man known to have explored this region is Sieur de la Varendry, who made his way up the Missouri River during the years 1730 to 1744, and reached the Rocky Mountains in January 1743. He did not remain, and did not contribute any valuable historical information about the country.
