Full History Of Montana In Timeline From 1900

1900: Asian population decline

In the 1890s, public opinion grew increasingly negative towards the Chinese in Montana, and nearly half of the state's Asian population left by 1900.

1900: Average temperature increasing

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

1902: Reclamation Act

In 1902, The Reclamation Act was passed, which allowed irrigation projects to be built in Montana's eastern river valleys.

1902: Publication of "The Story of Mary MacLane"

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

1907: Charles Nelson Pray

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

1909: Enlarged Homestead Act

In 1909, Congress passed the Enlarged Homestead Act, expanding free land from 160 to 320 acres per family.

1909: Elections Become Nonpartisan

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

1910: Homestead Claims Filed

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

1910: Census and Reapportionment

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

1911: Nonpartisan Law Struck Down

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

1912: Homestead Claim Time Reduction

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

1913: Charles Nelson Pray

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

1913: Thomas J. Walsh

From 1913 to 1933, Thomas J. Walsh served as one of Montana's historically prominent senators.

1913: Montana Receives Second Representative

In 1913, Montana received a second representative in the United States House of Representatives.

1914: Women Granted the Vote

In 1914, Montana granted women the right to vote.

1916: Jeannette Rankin Elected

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

1916: Stock-Raising Homestead Act

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

1916: Establishment of Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation

The Chippewa-Cree nation was established on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation in 1916 near Box Elder.

June 1917: Speculator Mine Disaster

Following ramped-up mine production and the Speculator Mine disaster in June 1917, Industrial Workers of the World organizer Frank Little arrived in Butte to organize miners.

June 1917: Espionage Act Passed

In June 1917, the U.S. Congress passed the Espionage Act of 1917.

August 1, 1917: Frank Little Lynched

On August 1, 1917, Industrial Workers of the World organizer Frank Little was lynched in Butte.

1917: Peak of Homesteads

At the peak of 1917–1918, the Great Falls land office had 14,000 new homesteads each year.

1917: Rankin Voted Against War

In 1917, Jeannette Rankin voted against the United States' declaration of war.

1917: Droughts Devastate Farmers

The droughts of 1917 started a period of hardship for farmers in Montana.

February 1918: Montana Sedition Act Passed

In February 1918, the Montana legislature passed the Montana Sedition Act, criminalizing criticism of the U.S. government.

1918: Peak of Homesteads

At the peak of 1917–1918, the Great Falls land office had 14,000 new homesteads each year.

1918: Montanans in WWI

In 1917-1918, About 40,000 Montanans, 10% of the state's population, volunteered or were drafted into the armed forces.

1918: Rising Emotions and Influenza

In 1918, emotions rose in the wake of the legislative action, and the influenza epidemic claimed the lives of more than 5,000 Montanans.

1919: Move to District Elections

Beginning in 1919, Montana moved to district elections for its two House members.

1919: Number of Justices Increased

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

1919: Significant Drops

Significant drops in homesteads occurred in 1919 following the drought.

1921: Droughts Devastate Farmers

The droughts of 1917-1921 proved devastating to farmers. Many people left Montana, and half the banks in the state went bankrupt.

1923: Acres Farmed

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

1923: Burton K. Wheeler

From 1923 to 1947, Burton K. Wheeler served as one of Montana's historically prominent senators.

1933: Thomas J. Walsh

From 1913 to 1933, Thomas J. Walsh served as one of Montana's historically prominent senators.

1934: Indian Reorganization Act

The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 enabled the creation of seven Indian reservations in Montana.

1935: New Law Enacted

In 1935, a new law was enacted that barred political parties from endorsing or contributing to judicial candidates.

July 5, 1937: Record High Temperatures

On July 5, 1937, Medicine Lake recorded a temperature of 117 °F or 47.2 °C.

1940: Jeannette Rankin Elected to Congress

In 1940, Jeannette Rankin was again elected to Congress.

December 8, 1941: US Enters WWII

On December 8, 1941, the U.S. entered World War II, and many Montanans enlisted in the military.

1941: Rankin Voted Against WWII Declaration

In 1941, Jeannette Rankin voted against the United States' declaration of war after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

1942: Camp Rimini Established

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

1947: Burton K. Wheeler

From 1923 to 1947, Burton K. Wheeler served as one of Montana's historically prominent senators.

1947: Military Air Transport Service

In 1947, Montana became host to U.S. Air Force Military Air Transport Service.

1948: Republican Senator Elected

Beginning with the 1988 election, Montana elected a Republican governor for the first time since 1964 and sent a Republican to the U.S. Senate for the first time since 1948.

1952: Republican nominee

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

1953: Strategic Air Command

In 1953 Strategic Air Command air and missile forces were based at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

January 20, 1954: Coldest temperature recorded

On January 20, 1954, Montana recorded its coldest temperature on record, which is also the coldest temperature for the contiguous United States, at −70 °F near Rogers Pass.

December 1959: Malmstrom AFB Chosen

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

1959: Lee Enterprises Buys Montana Newspapers

In 1959, Lee Enterprises bought several Montana newspapers, changing the media landscape previously dominated by copper company-owned newspapers.

1961: James F. Battin

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

1962: Minuteman Missiles

In early 1962, the first operational Minuteman I missiles were in place in Montana.

1964: Republican Governor Elected

Beginning with the 1988 election, Montana elected a Republican governor for the first time since 1964 and sent a Republican to the U.S. Senate for the first time since 1948.

1964: Wilderness Act

In 1964, the National Wilderness Preservation System was established by the Wilderness Act.

1968: Air Defense Command

From 1953 to 1968, Malmstrom AFB hosted the 29th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Air Defense Command.

1968: Democratic Dominance

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

1969: James F. Battin

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

1971: Call for a State Constitutional Convention

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

January 15, 1972: Most extreme temperature change

On January 15, 1972, Loma experienced the most extreme recorded temperature change in a 24-hour period in the United States when a chinook wind caused the temperature to rise from −54 to 49 °F.

June 20, 1972: New Constitution Ratified

On June 20, 1972, Montana's new constitution was declared ratified after narrowly being approved by voters, with a vote of 116,415 to 113,883.

1972: Constitutional Convention

In 1972, Montana voters amended the 1889 constitution 37 times.

1972: Voters Determine Whether to Hold a New Constitutional Convention

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

1972: Amendments to the Constitution

The 1972 constitution has been amended 31 times.

1972: Length of Term of Office

The 1972 constitution lengthened the term of office to eight years and established the minimum number of justices at five.

1973: Montana Water Use Act

In 1973, the Montana Water Use Act was established.

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 introduced a state severance tax on coal that varied from 20 to 30%.

1974: Establishment of a Reclamation Trust

In 1974, a major amendment established a reclamation trust to restore mined land.

1975: Montana Worker's Compensation Act

In 1975, The Montana Worker's Compensation Court was established by the Montana Workers' Compensation Act.

1976: Establishment of a Coal Tax Trust Fund

In 1976, a major amendment established a coal tax trust fund, funded by a tax on coal extraction.

1976: National Wild and Scenic River Designation

In 1976, the stretch of the Missouri River between Fort Benton and the Fred Robinson Bridge was designated a National Wild and Scenic River.

1978: Max Baucus

From 1978 to 2014, Max Baucus served as Montana's longest-serving U.S. senator.

1978: Paul G. Hatfield

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

1978: Conversion of Mandatory Decennial Review

In 1978, a major amendment converted the mandatory decennial review of county government into a voluntary one.

1979: Montana Water Court Act

In 1979, the Montana Water Court was established by the Montana Water Court Act.

1979: Number of Justices Increased

In 1979, the legislature increased the number of justices by two.

1980: Native American population growth

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

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 of Commonwealth Edison Co. v. Montana, 453 U.S. 609.

1985: Resort Tax Law

In 1985, the Montana Legislature passed a law allowing towns with fewer than 5,500 residents and unincorporated communities with fewer than 2,500 residents to levy a resort tax if more than half the community's income came from tourism.

1988: Republican Governor Elected

Beginning with the 1988 election, Montana elected a Republican governor for the first time since 1964 and sent a Republican to the U.S. Senate for the first time since 1948.

1988: Public Assistance

In 1988, a major amendment converted the provision of public assistance from a mandatory civil right to a non-fundamental legislative prerogative.

1990: Tribal diversity

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

1990: Native American population growth

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

1990: Constitutional Convention Turned Down

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

1990: Montana Loses House Seat

In the reapportionment following the 1990 census, Montana lost one of its House seats.

1990: Lost Second District

Montana had only one representative in the U.S. House after having lost its second district in the 1990 census reapportionment.

1992: Bill Clinton Won Plurality Victory

In 1992, Montana last supported a Democrat for president, when Bill Clinton won a plurality victory.

1992: Release of "A River Runs Through It"

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

1992: Term Limits Implemented

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

1994: Republican Control of Legislature

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

1996: Republican Congressional Seats

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

1999: Indian Education for All Act

The Indian Education for All Act was passed in 1999 to provide funding for the state constitutional mandate on Indian education.

2000: English as primary language

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

2000: Native American population growth

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

2002: Release of "The Slaughter Rule"

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

2004: Split Party Control

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

2004: Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish

In 2004, a new constitutional right to hunt and fish was established.

2004: Reapportionment

The 2004 reapportionment produced more swing districts and a brief period of Democratic legislative majorities.

2004: Lawsuit over lack of funding

The state was sued in 2004 because of lack of funding for the Indian Education for All Act, leading to increased state support of the program.

2005: Brian Morris

From 2005 to 2013, Brian Morris served as an associate justice of the Montana Supreme Court.

May 2006: Pardons Issued for Sedition Act Violators

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

2006: Conservative Shift

Between 1988 and 2006, the pattern flipped, with voters more likely to elect conservatives to federal offices.

July 2007: Hottest Month on Record

During July 2007, many Montana cities set heat records, marking it as the hottest month ever recorded in Montana.

August 2007: Request for USS Montana Submarine

In August 2007, Senator Jon Tester asked that a submarine be christened USS Montana.

2007: South Dakota Passed Similar Legislation

South Dakota passed similar legislation to the Indian Education for All Act in 2007, and Wisconsin was working to strengthen its own program based on this model.

2008: Presidential Election

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 American Population in Urban Areas

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

2009: Students speaking a language other than English

In 2009, the U.S. Department of Education estimated that 5,274 students in Montana spoke a language other than English at home.

2010: U.S. Census Population Data

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Butte, Helena and Kalispell are the seven largest communities in Montana.

2010: Native American Population Data

According to the 2010 census, Montana is 19th in native people, who are 6.5% of the state's population.

2010: Native American tribes residing in Montana

According to the 2010 census, many Montanans reported belonging to various Native American tribes.

2010: Media Market Ranking

As of 2010, Missoula was the 166th largest media market in the United States as ranked by Nielsen Media Research.

2010: Largest Christian Denominations

As of 2010, the largest Christian denominations in Montana were the Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and non-denominational evangelical Protestants.

2010: Largest European ancestry groups

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

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 from 2010 to 2020.

2010: Patient Protection

In 2010, Max Baucus shepherded the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act through the Senate.

2010: Constitutional Convention Turned Down

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

2010: Native American population in largest cities

In 2010, Polson, Havre, Great Falls, Billings, and Anaconda had the greatest percentages of Native American residents.

2010: Republican Control

In 2010, the mid-term elections decisively returned both branches to Republican control.

2010: Prohibition on New Taxes

In 2010, there was a prohibition on new taxes on the sale or transfer of real property.

2010: Dakota speakers

In 2010, there were about 700 Dakota speakers in Montana.

2010: Failed to Regain Seat

Montana's population grew at about the national average during the 2000s, but it had failed to regain its second seat in 2010.

December 2011: Montana Reaches One Million Population

The Census and Economic Information Center estimated that Montana had hit the one million population mark sometime between November and December 2011.

2011: Craft Breweries per Capita

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 Reaches One Million Population

On January 3, 2012, the CEIC estimated that Montana had reached 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.

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: Population Estimate

Based on 2013 census numbers, the "big seven" 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: Brian Morris

From 2005 to 2013, Brian Morris served as an associate justice of the Montana Supreme Court.

2013: Billings Clinic Named One of Safest Hospitals

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

2013: Other languages spoken

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

2013: Bozeman Airport Busiest in Montana

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

2014: Least Obese State

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: Max Baucus

From 1978 to 2014, Max Baucus served as Montana's longest-serving U.S. senator.

2014: Irreligious Population

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

2014: Steve Daines Elected

In 2014, Steve Daines was first elected as one of Montana's U.S. senators.

2014: Spending Increases

In 2014, spending on state supreme court races exponentially increased to $1.6 million.

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 would be named USS Montana.

2015: Percentage of Military Veterans

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

2015: Steve Daines

Since 2015, Montana's Senate seats have been held by Republicans Steve Daines.

2015: Amendments to the Constitution

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

2016: Extensive New Constitutional Rights

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

2016: Spending Increases

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

2017: Economic Impact of Tourism

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

2018: Tourism in Montana

In 2018, approximately 12.2 million non-residents visited Montana, while the population was estimated to be 1.06 million. This disproportionate ratio of visitors to residents makes Montana's resort tax crucial for maintaining roads, highways, and state parks.

2018: Top countries of origin for Montana immigrants

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

2019: Tourism in Montana

In 2019, tourism was Montana's fastest-growing sector, with 12.6 million tourists visiting the state.

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.

April 2020: Highest Unemployment Rate

In April 2020, Montana's unemployment rate peaked at 12.0%.

2020: Population by Race

According to the 2020 census, 88.9% of the population was White (87.8% non-Hispanic 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: Irreligious Population

In 2020, 34% of Montana's population identified as irreligious.

2020: Identification as Native American

In 2020, 67,612 people in Montana self-identified as Native American, while 100,578 did in combination with one or more other races.

2020: Greg Gianforte Elected Governor

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

2020: Steve Daines Reelected

In 2020, Steve Daines was reelected as one of Montana's U.S. senators.

2020: Largest Christian Denominations

In 2020, the largest Christian denominations in Montana were the Catholic Church, non-denominational Protestantism, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

2020: Voting Easiest State

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

2020: Reapportionment

In the reapportionment following the 2020 census, Montana regained a House seat.

2020: Regained Second District

Montana regained its second district due to reapportionment following the 2020 census.

2020: Census Data

The 2020 census put Montana's population at 1,084,225. From 2010 to 2020 Gallatin County had a 32.9% increase in population. Kalispell saw a 40.1% increase and Billings saw an increase of 12,946 residents.

2021: Senate

As of 2021, the Montana Senate is controlled by Republicans 31 to 19.

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: Religious Affiliations

In 2022, the Public Religion Research Institute's (PRRI) survey showed that Christianity grew to 62% of the population, with 43% Protestant, 17% Catholic, and 2% Restorationist through Mormonism.

2022: Montana's Gross Domestic Product

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