Montana

Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller "island ranges" are found throughout the state, for a total of 77 named ranges that are part of the Rocky Mountains. The state's name is derived from the Spanish word montaña (mountain). Montana has several nicknames, none official, including: "Big Sky Country" and "The Treasure State", and slogans that include "Land of the Shining Mountains" and more recently, "The Last Best Place". Montana is ranked 4th in size, but 44th in population and the 48th in population density of the 50 United States. The economy is primarily based on agriculture, including ranching, wheat and other small grain farming. Other significant economic activities include oil, gas, coal and hard rock mining, lumber, and the fastest-growning sector, tourism. The health care, service and government sectors also are significant to the state's economy. Millions of tourists annually visit Glacier National Park, the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, and three of the five entrances to Yellowstone National Park.