Montana Facts

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When people think of Montana, their imagination weaves Montana facts and fiction together. Few have ever been to this magnificent state, let alone know someone who has traversed its emerald forests, dizzying mountains, gaping chasms, endless plains and lazy rivers.

The only Montana facts people are aware of is that Montana is a part of America. To me, someone who has fallen in love with the land the Blackfeet Indians referred to as the ‘Backbone of the World’, I find this appalling. This is one of the reasons I created the Glacier National Park Travel Guide.

But I must confess, a hidden fear lurks inside of me that the more people discover of Montana, the more Montana facts they learn, the more likely it is that this final frontier will soon be littered with strip malls and Wal-marts.

About Montana

Montana’s Big Sky reigns over a kingdom of 147,000 square miles. It is the fourth largest state in the Union, but with a population of just 917,621, Montana is the sixth least populated state. Believe it or not, the city of San Francisco boasts more people than the entire state of Montana. In terms of people density per square mile, only Vermont has less.

However, just because there aren’t many people residing in this great state doesn’t mean that you can’t find cheap flights into Montana airports, which are some of the most modern and accommodating in the nation.

Montana Weather

An interesting Montana fact is that Montana’s weather is not nearly as disastrous as most would think. While the climate in Glacier National Park can be frigid during the winter, much of Montana is relatively mild. The reason for this is the state’s dryness. So, no matter how cold or hot it gets, the weather doesn’t feel too oppressive

Also, the Continental Divide, which runs through the western half of Montana, separates Montana into two distinct weather patterns. The west half of the Continental Divide is actually similar to Colorado’s weather, just a tad colder. However, the eastern half of Montana can be terribly cold and windy at times as the Chinook winds gust down the mountain slopes and grip the valleys below.

As more people are discovering the fact that Montana isn’t as frigid as their imaginations would lead them to believe, the land for sale in Montana is being gobbled up.

This is causing areas like Whitefish, MT to have their property values sky rocket and locals bemoan the influx of visitors driving their cost of living up. However, it’s also leading to the birth of businesses and restaurants most would never expect to find (ever think you’d find fresh sushi in Montana?)

The average temperature in January is 28 degrees and 84.5 degrees in July. Average annual precipitation is 15 inches.

Montana Taxes

One of the most interesting Montana facts is that there’s no sales tax in Montana. The price you see is the price you pay!

However, there is a four-percent accommodations tax on hotel rooms, which provides funding for Montana tourism.

Montana Fish and Wildlife

Montana’s fish and wildlife is preserved and protected by the Government and numerous non-profit organizations. A major factor in Montana tourism is the opportunity to view some of America’s most majestic and noble creatures.

The vast majority of Montana’s fish and wildlife resides in Glacier National Park, which is the Park’s major attraction. Here you are guaranteed to see mountain goats, big horn sheep, black bears and, if you know when and where to look, you can see Grizzly Bears and Bald Eagles.

The best time to view wildlife is at dawn and dusk, which is when animals are most active.

More Montana Facts

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Montana Facts to the Glacier Travel Guide