Discover 5 Of The Oldest Cities In Montana

Montana’s history is as varied and rugged as its landscape. From the original Native American inhabitants to the European and American explorers who traversed the area, Montana has always been a place of adventure. That remains no less true today. So much of the state is still natural and undeveloped. But Montana also has amazing cities with all the modern conveniences and entertainment you could want. It’s really the best of both worlds. In this article, we explore some of the oldest cities in Montana and their unique contributions to the state’s history.

Definitions of “city” vary widely. We’ve chosen somewhat arbitrarily to include just places with a population of at least 1,500 people as of the 2020 census. You’ll find plenty of incredible places ready to welcome you on your next vacation.

1. Helena, 1864

Helena, Montana had a population of 32,091 people in 2020. It’s the state capital and has been nicknamed. The “Queen City of the Rockies.” It was founded in 1864 at the same time Montana became a territory. The city started out as a gold mining camp and did pretty well at that because, by 1888, fifty millionaires lived there. In 2017 Helena elected Wilmot Collins, a former Liberian refugee, as major.

Helena offers all the outdoor activities you would expect in the Montana lifestyle: hunting, fishing, climbing, mountain biking, boating, and more. It offers year-round activities; in winter check out the Great Divide Ski Area. Other popular area attractions are the ghost town of Marysville, the Last Chance Tour Train, and Broadwater Hot Springs – a natural hot springs with pools, a restaurant, and live music.

2. Missoula, 1866

Missoula, population 73,489, was founded in 1866 about 45 miles from the Idaho border. It’s at a strategic point where the Bitterroot and Blackfoot Rivers meet, as well as the convergence of five mountain ranges, so it is often called the “hub of five valleys.” The Lewis and Clark expedition was the first group of European-Americans to document passing through the valley. Its early growth as a fur trading post took off when, near the end of the 19th century, Fort Missoula was built nearby, and the railway reached the city. In 1893 it was selected as the site of the state’s first university. It is also the site where in 1905 the U.S. Forest Service began its work. Missoula is also the headquarters for the smokejumpers, wildland firefighters who parachute into areas with wildfires.

If you include Missoula on your vacation itinerary, you can enjoy white water rafting, fly fishing, adventure cycling, marathons, golfing, or skiing. Missoula hosts a couple of annual festivals: the “River City Roots Festival” and the “Montana Book Festival” which emphasizes literature of the American West. You might also enjoy the Montana Museum of Art & Culture. Caras Park hosts an International Wildlife Film Festival, and next to the park is Dragon Hollow, a children’s recreation area with a wooden hand-carved carousel.

3. Billings, 1877 

Billings is the largest city in Montana, with a total population of 117,116. When it was founded in 1877, it was a genuine wild west town with everything you would expect: saloons, dance halls, gunfights, and of course, Boothill Cemetery to accommodate the final remains of a hard, short life of many of its inhabitants. Lewis and Clark traveled through the area and named a local rock formation “Pompey’s Tower” to honor their guide Sacajawea’s infant son who traveled with her on the expedition. Early in the 20th century, Billings became an economic powerhouse for the region because of its oil, natural gas, and coal reserves. After WWII, it was the major financial, medical and cultural center for this region of the country. Interestingly, when Mount St. Helen’s erupted in Washington in 1980, it blanketed Billings with an inch of volcanic ash.

Billings is full of interesting things to do. Be sure to see Pictograph Cave, about 5 miles from downtown Billings. Excavations have proved the area has been occupied since at least 2600 BC until after 1800 AD. The city has loads of museums, zoos, restaurants, and entertainment venues. You might enjoy the Great American Championship Motorcycle Hill Climb, which has been billed as “The Oldest, Richest, and Biggest Motorcycle Hill Climb in the United States.” Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area are important both as natural sites and to commemorate a noteworthy episode in the history of the Indian Wars. Billings can be a good launching point for a trip to Yellowstone National Park. The northeast entrance of the park is a little over 100 miles from Billings.

4. Great Falls, 1888

Great Falls (pop. 60,442), got its name from the 5 waterfalls that are north and east of the city. Moving by river, the Lewis and Clark expedition had to take a 10-mile detour to get around the falls, which took them 31 days to move all their supplies and gear. An inconvenience for explorers made a business opportunity for settlers, though. A town grew up around the falls and became a center of industry, taking advantage of the opportunity to generate hydroelectric power. Great Falls played an unexpectedly large role in the Cold War. It is home to Malstrom Air Force Base and the 341st Missile Wing, which oversees the largest ICBM missile complex in the country, covering an area the size of the state of West Virginia.

There is something you need to do if you go to Great Falls. Keep your eyes peeled for UFOs! In 1950, Great Falls was the site of the Mariana UFO incident, an early and widely publicized UFO event. Since then, over 100 UFO sightings have been reported in the area. Maybe you can make it 101. But if you want to do something a little less . . . “out there” . . . check out the museums. This city has more museums than any other city in Montana. Visit the First People’s Buffalo Jump State Park – it’s a site where indigenous peoples used to run herds of buffalo off a cliff to harvest them more efficiently and safely (for people). There are also some day hikes you can take in the area, and you might enjoy visiting the Giant Springs Fish Hatchery.

5. Kalispell, 1892

As of 2020, the population of Kalispell was 24,558. It is located above Flathead Lake in the northwestern part of the state, and the name in the language of the local Salish people meant “flat land above the lake.” Kalispell today helps preserve indigenous cultures in tribal schools that offer classes in the Kalispel Spokane-Flathead language. There is also a Salish language school and training center in nearby Arlee, Montana.

The big feature of the area is of course Glacier National Park, located just 31 miles from Kalispell. But there are some lesser-known parks nearby you might also be glad to discover: Flathead National Forest and Wild Horse Island State Park, for example. Blacktail Mountain Ski Area is just 17 miles away. And in Kalispell you can tour the Conrad Mansion, the home of the city’s founder.     

Is Montana On Your Bucket List?

If Montana isn’t on your bucket list, it ought to be! The unspoiled natural beauty alone is enough to draw visitors from all over the country and the world. Montana looks back to Native American and frontier days that are among the most exciting, and tragic, in our country’s history. If your attention is more drawn to the future, that whole UFO situation in Great Falls is just begging you to come check it out. So, when are you going to get started on that bucket list?

Summary Of The 5 Oldest Cities In Montana

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