State of Montana
Nicknames: The Treasure State, Big Sky Country
Motto(s): Oro y plata (Gold and Silver)
Date of Statehood: November 8, 1889 (41st state)
State Song: “Montana” by Charles C. Cohan
Montana Flag History
The flag of Montana, adopted in 1905 and later modified in 1981, embodies the state’s rich history and natural beauty. The flag is a deep blue field with the state seal at the center. The seal showcases some of Montana’s beautiful scenery and reflects the state’s agricultural and mining heritage. A plow, shovel, and pick are in the foreground, symbolizing Montana’s farming and mining industries. A sun rises over mountains, forests, and the Great Falls of the Missouri River, representing the state’s varied landscape.
The original flag bore only the state seal on a blue field. In 1981, “Montana” was added above the seal to ensure the flag’s recognition. The seal’s ribbon contains the state motto, “Oro y plata,” meaning “Gold and Silver,” reflecting the state’s significant contributions to mining.
The flag’s blue background represents the sky and the mountains, and the seal portrays the wealth of natural resources in Montana and the importance of agriculture and mining to the state’s economy. It symbolizes the state’s pride in its heritage, the beauty of its land, and its commitment to progress and prosperity.
Montana Quick Facts
Capital City: Helena
Abbreviation: MT
Population: Approximately 1.07 million
Region: West, Rocky Mountains
Origin of State Name: Derived from the Spanish word “montaña,” meaning “mountain.”
Sports Teams: No major professional sports teams.
Bordering States: North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan
Area Codes: 406
Highest Point: Granite Peak at 12,807 feet (3,904 meters)
Lowest Point: Kootenai River at 1,800 feet (549 meters)
Geography of Montana
Area: 147,040 square miles (380,832 square kilometers), 4th largest
Land: 145,546 square miles (376,962 square kilometers), 4th largest
Water: 1,494 square miles (3,869 square kilometers), 26th largest
Coastline: None (landlocked state)
Shoreline: None (landlocked state)
Largest Cities:
- Billings
- Missoula
- Great Falls
- Bozeman
- Butte
- Helena
- Kalispell
- Havre
- Anaconda
- Miles City
- Helena Valley West Central
- Helena Valley Southeast
- Lockwood
- Evergreen
- Whitefish
National Parks:
- Glacier National Park
- Yellowstone National Park (partly in Montana)
- Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
- Big Hole National Battlefield
Montana State Symbols
Living Insignia
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
State Animal: Grizzly Bear
State Amphibian: None
State Butterfly: Mourning Cloak
State Fish: Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout
State Flower: Bitterroot
State Horse Breed: None
State Insect: Mourning Cloak Butterfly
State Mammal: Grizzly Bear
State Reptile: None
Inanimate Insignia
State Fruit: None
State Gemstone: Sapphire and Agate
State Soil: Scobey Soil
State Tree: Ponderosa Pine
State Quarter: Issued in 2007 featuring a bison skull in the foreground with the Rocky Mountains and the Missouri River in the background
State Beverage: Milk
State Colors: None official
State Dance: Square Dance
State Food: None
State Fossil: Maiasaura peeblesorum
State Mineral: None
State Rock: None