History of Montana in Timeline

Montana, a landlocked state in the Mountain West, is bordered by Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and three Canadian provinces. It is the fourth-largest state by area, yet sparsely populated. Helena is its capital, while Billings is the most populous city. The western part is mountainous, while the eastern part features prairies and badlands.

1900: Decline in Asian population

By 1900, nearly half of Montana's Asian population had left due to increasingly negative public opinion.

1900: Temperature increase since 1900

Since 1900, the average temperature in Montana has increased by almost 2.5 °F (1.3 °C), a rate higher than the continental U.S. average.

1902: Mary MacLane's Memoir

In 1902, pioneering feminist author Mary MacLane gained international fame with her memoir, The Story of Mary MacLane, detailing three months of her life in Butte.

The Story of Mary MacLane: I Await The Devil's Coming

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1902: Reclamation Act Passed

In 1902, the Reclamation Act was enacted, facilitating the construction of irrigation projects in the river valleys of eastern Montana.

1907: Charles Nelson Pray Served in U.S. House of Representatives

Charles Nelson Pray served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1907 to 1913.

1909: Judicial Elections Become Nonpartisan

Beginning in 1909, elections for judicial office in Montana became nonpartisan.

1909: Enlarged Homestead Act Passed

In 1909, the U.S. Congress passed the Enlarged Homestead Act, which increased the amount of free land available to each family from 160 to 320 acres.

1910: Homestead Claims Filed on Over Five Million Acres

By 1910, homesteaders had filed claims on over five million acres of land in Montana.

1910: 1910 Census and Reapportionment

Following the 1910 census and reapportionment, Montana received a second representative in 1913.

1911: Nonpartisan Law Struck Down

In 1911, the Montana Supreme Court struck down the nonpartisan law on technical grounds.

1912: Homestead Claim Time Reduced

In 1912, the time required to "prove up" on a homestead claim was reduced to three years.

1913: Charles Nelson Pray's Term Ended

Charles Nelson Pray's Term Ended in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1907 to 1913.

1913: Montana Receives Second Representative

In 1913, Montana received a second representative in the United States House of Representatives, following the 1910 census and reapportionment.

1913: Thomas J. Walsh Served as Senator

Thomas J. Walsh served as a Senator for Montana from 1913 to 1933.

1914: Women Granted the Vote

In 1914, Montana granted women the right to vote.

1916: Jeannette Rankin Elected to Congress

In 1916, Jeannette Rankin was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first woman to hold national office in the United States.

1916: Establishment of Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation

In 1916, the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation was established near Box Elder for the Chippewa-Cree.

1916: Stock-Raising Homestead Act Passed

In 1916, the Stock-Raising Homestead Act was enacted, allowing homesteads of 640 acres in areas unsuitable for irrigation.

June 1917: Speculator Mine Disaster

In June 1917, the Speculator Mine disaster occurred, leading to increased labor unrest and the arrival of Industrial Workers of the World organizer Frank Little in Butte.

June 1917: Espionage Act Passed

In June 1917, the U.S. Congress passed the Espionage Act of 1917, later extended by the Sedition Act of 1918.

August 1, 1917: Frank Little Lynched

On August 1, 1917, Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) organizer Frank Little was lynched in Butte, Montana, by masked vigilantes for his anti-war rhetoric. This event led to the deployment of the National Guard to restore order.

1917: Jeannette Rankin Votes Against War Declaration

In 1917, Jeannette Rankin, Montana's representative and the first woman in Congress, voted against the United States' declaration of war, facing widespread criticism.

1917: Devastating Drought Begins

In 1917, Montana began to experience a severe drought that lasted until 1921, proving devastating for farmers.

1917: Peak Homesteading Year Begins

In 1917, homesteading reached its peak, with the Great Falls land office alone processing more than 14,000 new homesteads each year.

February 1918: Montana Sedition Act Passed

In February 1918, the Montana legislature passed the Montana Sedition Act, which criminalized criticism of the U.S. government, military, or symbols.

1918: Montanans in WWI

In 1917-1918, approximately 40,000 Montanans, 10% of the state's population, served in the armed forces during World War I. Montana provided over 10,000 cavalry horses through Miles City's Remount station.

1918: Rising Emotions and Influenza Epidemic

In 1918, emotions rose due to legislative action, and the influenza epidemic claimed over 5,000 lives in Montana. German language books were burned and civil liberties were suppressed.

1918: Peak Homesteading Year Continues

In 1918, the Great Falls land office continued to process more than 14,000 new homesteads each year, reflecting the peak of homesteading in the region.

1919: Montana Moves to District Elections

Beginning in 1919, Montana moved to district, rather than at-large, elections for its two House members, creating Montana's 1st and 2nd congressional districts.

1919: Number of Supreme Court Justices Increased

In 1919, the Montana legislature increased the number of Supreme Court justices to five.

1919: Significant Drop Following Drought

In 1919, there was a significant drop in homestead filings due to the ongoing drought conditions.

1921: Devastating Drought Ends

In 1921, the devastating drought that started in 1917 came to an end, leaving many farmers bankrupt and causing significant economic hardship.

1923: Burton K. Wheeler Served as Senator

Burton K. Wheeler served as a Senator for Montana from 1923 to 1947.

1923: Over 93 Million Acres Farmed

By 1923, over 93 million acres of land in Montana were being farmed.

1933: Thomas J. Walsh's Death

Thomas J. Walsh, who served as a Senator for Montana from 1913, died in 1933.

1934: Indian Reorganization Act

The Indian Reorganization Act (1934) enabled the creation of seven Indian reservations, encompassing 11 federally recognized tribal nations, in Montana.

1935: New Nonpartisan Law Enacted

In 1935, a new law was enacted which barred political parties from endorsing, making contributions to, or making expenditures on behalf of or against judicial candidates.

July 5, 1937: Record high temperature at Medicine Lake

On July 5, 1937, Medicine Lake recorded a temperature of 117 °F (47.2 °C), marking one of the highest summer temperatures observed in Montana.

1940: Jeannette Rankin Re-elected to Congress

In 1940, Jeannette Rankin was re-elected to Congress, continuing her political career.

December 8, 1941: US Enters World War II

On December 8, 1941, the U.S. entered World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor, leading many Montanans to enlist in the military. Montana became a training ground for the First Special Service Force and hosted air bases for preparing planes to be sent to the Soviet Union.

1941: Rankin Votes Against WWII Declaration

In 1941, Jeannette Rankin voted against the United States' declaration of war after the attack on Pearl Harbor, becoming the only dissenting vote. This action led to public outcry and required police protection for her.

1942: Camp Rimini Established

In 1942, the U.S. Army established Camp Rimini near Helena for training sled dogs in winter conditions.

1947: End of Burton K. Wheeler's Senate Term

Burton K. Wheeler finished his term as a Senator for Montana in 1947, after serving since 1923.

1947: Military Air Transport Service

In 1947, Montana became host to U.S. Air Force Military Air Transport Service for airlift training in C-54 Skymasters.

1948: Last Republican Senator Before 1988

Before 1988, the last time Montana had a Republican Senator was in 1948.

1952: Start of Republican Dominance in Presidential Elections

Since 1952, Montana has voted for the Republican nominee in all but two presidential elections.

1953: Strategic Air Command Air and Missile Forces Based at Malmstrom AFB

In 1953, Strategic Air Command air and missile forces were based at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls. The base also hosted the 29th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Air Defense Command.

January 20, 1954: Coldest temperature recorded in Montana

On January 20, 1954, a temperature of -70 °F (-56.7 °C) was recorded at a gold mining camp near Rogers Pass, Montana, marking the coldest temperature ever recorded in the contiguous United States. On the same date, Helena recorded a low of -36 °F (-37.8 °C).

December 1959: Malmstrom AFB Selected for Minuteman I

In December 1959, Malmstrom AFB was chosen as the home of the new Minuteman I intercontinental ballistic missile.

1959: Lee Enterprises Buys Newspapers

In 1959, Lee Enterprises bought several Montana newspapers, changing the media landscape from the era when each copper company had its own newspaper.

1961: James F. Battin Served in U.S. House of Representatives

James F. Battin served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1961 to 1969.

1961: Lee Metcalf Served as Senator

Lee Metcalf served as a Senator for Montana from 1961 to 1978.

1962: Minuteman I Missiles Operational

In early 1962, the first operational Minuteman I missiles were in place and ready at Malmstrom AFB. Later in 1962, the missiles played a key role in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

1964: Last Democratic Governor Before 1988

Before 1988, the last time Montana had a Democratic governor was in 1964.

1964: Montana, High, Wide, and Handsome Published

In 1964, Joseph Kinsey Howard's book, Montana, High, Wide, and Handsome, was published.

1964: Wilderness Act Established

In 1964, the Wilderness Act established the National Wilderness Preservation System, which includes approximately 3,300,000 acres of wilderness in 12 separate areas in Montana.

1968: 29th Fighter Interceptor Squadron Ended

From 1953 to 1968, the 29th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Air Defense Command was hosted at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

1968: Start of Democratic Party Dominance

From 1968 through 1988, Montana was dominated by the Democratic Party.

1969: James F. Battin's Term Ended

James F. Battin's Term Ended in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1961 to 1969.

1971: Constitutional Convention Approved

In 1971, Montana voters approved the call for a state constitutional convention.

January 15, 1972: Extreme temperature change in Loma

On January 15, 1972, Loma experienced the most extreme recorded temperature change in a 24-hour period in the United States, rising from -54 °F to 49 °F (-47.8 °C to 9.4 °C) due to a chinook wind.

June 20, 1972: New Constitution Ratified

On June 20, 1972, Montana's new constitution was declared ratified after being narrowly approved by voters.

1972: Term of Office Lengthened

In 1972, the Montana constitution lengthened the term of office for Supreme Court justices to eight years and established the minimum number of justices at five.

1972: Amendments to the 1889 Constitution

Montana voters amended the 1889 constitution 37 times between 1889 and 1972.

1972: Constitution Amended

The 1972 Montana constitution has been amended 31 times as of 2015.

1972: Constitutional Convention Requirement

The 1972 Montana constitution requires that voters determine every 20 years whether to hold a new constitutional convention.

1973: Montana Water Use Act of 1973

The Montana Water Court adjudicates water rights claims under the Montana Water Use Act of 1973.

1974: Montana Youth Court Act

In 1974, Montana Youth Courts were established by the Montana Youth Court Act.

1974: State Severance Tax on Coal

In 1974, Montana established a state severance tax on coal, which varied from 20 to 30%.

1974: Establishment of Reclamation Trust and Restoration of Sovereign Immunity

In 1974, major amendments to the 1972 constitution included the establishment of a reclamation trust and the restoration of sovereign immunity, when such immunity has been approved by a two-thirds vote in each house.

1975: Montana Worker's Compensation Court Established

In 1975, the Montana Worker's Compensation Court was established by the Montana Workers' Compensation Act. The court consists of a single judge appointed by the governor, and it has statewide jurisdiction to hear cases arising under the Montana Workers' Compensation Act.

1976: Establishment of Coal Tax Trust Fund

In 1976, a coal tax trust fund, funded by a tax on coal extraction, was established as a major amendment to the 1972 constitution.

1976: Missouri River Designated National Wild and Scenic River

In 1976, the section of the Missouri River between Fort Benton and the Fred Robinson Bridge at the western boundary of Fort Peck Reservoir was designated a National Wild and Scenic River.

1978: County Government Review

In 1978, the mandatory decennial review of county government was converted into a voluntary one, to be approved or disallowed by residents in each county, as an amendment to the 1972 constitution.

1978: Max Baucus Served as Senator

Max Baucus served as a Senator for Montana from 1978 to 2014.

1978: Paul G. Hatfield Served as U.S. Senator

Paul G. Hatfield served as an appointed U.S. Senator in 1978.

1979: Montana Water Court Act of 1979

In 1979, the Montana Water Court was established by the Montana Water Court Act. The Water Court consists of a chief water judge, four district water judges and 12 permanent special masters.

1979: Legislature Increased Number of Justices

In 1979, the Montana legislature increased the number of Supreme Court justices by two, following authorization in the 1972 constitution.

1980: Growth of Native American population

Between 1980 and 1990, Montana's Native American population grew by 27.9%, while the state's entire population rose by 1.6%.

1981: Commonwealth Edison Co. v. Montana

In 1981, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld Montana's 1974 state severance tax on coal in the case Commonwealth Edison Co. v. Montana, 453 U.S. 609.

1985: Resort Tax Law Passed

In 1985, the Montana Legislature passed a law allowing towns with fewer than 5,500 residents and unincorporated communities with fewer than 2,500 to levy a resort tax if more than half the community's income came from tourism. The resort tax is a sales tax that applies to hotels, motels and other lodging and camping facilities; restaurants, fast-food stores, and other food service establishments; taverns, bars, night clubs, lounges, or other public establishments that serve alcohol; as well as destination ski resorts or other destination recreational facilities.

1988: Republican Governor Elected

In 1988, Montana elected a Republican governor for the first time since 1964.

1988: Public Assistance Provision

In 1988, the provision of public assistance was converted from a mandatory civil right to a non-fundamental legislative prerogative as an amendment to the 1972 constitution.

1990: Montana Loses Second House District

After the 1990 census reapportionment, Montana had only one representative in the U.S. House, losing its second district.

1990: Native American population growth

Between 1980 and 1990, Montana's Native American population grew by 27.9%.

1990: Tribal diversity in Montana

In 1990 census data indicated that people from as many as 275 different tribes lived in Montana.

1990: Voters Turned Down Constitutional Convention

In 1990, Montana voters turned down a new constitutional convention, with 84 percent voting no.

1992: Bill Clinton Wins Presidential Election in Montana

In 1992, Bill Clinton won a plurality victory in Montana, marking the last time the state supported a Democrat for president.

1992: Term Limits Implemented

In 1992, Montana voters approved a constitutional amendment implementing term limits for certain statewide elected executive branch offices and for members of the Montana Legislature.

1992: A River Runs Through It film

In 1992, Robert Redford's film adaptation of Norman Maclean's novel, A River Runs Through It, was filmed in Montana, bringing national attention to fly fishing and the state.

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A River Runs through It and Other Stories

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1994: Republican Party Takes Control of State Legislature

In 1994, the Republican Party took control of both chambers of the Montana state legislature.

1996: Republican Control of Congressional Seats

Since 1996, Montana's congressional seats have been Republican.

1999: Passage of the Indian Education for All Act

In 1999, the Indian Education for All Act was passed in Montana to provide funding for the preservation of American Indian cultural integrity in education.

2000: English speakers in Montana

According to the 2000 census, 94.8% of the population aged five and older in Montana spoke English at home.

2000: Increase in Native American Population

Between 2000 and 2010, Montana's Native American population increased by 18.5 percent.

2002: The Slaughter Rule Film

In 2002, the independent film The Slaughter Rule, which dramatizes six-man football teams in Montana's "Class C" high schools, was released.

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2004: Split Party Control in State Legislature

From 2004 to 2010, the two chambers of Montana's state legislature had split party control.

2004: Lawsuit due to lack of funding

In 2004, Montana was sued due to lack of funding for the Indian Education for All Act, leading to increased state support of the program.

2004: New Constitutional Rights and Prohibition on Same-Sex Marriage

In 2004, a new constitutional right to hunt and fish, and a now-defunct prohibition on same-sex marriage, were approved as amendments to the 1972 constitution.

2004: Legislative Districts Reapportioned

The 2004 reapportionment produced more swing districts, leading to a brief period of Democratic legislative majorities in Montana.

2005: Brian Morris Became Associate Justice of Montana Supreme Court

In 2005, Brian Morris became an associate justice of the Montana Supreme Court, serving until 2013.

May 2006: Pardons Issued for Sedition Act Convictions

In May 2006, Governor Brian Schweitzer posthumously issued full pardons for all those convicted of violating the Montana Sedition Act.

2006: End of Split-Ticket Voting Pattern

Through 2006, the pattern of split-ticket voting and divided government persisted in Montana.

July 2007: Hottest month recorded in Montana

During July 2007, Montana experienced its hottest month ever recorded, with many cities setting heat records.

August 2007: Request for USS Montana Submarine

In August 2007, Senator Jon Tester requested that a submarine be christened USS Montana to honor the state.

2007: South Dakota's similar legislation

In 2007, South Dakota passed similar legislation to Montana's Indian Education for All Act.

2008: John McCain Wins Presidential Election in Montana

In the 2008 presidential election, Montana was considered a swing state and was ultimately won by Republican John McCain by a narrow margin of two percent.

2009: Native Americans living in urban areas

As of 2009, almost two-thirds of Native Americans in Montana live in urban areas.

2009: Students speaking languages other than English

In 2009, the United States Department of Education estimated that 5,274 students in Montana spoke a language at home other than English, including Native American languages, German, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese.

2010: Media Market Ranking

As of 2010, Missoula was the 166th largest media market in the United States as ranked by Nielsen Media Research, while Billings was 170th, Great Falls was 190th, the Butte/Bozeman area 191st, and Helena was 206th.

2010: Largest European ancestry groups in Montana

As of 2010, the largest European ancestry groups in Montana were German (27.0%), Irish (14.8%), English (12.6%), Norwegian (10.9%), French (4.7%), and Italian (3.4%).

2010: Population concentration

From 2010 to 2020, population growth was mainly concentrated in Montana's seven largest counties, with the highest percentage growth in Gallatin County, which had a 32.9% increase in its population.

2010: Voters Turned Down Constitutional Convention

In 2010, Montana voters again turned down a new constitutional convention, with 58.6 percent voting no.

2010: Prohibition on New Taxes on Real Property

In 2010, a prohibition on new taxes on the sale or transfer of real property was added to the 1972 constitution.

2010: 2010 U.S. census

In 2010, according to the U.S. census, Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Butte, Helena and Kalispell were the seven largest communities in Montana.

2010: Republican Control Returns to State Legislature

In 2010, mid-term elections decisively returned both branches of Montana's state legislature to Republican control.

2010: Percentage of Native American residents in Montana's largest cities

In 2010, of Montana's 20 largest cities, Polson (15.7%), Havre (13.0%), Great Falls (5.0%), Billings (4.4%), and Anaconda (3.1%) had the greatest percentages of Native American residents.

2010: Christian Denominations in Montana

In 2010, the largest Christian denominations in Montana were the Catholic Church (127,612 adherents), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (46,484 adherents), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (38,665 adherents), and non-denominational evangelical Protestants (27,370 adherents).

2010: Dakota language speakers in Montana

In 2010, there were approximately 700 Dakota language speakers in Montana.

2010: Reported membership in Native American tribes

In the 2010 census, many Montanans reported belonging to various Native American tribes, with the largest being the Blackfeet, Crow, Cheyenne, Assiniboine Sioux, Chippewa Cree, and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

2010: Affordable Care Act shepherded through Senate

Max Baucus, Montana's Senator, shepherded the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act through the Senate in 2010.

2010: Montana Fails to Regain Second Seat

Montana failed to regain its second seat in the House in 2010, despite population growth.

2010: Native American population in Montana

Ranked 45th in population (by the 2010 census) Montana is 19th in native people, who are 6.5% of the state's population—the sixth-highest percentage of all fifty states.

December 2011: Estimated one million population mark

Sometime between November and December 2011, Montana was estimated to have hit the one million population mark.

2011: Microbrewing Ranking

In 2011, Montana ranked third in the nation in the number of craft breweries per capita.

2011: Spanish-language speakers

In 2011, there were about 13,040 Spanish-language speakers in Montana, representing 1.4% of the population.

January 3, 2012: Montana's Population

On January 3, 2012, the Census and Economic Information Center (CEIC) estimated Montana had hit the one million population mark sometime between November and December 2011.

2012: Judicial Nonpartisan Election Law Struck Down

In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Montana's judicial nonpartisan election law in American Tradition Partnership, Inc. v. Bullock, 567 U.S. ____ (Sup.Ct. 2012).

August 2013: FCC-Licensed Radio Stations

As of August 2013, there were 527 FCC-licensed FM radio stations and 114 AM stations broadcasting in Montana.

2013: Other languages spoken in Montana as of 2013

As of 2013, other languages spoken in Montana included Assiniboine, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Plains Cree, Crow, German Hutterite, Gros Ventre, Kalispel-Pend d'Oreille, Kutenai, and Lakota.

2013: Population based on 2013 census numbers

Based on 2013 census numbers, the seven largest communities contain 35 percent of Montana's population, and the counties in which they are located are home to 62 percent of the state's population.

2013: Billings Clinic Named Safest Hospital

In 2013, AARP The Magazine named the Billings Clinic one of the safest hospitals in the United States.

2013: Brian Morris Served as Associate Justice of Montana Supreme Court Ended

In 2013, Brian Morris served as associate justice of the Montana Supreme Court from 2005 ended.

2013: Bozeman Airport Busiest

In the spring of 2013, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport became the busiest airport in the state of Montana, surpassing Billings Logan International Airport.

2014: Least Obese State Ranking

According to the 2014 Gallup Poll, Montana was ranked as the least obese state in the U.S., with an obesity rate of 19.6%.

2014: Religious affiliations in Montana

According to the Pew Research Center in 2014, Christianity was the predominant religion in Montana, with 65% of the adult population identifying as Christian.

2014: Irreligious Population

In 2014, 30% of Montana's population identified as irreligious.

2014: Steve Daines Elected as U.S. Senator

In 2014, Steve Daines was first elected as a U.S. Senator for Montana.

2014: End of Max Baucus' Senate Term

Max Baucus finished his term as a Senator for Montana in 2014, after serving since 1978.

2014: Spending on State Supreme Court Races Increases

Spending on state supreme court races exponentially increased to $1.6 million in 2014, setting a new record.

September 3, 2015: USS Montana Submarine Announced

On September 3, 2015, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that Virginia Class attack submarine SSN-794 will be named USS Montana, becoming the second commissioned warship to bear the name.

2015: Constitution Amended

As of 2015, The 1972 Montana constitution has been amended 31 times.

2015: Percentage of U.S. military veterans living in Montana

In the 2015 United States census estimates, Montana had the second-highest percentage of U.S. military veterans living there, with roughly 12 percent of its population over 18 being veterans.

2015: Steve Daines Becomes Senator

Steve Daines becomes Senator of Montana since 2015.

2016: New Constitutional Rights for Victims of Crime

In 2016, extensive new constitutional rights for victims of crime were approved in Montana.

2016: Spending on State Supreme Court Races Increases Further

In 2016, spending on state supreme court races increased to more than $1.6 million, setting a new record.

2017: Economic Output of Fishing

In 2017, nonresidents generated $4.7 billion in economic output in Montana, with $1.3 billion generated by visitor groups participating in guided fishing experiences.

2018: Non-Resident Visitors

In 2018, approximately 12.2 million non-residents visited Montana, while the population was estimated to be 1.06 million, highlighting the importance of the resort tax for maintaining infrastructure.

2018: Top countries of origin for Montana's immigrants

In 2018, the top countries of origin for Montana's immigrants were Canada, Mexico, Germany, China, and Vietnam.

December 2019: Federal recognition of the Little Shell Tribe

In December 2019, the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Great Falls was recognized by the federal government.

2019: Tourism Boom

In 2019, Montana's tourism sector experienced rapid growth, attracting 12.6 million tourists to the state.

April 2020: Highest Unemployment Rate

In April 2020, Montana's unemployment rate reached its highest at 12.0%.

2020: Race and ethnicity data from the 2020 census

According to the 2020 census, 88.9% of Montana's population was White, 6.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.1% Hispanics and Latinos of any race, 0.9% Asian, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, and 2.8% from two or more races.

2020: Religious affiliations in Montana in 2020

At the 2020 Public Religion Research Institute's (PRRI) study, 57% of the adult population in Montana were Christian.

2020: Montana's population in 2020

In 2020 census, Montana's population was 1,084,225. During the first decade of the new century, growth was mainly concentrated in Montana's seven largest counties, with the highest percentage growth in Gallatin County, which had a 32.9% increase in its population from 2010 to 2020. The city having the largest percentage growth was Kalispell, with 40.1%, and the city with the largest increase in actual residents was Billings, with an increase in population of 12,946 from 2010 to 2020.

2020: Self-identified Native American population

In 2020, 67,612 people in Montana self-identified as Native American.

2020: Greg Gianforte Elected Governor

In 2020, Greg Gianforte, a Republican, was elected as the governor of Montana.

2020: Steve Daines Reelected as U.S. Senator

In 2020, Steve Daines was reelected as a U.S. Senator for Montana.

2020: Christian Denominations in Montana

In 2020, the largest Christian denominations in Montana were the Catholic Church (112,389 adherents), non-denominational Protestantism (54,540 adherents), and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (50,552 adherents).

2020: Montana Ranked as 21st Easiest State to Vote In

In a 2020 study, Montana was ranked as the 21st easiest state for citizens to vote in.

2020: Irreligious Population

In a separate study from 2020, it was found that 34% of Montana's population was irreligious.

2020: Montana Regains House Seat

In the reapportionment following the 2020 census, Montana regained a House seat, increasing the state's number of representatives in the House to two.

2022: Non-Christian Population Study

A PRRI study in 2022 showed that among Montana's non-Christian population, the unaffiliated made up 32%, New Age spirituality represented 2%, Judaism 1%, Buddhism 1%, and other faiths accounted for 2% of the state's population.

2022: Homeless population in Montana

According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 1,585 homeless people in Montana.

2022: Montana's Gross Domestic Product and Per Capita Income

As of 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis estimated Montana's Gross Domestic Product was $67.072 billion (47th in the nation) and per capita personal income was $60,984 (28th in the nation).

March 2023: Lowest Unemployment Rate

In March 2023, Montana's unemployment rate reached its lowest at 2.5%.

May 2023: TikTok and Temu Ban

In May 2023, Montana became the first US state to ban the social media app TikTok and online marketplace Temu.

July 1, 2023: Montana Population

On July 1, 2023, the United States Census Bureau stated that the population of Montana was 1,132,812, a 4.5% increase since the 2020 census.

2023: Suicide Rate

In 2023, Montana had a suicide rate of 26.6 per 100,000, the second highest in the U.S., only behind Alaska.

2023: Montana's Second Representative Returns

Starting in 2023, Montana had two representatives in the House after a thirty-year break.

2023: Change in Congressional Seat Representation

Until 2023, Montana had one at-large congressional district. Now there are two congressional seats.

November 2024: State Unemployment Rate

As of November 2024, Montana's unemployment rate is 3.2%.

2024: Montana Elections

Following the 2024 Montana elections, Republicans control the Montana Senate 32 to 18, and the Montana House of Representatives holds a 57 to 43 Republican majority.

2024: Senator Jon Tester Loses Reelection

In 2024, Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Tester lost reelection, leading to Montana having no Democratic statewide officeholders.

2024: Trauma I Hospital Verification

In 2024, Intermountain Health's St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Billings also received verification as a Trauma I hospital.

2024: Tim Sheehy Elected as U.S. Senator

In 2024, Tim Sheehy was elected as U.S. Senator for Montana.

2024: Constitutional Provision Codifying Abortion Rights

In 2024, a constitutional provision codifying abortion rights was added to the 1972 constitution.

January 3, 2025: Loss of Jon Tester's Senate Seat

On January 3, 2025, Montana was left with no Democratic statewide officeholders after Jon Tester lost reelection in 2024 and subsequently ceded his seat.