Is bounded on the north by
British Columbia and the
Northwest Territory; on the east by North and
South Dakota; on the south by
Wyoming and
Idaho; and on the west by
Idaho; area, 146,080 square miles; capital,
Helena; admitted to the
Union Nov. 8, 1889.
By act of Congress in May, 1864,
Montana.
was taken from the eastern portion of
Idaho and organized as a separate Territory.
The State is exceedingly rich in mineral productions, especially
gold,
silver, copper, lead, and coal.
There are also very large and excellent tracts of grazing land.
The population in 1890 was 132,159; in 1900, 243,329.
See
United States, Montana, in vol.
IX.