Billings, Montana
Billings is a city located in eastern Montana. Unlike many Midwestern cities, Billings is rapidly growing; As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 89,847, although a recent 2004 census shows the city's population has grown to 92,008. It is the county seat of Yellowstone CountyTemplate:GR. In terms of population, it is the largest city 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." Hence, the nickname. Billings is named for Frederick H. Billings, a president of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
Billings is host to the Billings Mustangs, a minor league baseball team, a farm team to the Cincinnati Reds.
Due to the Billings' status as the largest city in a vast region of 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 also draws a large number of tourists, especially during the summer months.
The local newspaper is the Billings Gazette.
History
Billings was founded in 1882 near the already-existing town of Coulson. Coulson had been situated on the Yellowstone River, which made it ideal for the commerce that Steamboats brought up the river. However, when the Montana & Minnesota Land Company oversaw the development of potential railroad land, they ignored Coulson, and platted the new town of Billings several miles to the West. When the Northern Pacific Railroad was built, Coulson died as Billings flourished.
More widely famous people who have lived in Billings include Charles Lindbergh, who once worked as a mechanic at the Billings Logan Airport and performed as a barn stormer. "Calamity Jane" Canary also lived in the Billings area toward the end of her life. Arlo Guthrie was briefly a student at Rocky Mountain College.
Geography
Billings is located at 45°47'12" North, 108°32'14" West (45.786553, -108.537139)Template:GR, in Yellowstone Valley, the city being divided into the Valley and the Heights by the Rims, a long cliff, also called the Rimrocks.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 87.6 km² (33.8 mi²). 87.3 km² (33.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.33% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 89,847 people, 37,525 households, and 23,152 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,029.1/km² (2,665.1/mi²). There are 39,293 housing units at an average density of 450.0/km² (1,165.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 91.87% White, 0.55% African American, 3.44% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.45% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. 4.18% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 37,525 households out of which 29.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% are married couples living together, 10.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% are non-families. 31.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.32 and the average family size is 2.93.
In the city the population is spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $35,147, and the median income for a family is $45,032. Males have a median income of $32,525 versus $21,824 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,207. 12.0% of the population and 9.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 16.5% of those under the age of 18 and 7.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Transportation
Interstate 90 runs through Billings. Interstate 94 begins a few miles east of the city limits. A city bus system, the MET, provides public transportation. Greyhound has an eastern terminus at Billings; Rimrock Trailways also provides regional and interstate bus service. The nearest Amtrak stop is on the Hi-Line, 200 miles north of Billings.
Billings Logan International Airport, located northwest of downtown Billings, offers non-stop service to a number of cities in the western United States and within Montana.
Education
Billings Public Schools operates 21 elementary schools, four middle schools, and three public high schools, one Catholic high school and one Protestant high school. Major institutions of higher education are Montana_State_University_-_Billings (formerly Eastern Montana College, founded in 1927), Montana State University - College of Technology and Rocky Mountain College (founded in 1878). Yellowstone Baptist College also offers a limited curriculum.
Neighborhoods
- Heights
- Alkali Creek
- West End
- South Side
- Downtown
- Lake Elmo
- Lockwood
External links
