Bozeman Live Cam

In the north of the region known as the Western United States

Before Lewis and Clark's explorations in 1805-1806, what is now Montana was principally the domain of numerous Native American nations: the Crow and Cheyenne peoples in the southeast; the Blackfoot in the north; and the Salish (or Flatheads), Kalispel, and Kootenai in the west. The state is still home to some 47,500 Native Americans, or about 6 percent the state's population.

Lewis and Clark crossed the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass west of Dillon, and it was in this area (aided by Sacagawea, a Shoshoni woman native to the region) that they were able to successfully negotiate for horses to help them over the Lolo Trail. Canadian fur trader David Thompson followed a few years later, exploring the Clark Fork River to what is now Missoula. Fort Union, built in 1828 on the Montana-North Dakota border north of Sidney, was the largest trading post on the Upper Missouri River for many years until the railroad and Indian wars conspired to close its doors. Farther south, Montana served as the stage for what may be the most famous incident of the Indian wars, the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876.

Mining played another key role in early Montana history. Prospectors rushed to Virginia City when gold was found there in 1863; a year later, Congress created the Montana Territory. In 1864, a small band of prospectors called "The Georgians" stumbled on Helena's "Last Chance Gulch," setting off a boom in the future capital city. Butte, once Montana's largest and richest city, was built by mining barons Marcus Daly, William A. Clark, and F. Augustus Heinze. For years, these men ruled Montana with iron -- or shall we say copper -- fists. Meanwhile, eastern Montana secured its reputation as cattle country. Starting in the 1860s, cowboys began herding longhorns north from Texas to fatten up on Montana rangeland. By 1886, there were 675,000 head of cattle in the territory. Soon after, however, a summer drought followed by severe winter brought an end to the open-range era.

Montana was admitted to the Union on Nov. 8, 1889, making it the 41st state. Many homesteaders arrived early in the next century with the coming of the Northern Pacific Railroad, but by the 1920s, more drought caused thousands of settlers to give up their land. Fort Peck Dam, completed in 1940, brought irrigation, flood control, electric power, and a measure of stability to the high plains of eastern Montana.

Montana's economy continues to depend heavily on natural resources. Mining, agriculture, and forestry still play a part, but tourism has assumed an increasingly vital role. The state has also become a favorite spot for entertainment moguls both at work (many movies have been made here) and at play (scores of celebs own Montana vacation homes, including Ted Turner and Jane Fonda, whose buffalo herd south of Bozeman is among the nation's largest). Montana's population grew slowly during the 1980s, posting only a 1.6 percent gain and resulting in the loss of one of the state's two seats in Congress. Since then, however, growth has sped up significantly: Montana grew 7.1 percent between 1990 and 1994.

Don't miss

Planning a trip to Montana? Here's a selection of must-see attractions in every region:

Fun facts