Montana

Montana Facts, Map and State Symbols

Montana was the 41^st state in the USA; it became a state on November 8,1889.

State Abbreviation - MT
State Capital - Helena
Largest City - Billings
Area - 147,046 square miles [Montana is the 4th biggest state in the USA]
Population - 902,195 (as of 2000) [Montana is the 44th most populous state in the USA]
Name for Residents - Montanans
Major Industries - farming (wheat, sugar beets), cattle ranching, mining (gold, silver, copper, coal), oil, lumber, tourism

Major Rivers - Yellowstone River, Missouri River, Clark Fork River
Major Lakes - Flathead Lake, Fort Peck Lake
Highest Point - Granite Peak - 12,799 feet (3,901 m) above sea level
Lowest Point - Kootenai River - 1,800 feet (550 m) above sea level
Number of Counties - 56
Bordering States - Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
Bordering Country - Canada 

Origin of the Name Montana - The name Montana is the from the Spanish word from mountainous.
State Nickname - Big Sky Country, Treasure State
State Motto - "Oro y plata" - Gold and Silver
State Song - Montana

Dinosaur Fossils Found in Montana - Albertosaurus, Aliwalia, Anatotitan, Ankylosaurus,Apatosaurus, Avaceratops, Bambiraptor, Brachyceratops, Ceratops, Claosaurus, Deinodon,Deinonychus, Diclonius, Diplodocus, Dysganus, Edmontonia, Edmontosaurus, Eucentrosaurus,Hadrosaurus, Hypacrosaurus, Lambeosaurus, Maiasaura peeblesorum, Microvenator,Monoclonius, Montanoceratops, Nanotyrannus, Ornithomimus, Orodromeus,Pachycephalosaurus, Palaeoscincus, Panoplosaurus, Parksosaurus, Pleurocoelus,Pterodactyloids*, Sauropelta, Stegoceras, Stygimoloch, Suuwassea, Tenontosaurus,Thescelosaurus, Torosaurus, Trachodon, Triceratops, Troödon, Tyrannosaurus, Ugrosaurus,Zapsailis, Zephyrosaurus 

Montana State Symbols and Emblems:

State FlagMontana's official flag was adopted in 1905. The flag has a deep blue field with "Montana" written in yellow, with the state seal below. The seal pictures a beautiful Montana lansdcape: the Rocky Mountains, cliffs, a waterfall, and river beneath a golden sky with white clouds and white sun rays. A plow represents agriculture; a pick and shovel represent mining. A ribbon below the scene states Montana's motto, "Oro y plata" [meaning "Gold and Silver" in Spanish].

Animal Symbols:

State Bird Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)

State Animal Grizzly bear

State FishCutthroat trout

State Fossil Maiasaura peeblesorum A duckbilled dinosaur - it was also the first dinosaur fossil launched into space!

Plant Symbols:

State FlowerBitterroot

State TreePonderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)

State GrassBluebunch wheatgrass

Earth Symbols:

State GemstonesSapphire and Montana agate

State SoilBlackdog (unofficial)

Related Pages:

Montana: Map/Quiz Printout Answer geography questions about Montana using the map on this quiz. Answers	Montana: Outline Map Printout An outline map of Montana to print.	Montana: US State Dot to Dot Mystery Map Connect the dots to draw the borders of a mystery state of the USA. Then use a globe or atlas to figure out which state you have drawn. You might want to give students clues, such as that it is on the on the Canadian border, that its capital is Helena, or that its name starts with "M." Answer: Montana.	Montana: Label Me! Printout Label the major features of Montana. Answers
Montana's Flag Printout/Quiz Read about and answer questions on the flag of Montana.	Montana's Flag: Large Coloring Printable A large black-and-white printable of the flag of Montana.	Lewis and Clark: Follow the Instructions Color the trail that Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery followed in their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase according to simple directions, such as, "In the spring, they continued with Sacagawea (a Shoshone Indian) and her husband, traveling up river to what is now Montana. Color Montana light green." For beginning readers. Or go to the answers.	Lewis and Clark: Follow the Instructions #2 Color the trail that Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery followed in their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase according to simple directions, such as, "In the spring of 1805 the Corps continued with Sacagawea (a Shoshone Indian) and her husband Charbonneau along the Missouri River to what is now Montana. Color Montana light green." For fluent readers. Or go to the answers.

Your State: Draw and Write Draw a map of the state that you live in (in the USA) and write about it.	US State - Find Related Words For a US state, write eight words related to the state, then use each word in a sentence.	US State Graphic Organizer For one US state, write the name of the state, draw a map of the state, then write the state capital, postal abbreviation, date of statehood, state bird (draw and write), state flower (draw and write), a major body of water in the state, two bordering states, and state nickname.	US State Report Graphic Organizer Printout #1 This printout helps the student do a short report on a US state, prompting the student to draw a map of the state, locate it on a US map, draw the state's flag, and write its capital city, state nickname, area, population, date of statehood, and state bird.
US State Report Graphic Organizer Printout #2 This printout helps the student do a short report on a US state, prompting the student to draw a map of the state, locate it on a US map, draw the state's flag, and write its capital city, state nickname, area, population, date of statehood, state bird, state flower, climate, and major industries.	US State Printable Book A short, printable book on a US state. To complete the book, the student must research a US state, draw its map, draw its flag, and answer simple questions about the state.	USA Map: Find Your State Find and label your state in the USA, and label other important geography. Answers	USA Map: Where I Live Write your country, state, and city, and then find and label your state (and a few other geographical features).
Write Ten Things About Your State A one-page printable worksheet. Write ten things about your state (plus one thing you would like to change).	US State Wheel This 2-page print-out makes a wheel about a single US state; the student fills out the information on the wheel. It consists of a base page together with a rear wheel that spins around. After putting the wheel together, the student follows the instructions on the front wheel (coloring in the state on a US map and drawing a small map of the state) and fills out the 12 sections of the wheel with information about one state. When you spin the wheel, facts about the US State appear, including: Biggest Cities, Capital, Flag, Bodies of Water, Postal Abbreviation, State Bird, Population (rank), Area (rank), Residents Called, Bordered by, Major Industries, and Entered Union (order).	US State - Find a Related Word for Each Letter For a US state, see if you can think of and write down a word or phrase that is related to that state for each letter of the alphabet. Think of cities, famous people from the state, bodies of water, mountains, landmarks, and other features. Find words for as many letters as you can.	The Census A census is an official count of the number of people in a region. The survey is done by a government, usually periodically. This page explains how and why censuses are taken.
Census: Printable Read-and-Answer Worksheet A printable worksheet on the census, with a short text to read, a map to color, and questions to answer. Or go to the answers. Or go to a pdf file with the worksheet and the answers.