Montana Fast Facts:
Location, Location, Location…: Located in the western region of the United States, Montana is the fourth largest state in the nation by area.
Cities: The largest city is Billings and the state capital is Helena.
Behind the Name: Montana is nicknamed the “Treasure State” because of its rich mineral reserves. The western portion of the state elevates in the Rocky Mountain region, which has provided the basis for Montana’s name.
A Closer Look: Montana attracts tourists annually to visit Glacier National Park, the Battle of Little Bighorn site and three of the five entrances to Yellowstone National Park.
Did You Know? A real gold rush: Montana has yielded a fortune of gold and silver since the first substantial deposits were discovered in the Rocky Mountain region in the early 1860’s.
Montana Careers and Employment:
Population: 967,440 (7.2% increase since 2000) – 49.9% Female, 50.1% Male (2008 U.S. Census Bureau).
Business Environment: Ranked 24th in Forbes Magazine’s “Best States for Business,” 2008.
Top Industries: In terms of paid employees, according to a 2008 U.S. Census Bureau study: (1) retail; (2) health care and social assistance; (3) accommodation and food services; (4) construction; and (5) manufacturing.
Taxes: Income Tax, 1.0% to 6.9% and No Sales Tax (Federation of Tax Administrators).
Cost of Living: 105.0 in relation to the “National Average” of 100 (Federal Cost of Living Index).
Quality of Life: Ranked 21st of 50 states by CNBC, 2009.
Weather: Average Temperature (In °F) – Jan: 18.37; Apr: 42.53; July: 66.43; Oct: 44.26 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
K-12: Ranked 10th of 50 states in “Academic Achievement” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2009.
Montana Economics:
In General: Most of the state’s residents find career opportunities in the service industry (39%), but other industries such as manufacturing (6%), military and government services (19%) and agricultural services (7%) also offer career opportunities.
Service Industry: The community, business and personal services sector, including private health care, motels, law firms and repair shops, lead the service industry.
Agriculture: Beef cattle are Montana’s most important livestock product, with some of the country’s largest cattle ranches located within the state. Approximately one-third of Montana’s agricultural income is provided by crops, with wheat serving as the leading commodity.
Manufacturing: Montana’s major manufacturing activities revolve around petroleum refineries across the state.
Mining: Coal and petroleum are Montana’s leading mined products, but the state is also an important source of gold, silver, copper and lead.
Did You Know? Montana is a center for micro-brewing beer, ranking third in the nation in the number of craft breweries.
Montana Education:
Find Colleges and Universities in Montana, here.
Sources: In addition to specific citations noted in this “Career Information” section, supplementary source materials include: the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service; Netstate.com; Education-Portal.com; USCollegeSearch.org; and Wikipedia.com.
