Billings Montana is the largest city in the state of Montana and is 41.6 square miles. This is the largest metropolitan area in over five hundred miles, which has both national and international airports, colleges and business districts. Billings has earned the nickname of the Magic City, due to the rapid growth, after becoming a railroad town in 1882. The city got its name from the former president of the Northern Pacific Railroad, Frederick H. Billings. It is located in the Yellowstone Valley and was called Clarks Fork Bottom, prior to becoming a railroad hub for the Northern Pacific Railroad and renamed. This is an area of past history, where William Clark left his signature, during the Lewis and Clark Expedition, when passing through, where nearby General Custer fought the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes and where Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse led their people. This is where Calamity Jane was also known to have created an incident. The history of the past can be seen today in the museums in the city of Billings.
By the end of 1883, there were newspaper reports of at least 400 buildings being erected and 1,500 residents in the town of Billings. Today the city is home to national companies such as GE, First Interstate Bank, Wells Fargo and other large corporations, which provide employment for the residents.
It is the country seat of Yellow Stone County, in the south central portion of the state. As of 2011 the city had a population of 105,069 residents, making it the only city in Montana to have over 100,000 residents. Between 2000 and 2010 the city experienced a rapid growth rate, of 57.8 percent and was one of the cities able to avoid the economic downturn or the dip in the housing market, with the largest growth in the southeastern suburb of Lockwood. Billings is one of the largest trade areas in the United States, and of trade and distribution in Montana, as well as the neighboring areas of northern Wyoming, western North and South Dakota.
Billings is home to the Big Horn Canyon Recreation Area, the Billings motorcycle club, the Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Custer Battlefield Museum, Chief Plenty Coup State Park, Geyser Park Fun Center, Harry Koyama Fine Art, Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame, the Moss Mansion Historical House Museum, the MT Audubon Conservative Education Center and other attractions for the visitor and residents of the city.
The city is industrious and home to many residents, who can view six mountain ranges, like the Bighorn Mountains and Blacktooth Mountain, and home to the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range. To the west is the Crazy Mountains, Big Snowy Mountains, where Crystal Lake is located and to the north is the Bull Mountains. One of the other things this city is known for is the diversity of citizens living in Billings, with many who have immigrated from Canada and other countries to live, work and visit.
