Billings
Montana’s growing railroad town
The largest city in Montana is neither the capital Helena nor the historical Butte, but Billings, located in the south-central portion of the state. Named after Frederick H. Billings, president of the Northern Pacific Railroad company, the city did not grow from mining or a gold rush. Instead it developed as a railroad town, further expanding in recent years for its proximity to tourist attractions such as Yellowstone National Park, Pompey’s Pillar and the site of the Battle of Little Bighorn.
Part of Billings’ draw is not only its recent history - such as that surrounding Custer’s Last Stand - but also its prehistoric connection. The area is located within Yellowstone Valley, etched out of the land by a river of the same name.
Fun Fact : About 10 million years ago, Yellowstone Valley was completely submerged, and schoolchildren still find fossilized fish in the outlying hills today.
Landmarks
In addition, ancient pictographs indicating the presence of an unknown human tribe are scratched in cave walls just six miles south of Billings’ city limits.
Many visitors also flock to Pompey’s Pillar, so named by famous early 19th century explorer William Clark. In recognition of Sacagawea, a Native woman who lent some guidance to the explorers throughout the nearby lands, Clark named a nearby sandstone tower after her young son.
Fun Fact : The explorer, who many Americans may know for his attachment to fellow adventurer Meriwether Lewis (Lewis and Clark), inscribed his name on a wall in the area. This can still be seen today.
Many visitors to Billings - which is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Pacific Northwest - are students. The town is home to Montana State University, first established during the high-flying 1920s. Nearly 5,000 students attend the school, which offers over 100 different degrees. That enrollment number is only expected to rise, considering Billings’ massive expansion in recent years.
For those young people more interested in the liberal arts, nearby Rocky Mountain College offers a more intense regimen. The school boasts of its long-time place in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual list, “America’s Best Colleges.” The ranking often cites RMC for its quality of teaching and tuition cost value. As a result of its impressive reputation, some 99 percent of graduates are placed with jobs shortly after finishing studies.
