Montana

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MONTANA

Nicknames for Montana reflect the wonder and significance of the state's natural resources—the basis for its growth and prosperity. Familiar references such as "Big Sky" and the "Treasure State" come from appreciation for the state's expansive views and rich supply of minerals.

It is thought that the first white explorers to Montana were French traders and trappers from Canada who migrated in the 1700s. In 1803 when President Thomas Jefferson (1801–1809) orchestrated the Louisiana Purchase, the deal included land west of the Mississippi River which includes land now known as Montana. Jefferson sent the Louis and Clark expedition to explore the new area and record their findings for the rest of the world.

In 1805 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, along with French trapper Toussaint Charbonneau and his Shoshoni wife, Sacagawea, reached the Yellowstone River near the boundary of North Dakota. They traveled through present-day Idaho, Oregon, and Washington to the Pacific Ocean where they completed their mission. During the trip they encountered a handful of men who were hunting animals and trading furs with the Indians. Their expedition cleared the way for the first American trappers, traders, and settlers to find their way to Montana. In 1807 Manuel Lisa, a Spanish trader, formed the Missouri Fur Company and established the first trading post in Montana, and others rapidly followed. The Pacific Fur Company, the American Fur Company, and the Rocky Mountain Fur Company became important trading companies in the northwest.

The fur trade dominated Montana's economy until 1858, when gold was discovered in southwest Montana. By mid-1862, a rush of miners from the gold fields of California, Nevada, Colorado, and Idaho had migrated to the state. The biggest gold discovery was in Alder Gulch near Bannack in 1863. Miners flocked to the gulch, which led to the development of Virginia City and Nevada City. A contemporary newspaper wrote, "thousands of tenderfeet were wildly filing claims." Alder Gulch gave up $10 million worth of gold in one year. Other areas of Montana also proved to be rich in gold and with each gold discovery, a town instantly sprang up. The temporary gold boom brought the state's first substantial white population and an increased demand for government. Bandits robbed and killed miners on the roads. When Montana became a territory in 1864 the legislature was better able to govern the area.

As more settlers migrated westward, they occupied land previously owned by the Indians. Between 1863 and 1876 many battles, most notably the Battle of the Little Bighorn, or Custer's Last Stand, took place. The bloody battles eventually brought about the surrender of several Indian tribes who were subsequently confined to reservations.

In 1864, gold was discovered in the hills around Butte and by 1875 silver was discovered there as well. The Travona Silver Mine was soon opened and Butte became known as "Silver City" for the next 10 years. In 1881 one of the richest copper mines was discovered in the hills of Butte—the place became known as "the richest hill on earth." By the 1890s copper was the state's most important mineral and Butte became the industrial center of Montana.

By 1866 the first Long Horn cattle were brought to Montana from Texas and by the mid-1870s sheep also grazed the countryside. In 1886, approximately 664,000 head of cattle and nearly a million sheep grazed Montana's land. Between 1880 and 1909, the state prospered as construction of a railroad system helped open new markets for the livestock and mining industries. The railroads also allowed farmers to migrate to Montana. Between 1900 and 1920 the population grew from 243,329 to 548,889. In 1889, after several attempts, Montana's bid for statehood was approved by Congress.

Farmers from all over the country as well as Germany and Scandinavia migrated to Montana in the early 1900s planting flax, oats and wheat. Land claims grew from one million acres in 1909 to 93 million acres in 1922. Farmers were able to get good prices for their wheat until a drought ravaged Montana's farm country in 1917. Many could not sustain their farms and left the state for more hospitable soil. In 1920 thousands of grasshoppers descended on the land eating any seeds or grass that were left. Periods of drought and rain over the next 10 years forced the farmers to diversify their crops to suit the climate and use farm machines which helped turn a profit once again.

As the Great Depression (1929–1939) hit the United States the demand for minerals and agricultural products waned. By 1935 mines were closing and farmers were losing their land as one-fourth of Montana residents received financial assistance from the government. However, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal began to put people back to work in Montana constructing dams and roads and extending power lines.

With the start of World War II (1939–1945), Montana's economy began to thrive again as copper was in demand for use in weapons systems. The government bought wheat and beef from Montana's farmers and ranchers to provide rations for the troops. After the war, Montanans began to move from farms to cities as businesses grew. In the 1950s as well successful oil wells were developed in eastern Montana.

In the 1970s Montana's petroleum and natural gas were in great demand as a fuel shortage spread across the country. As energy companies started strip mining for coal, environmentalists took action. The Montana Strip Mine Reclamation Act and the Utility Siting Act were passed in 1973, increasing the tax on coal by 30 percent. Half the money was used to restore the land and community by building roads and schools and reviving areas devastated by mining.

In the 1980s the state's economy took a plunge. Copper prices dropped drastically, forcing many of Montana's copper mines to close. At the same time, falling oil prices meant less revenue from petroleum while a drought devastated the farming industry. As a result, Montanans began to leave the state looking elsewhere for better economic opportunities. Between 1985 and 1989, the population decreased by 20,000 people.

The 1990s saw an upswing in the demand for minerals and manufactured goods, which led to a turn around in the state's economy. In 1991 about 26 percent of Montanans worked for the government, the largest employer in the state. Petroleum accounted for half of the mining income as the oil, gas, and coal industries also experienced growth. Gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc were produced in Montana. Other goods such as aluminum, gemstones, phosphate, limestone, gypsum chromite, barite, clay, sand, and gravel also generate revenue for Montana. As well farmland covered about 25 percent of the state, and wheat—the biggest crop in Montana—was exported to other countries. Revenue from livestock accounted for two-fifths of Montana's farm income. In 1996 per capita personal income was $19,047 and in 1995, only about 15.3 percent of the population lived below the federal poverty level.

See also: Louis and Clark Expedition