State of Montana

The Empire Builder has been traveling through the State of Montana for about the past 130 miles. Shortly we will begin our climb into the Rocky Mountains. Montana is the fourth largest state in total area. It is nearly 600 miles from East to West, and an average of 250 miles from North to South. The western third of the state is mountainous; eastern two thirds is Northern Great Plains 

Montana’s nicknames include the “Big Sky Country,” for its wide open spaces, and the “Treasure State,” for its rich mineral resources and mining heritage.

The United States acquired the area that includes Montana from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. 

In the early 1800s the residents of Montana were mostly the Native Americans who had lived here for hundreds of years and a few fur trappers who were working in this area. However, in the middle of the 1800s, gold was discovered. Gold is like a magnet -- and many gold-seekers traveled to Montana with hopes and dreams of striking it rich. In the late 1800s railroads were built and that brought many settlers, farmers and ranchers to the area.

Today, Montana is big in size but small in population; it has only slightly more than one million residents. The economy in Montana is primarily based on agriculture, lumber, and mineral extraction. Tourism is also important to the economy, with millions visiting Glacier National Park, Little Bighorn Battlefield, and Yellowstone National Park.

We will be in Montana most of the day and early evening. We hope we can make your trip both educational and entertaining as we roll along.