Billings is a city located in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of Montana.
Billings is rapidly growing; As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 89,847, and a 2006 census shows the city's population has grown to 98,234 (up 9.9% or 8,387 since 2000). Billings is the chief city in the Billings Metropolitan Area and is the county seat of Yellowstone County. In terms of population, it is the largest metropolitan area in Montana. It is nicknamed the Magic City because of its rapid growth from its founding as a railroad town in 1882. It was said that Billings "grew like magic." Billings is named for Frederick H. Billings, president of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Due to the Billings' status as the largest city in a vast region (500 mile radius) of south-central and eastern Montana and northern Wyoming, it serves as a shopping and accommodation center for area residents and highway travelers. The city's proximity to Yellowstone National Park and the area where the Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought also draws a large number of tourists, especially during the summer months. Such traffic in recent years is largely due to Billings being on the most significant highway in Montana, Interstate 90. Meanwhile, other cities in Montana, such as Great Falls, Montana, decline in population.
Billings is located at 45°47'12" North, 108°32'14" West (45.786553, -108.537139), with 2/3rd of the city in the Yellowstone Valley, the city being divided into the Valley and the Heights by the Rims, a long cliff, also called the Rimrocks. Billings is surrounded by six mountain ranges, the Beartooth Mountains to the west, the Pryor Mountains and Bighorn Mountains to the south, the Crazy Mountains to the northeast, the Big Snowy Mountains to the north and the Wolf Mountains to the south east.
The Yellowstone River runs through the City. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 106.0 km2 (41.0 mi2). 104.7 km2 (40.9 mi2) of it is land and 0.3 km2 (0.1 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 0.33% water.
Geographically, Billings has one of the largest trade areas in the United States, serving more than 350,000 people.
Source:
BillingsMontana.com
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