Billings (pop. 117,116; met. area pop. 184,167) is the largest city in Montana. It serves as a center of trade, tourism, health care, and higher education. It lies on the Yellowstone River, in south-central Montana.
Leading economic activities in the Billings area include health-care services, petroleum refining, and tourism. Major airlines, railroads, and truck lines serve the city. Billings is the home of Montana State University Billings and Rocky Mountain College.
Billings was founded in 1882, when the Northern Pacific Railroad (now part of the BNSF Railway) was built through the area. It was named for Frederick Billings, president of the railroad at that time.
During the 1970’s, Billings became a center for the offices of coal-mining, petroleum, and other related businesses. The industries helped cause a population boom, resulting in several construction projects. A 20-story bank and office building—Montana’s tallest—was completed in 1985. (A 22-story hotel and office building in the city is shorter and ranks as the state’s second tallest building.) Billings has a council-manager government.
