Montana Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.state.mt.us/

Income

The population of Montana in 2002 was 910,372. Its rank was 44th in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Montana had a per capita personal income of $24,831. This per capita personal income ranked 46th in the United States and was 80 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 3.3 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Montana was $16,867 and ranked 45th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 3.9 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Montana had a total personal income of $22,605,735. This total personal income ranked 46th in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Montana was $13,928,172 and ranked 47th in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 3.8 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 5.0 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Montana. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 61.5 percent of total personal income (compared with 61.4 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 21.7 percent (compared with 22.2 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 16.8 percent (compared with 16.4 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 4.3 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 1.2 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 5.7 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 5.0 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 4.7 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 5.2 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Montana increased from $15,130,177 in 2001 to $15,824,693 in 2002, an increase of 4.6 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $9,843,120 to the 2002 estimate was 4.9 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Montana is bounded on the north by the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan; on the east by North Dakota and South Dakota; on the south by Wyoming and Idaho; and on the west by Idaho. Montana is the nation's fourth largest state, covering 380,847 sq km (147,046 sq mi), including 3859 sq km (1490 sq mi) of inland waters. The land area of Montana is more than three times that of Pennsylvania and about the same as that of Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana combined. The state's extreme dimensions are 517 km (321 mi) from north to south and 877 km (545 mi) from east to west. The mean elevation is about 1040 m (about 3400 ft).

Climate - Climatic regions in Montana coincide roughly with the two major physiographic regions. In western Montana, as compared with the eastern plains area, winters tend to be milder while summers are cooler. Precipitation is more evenly distributed throughout the year in the west, and it is cloudier and somewhat more humid in all seasons. In addition, the growing season is shorter in the west, where some intermountain areas experience only 50 to 100 days without frost a year. Eastern Montana has colder winters, warmer summers, less cloudiness, the heaviest precipitation in late spring and early summer, and considerably higher average wind velocities. Frost- free periods in the east and in the state's low-lying river valleys range from 120 to 150 days per year. Climatic extremes in Montana are great. The lowest official temperature on record is -57° C (-70° F), while the warmest is 47° C (117° F). July mean temperatures range from about 22° C (about 72° F) in southeastern Montana to about 16° C (about 60° F) in the higher southwest. January means vary from less than -14° C (6° F) in the northeast to about -4° C (about 24° F) in the valleys of western Montana. Most of the eastern plains section and the larger valleys of the west average about 380 mm (about 15 in) of precipitation a year, while the higher mountain districts can receive more than 1300 mm (50 in). Snowfall normally is heaviest in the mountains of the west, with as much as 7600 mm (300 in) falling in some years. Storms of several types occur in Montana. Summer hailstorms may cause severe crop and property damage.

State Flag

State Flower - Bitterroot

State Capitol - Helena
Montana is governed under a constitution adopted in 1972. This constitution went into effect in 1973, replacing the state's original constitution, in effect from 1889. An amendment to the constitution may be proposed by the legislature, by initiative, or by a constitutional convention. To be ratified, an amendment must be approved by a majority of the people voting on the issue in a general election.

Famous People

Chet Huntley journalist, TV newscaster, Cardwell
Dana Carvey comedian, Missoula
David Lynch filmmaker, Missoula
Dirk Benedict actor, Helena
Dorothy Baker author, Missoula
Evel Knievel daredevil motorcyclist, Butte
Gary Cooper actor, Helena
George Montgomery actor, Brady
Jeannette Rankin first woman elected to Congress, Missoula
Jerry Kramer football player, author, Jordan
Lester C. Thurow economist, educator, Livingston
Martha Raye actress, Butte
Michael Smuin choreographer
Myrna Loy actress, Helena
Will James writer, artist, Great Falls