Billings, city (2020 pop. 117,116),
seat of Yellowstone co., S Mont., on the Yellowstone River, in a valley
surrounded by seven mountain ranges; inc. as a city 1885. Founded in 1882 by
the Northern Pacific RR, Billings quickly became an important shipping point
and fur-trading center. It is the largest city in Montana and a medical,
manufacturing, and trade center for the S Montana–N Wyoming region.
Manufactures include paper, wood, dairy, and petroleum products; processed
foods; and computer equipment. Wheat, sugar beets, livestock, and wool are
traded. Rocky Mountain College and Montana State Univ. at Billings are
there. Billings is the center of a recreational area and tourism is
important; Custer National Forest and Yellowstone National Park are
nearby.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
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