Montana

State in northwestern USA, the most northerly Rocky Mountain state and the fourth largest state in the USA, bordered to the north by the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan; to the east by North Dakota and South Dakota; to the south by Wyoming; and to the southwest and west by Idaho; area 376,981 sq km/145,553 sq mi; population (2006) 944,600; capital Helena. Montana is known as the Treasure State owing to its abundant mineral resources. The state is divided into the Rocky Mountain region, which has peaks with elevations of between 2,400 m/8,000 ft and 3,000 m/10,000 ft, and the eastern Great Plains. It is subject to climatic extremes, with cold winters and summer hailstorms in the Rockies and summer droughts on the Great Plains. Montana's economy is traditionally based on mining, lumber, and cattle ranches. Oil and gas were major resources during the 1970s, but tourism and the service industries have since become increasingly important. Farming has been greatly helped by irrigation programmes and soil improvements. The chief crop is wheat, but barley and alfalfa yields are also significant. Billings is the largest city; other cities include Missoula, Great Falls, Butte, Bozeman, Kalispell, Havre, Anaconda, and Miles City. Montana joined the Union in 1889 as the 41st state.