View source for Billings, Montana

{{short description|Largest city in Montana, U.S.}}
{{redirect|Billings}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Billings
| native_name        = {{native name|cro|Ammalapáshkuua}}<br />{{native name|chy|É'êxováhtóva}}
| settlement_type    = [[Cities of the United States|City]]
| named_for          = [[Frederick H. Billings]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
    |border                   = infobox
    |total_width              = 290
    |image_style              = border:1;
    |perrow                   = 1/3/2
    |image1                   = Billings, Montana skyline in 2024.jpg
    |caption1 = [[List of tallest buildings in Billings|Billings skyline]]
    |image2                   = Billings, Montana Four Dances Natural Area.JPG
    |caption2 = Four Dances Natural Area
    |image3                   = First Interstate Tower Billings, Montana.JPG
    |caption3 = [[First Interstate Center]]
    |image4                   = Billings Logan Airport Tower, 2024.jpg
    |caption4 = [[Billings Logan International Airport]]
    |image5                   = Yellowstone County Courthouse and 27th Street Corridor, 2024.jpg
    |caption5 = Yellowstone County Courthouse
    |image6                   = Moss Mansion NRHP 82003181 Montana2.jpg
    |caption6 = [[Moss Mansion]]
    }}
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = Flag of Billings, Montana.png
| flag_size          = 110
| image_seal         = Seal of Billings, Montana.png
| seal_size          = 80
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Billings, Montana.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| blank_emblem_size  = 110
| nicknames           = "Magic City", "City by the [[Rimrocks|Rims]]", "Star of the Big Sky Country", "Montana's Trailhead"
| image_map          = Yellowstone County Montana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Billings Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location within Yellowstone County
| pushpin_map        = Montana##United States
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Montana##Location within the United States
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| pushpin_label      = Billings
<!-- Location -->| coordinates        = {{coord|45|47|01|N|108|30|22|W|region:US-MT_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Montana|County]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Montana]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Yellowstone County, Montana|Yellowstone]]
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1877
| established_title2 = [[Municipal incorporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2  = March 24, 1882
<!-- Government -->| government_type    = [[Mayor-council government|Mayor-Council]]
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = [[Bill Cole (Montana politician)|Bill Cole]]
| leader_title1      = [[City Administrator]]
| leader_name1       = Chris Kukulski{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}
| leader_title2      = Governing body
| leader_name2       = [[Billings City Council|City Council]]
<!-- Area -->| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 5, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 117.57
| area_total_sq_mi   = 45.39
| area_land_km2      = 117.29
| area_land_sq_mi    = 45.29
| area_water_km2     = 0.28
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.11
<!-- Population -->| population_total   = 117116
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_km2 = 998.50
| population_density_sq_mi = 2586.08
| population_urban   = 114,773 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|273rd]])
| population_metro   = 187,037 (US: [[Metropolitan statistical areas|232nd]])
| population_rank    = US: [[List of United States cities by population|242nd]]<br />MT: [[List of municipalities in Montana|1st]]
| population_demonym = Billingsite
<!-- General information -->| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 59101-59117<ref name="ZIPcode" />
| area_code          = [[Area code 406|406]]
| unemployment_rate  = 
| timezone           = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain]]
| utc_offset         = −7
| timezone_DST       = Mountain
| utc_offset_DST     = −6
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 3212
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 30-06550
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2409849<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409849}}</ref>
| blank2_name        = [[List of Montana numbered highways|Highways]]
| blank2_info        = [[File:I-90.svg|20px|link=Interstate 90]] [[File:I-94.svg|20px|link=Interstate 94]] [[File:US 87.svg|20px|link=U.S. Route 87]] [[File:US 212.svg|20px|link=U.S. Route 212]]
| website            = {{URL|https://www.billingsmt.gov/|billingsmt.gov}}
}}

'''Billings''' is the [[Lists of populated places in the United States|most populous city]] in the U.S. state of [[Montana]]. The population was 117,116 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US3006550 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 29, 2022}}</ref> while the [[Billings metropolitan area]] has an estimated 193,000 people. Located in the south-central portion of the state, it is the [[county seat|seat]] of [[Yellowstone County, Montana|Yellowstone County]]. Billings is the trade and distribution center for much of Montana east of the [[Continental Divide]] and has one of the largest trade areas in the United States.<ref name="bigskyeda-edc" /> It is also the largest retail destination for much of the same area. The Billings Chamber of Commerce claims the area of commerce covers more than {{convert|125,000|sqmi}}.<ref name="Chamber of Commerce">{{cite web |title=Montana's Trailhead |url=https://www.billingschamber.com/relocate-to-billings/billings/ |publisher=Billings Chamber of Commerce |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref>

Billings was nicknamed the "Magic City" because of its rapid growth from its founding as a [[railroad town]] in March 1882. The nearby [[Crow people|Crow]] and [[Cheyenne]] peoples call the city ''Ammalapáshkuua''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Doyle |first1=Shane |last2=Doyle |first2=Megkian |url=https://blogs.uoregon.edu/honoringtriballegacies/files/2016/06/6-shane-doyle-full-curriculum-218y43e.pdf#page=37 |title=30 Apsáalooke Place Names Along the Lewis & Clark Trail |date=6 June 2016 |publisher=[[University of Oregon]] |page=37 |accessdate=22 August 2022}}</ref> and ''É'êxováhtóva''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cheyennelanguage.org/words/places/places.htm | title=Cheyenne placenames }}</ref> respectively, meaning 'where they cut wood', named as such because of a sawmill built in the area by early white settlers. The city has experienced rapid growth and maintains a strong economy. From 1969 to 2021, the Billings area population growth was 89%, compared to Montana's overall increase of 59%.<ref name="reaproject">{{cite web |title=Billings MSA vs. Montana |url=https://montana.reaproject.org/analysis/comparative-trends-analysis/population/reports/72730000/300000/ |publisher=Montana Regional Economic Analysis Project |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref> With more hotel accommodations than any area within a five-state region, the city hosts a variety of conventions, concerts, sporting events, and other rallies.<ref name="bigskyeda-edc" />  It provides services to the [[Bakken Formation|Bakken oil development]] 250 to 350 miles to the east,<ref name="marketwire.com" /><ref name="wallstreet-online.de" /> as well as the [[Heath Shale]] oil discovery north of Billings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billingsgazette.com/business/article_e8dba1c2-de7e-5488-aa12-34dff4f2f31c.html |title=A piece of the oil action | publisher = BillingsGazette.com |date=March 6, 2011 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_3cef647d-8107-5b41-802a-5bc038d1b177.html |title=Experts say Billings will benefit from energy boom | publisher = BillingsGazette.com |date=March 4, 2011 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref><ref name="2012poleshift.wetpaint.com" />

Attractions in and around Billings include [[ZooMontana]], the [[Yellowstone Art Museum]], [[Pompeys Pillar National Monument|Pompey's Pillar]], [[Pictograph Cave (Billings, Montana)|Pictograph Cave]], [[Chief Plenty Coups (Alek-Chea-Ahoosh) State Park and Home|Chief Plenty Coups State Park]], [[Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument|Little Bighorn Battlefield]], [[Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area|Bighorn Canyon]], [[Red Lodge Mountain]], and the [[Beartooth Highway]]. The northeast entrance to [[Yellowstone National Park]] is a little over {{Convert|100|mi|km}} from Billings.

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Billings, Montana}}

===Name===
The city is named for [[Frederick H. Billings]], a former president of the [[Northern Pacific Railroad]] from [[Woodstock, Vermont]]. An earlier name for the area was Clark's Fork Bottom.

The [[Crow language|Crow]]  people from the nearby [[Crow Indian Reservation]] call the city {{lang|cro|Ammalapáshkuua}}. It means 'where they cut wood', and is named as such because of a sawmill built in the area by early white settlers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Apsáalooke Place Names Database |work=Library @ Little Big Horn College|access-date=March 19, 2020|url=http://lib.lbhc.edu/index.php?q=node%2F200&search=Ammalapashkuua}}</ref> The [[Cheyenne language|Cheyenne]] from the nearby [[Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation]] refer to the city as {{langx|chy|É'êxováhtóva|lit=sawing place|label=none}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Cheyenne placenames|work=Cheyenne Language|url=http://www.cheyennelanguage.org/words/places/places.htm|access-date=March 19, 2020}}</ref> and the [[Gros Ventre language|Gros Ventre]] from the nearby [[Fort Belknap Indian Reservation]] refer to it as ''{{lang|ats|ʔóhuutébiθɔnɔ́ɔ́nh}}'' ({{lit|where they saw lumber}}),<ref>{{cite journal|author=Cowell, A.|author2=Taylor, A.|author3=Brockie, T.|title=Gros Ventre ethnogeography and place names: A diachronic perspective|journal=Anthropological Linguistics|year=2016|volume=58|number=2|pages=132–170|doi=10.1353/anl.2016.0025|s2cid=151520012}}</ref> both also named for the sawmill, or translations of the Crow name.

===Prehistory===
The downtown core and much of the rest of Billings is in the Yellowstone Valley, a canyon carved out by the [[Yellowstone River]]. Around 80 million years ago, the Billings area was on the shore of the [[Western Interior Seaway]]. The sea deposited sediment and sand around the shoreline. As the sea retreated, it left a deep layer of sand. Over millions of years, this sand was compressed into stone known as [[Eagle Sandstone]]. Over the last million years the river has carved its way down through this stone to form the canyon walls known as the Billings [[Rimrocks]] or the Rims.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Shores of an Ancient Sea...|url=http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/docs/roadsigns/ShoreAncientSea.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324024110/http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/docs/roadsigns/ShoreAncientSea.pdf |archive-date=2013-03-24 |url-status=live|publisher=Montana Department of Transportation|access-date=March 27, 2013}}</ref>

The [[Pictograph Cave (Billings, Montana)|Pictograph Caves]] are about five miles south of downtown. These caves contain over 100 [[Pictogram|pictographs]] (rock paintings), the oldest of which is over 2,000 years old. Approximately 30,000 artifacts (including stone tools and weapons) have been excavated from the site.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pictograph Cave State Park|url=http://stateparks.mt.gov/pictograph-cave/|publisher=Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks|access-date=February 26, 2013}}</ref> These excavations have proven the area has been occupied since at least 2600 BC until after AD 1800.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pictograph Cave |url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=307&ResourceType=Site |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=February 26, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905013208/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=307&ResourceType=Site |archive-date=2012-09-05}}</ref>

The [[Crow Indians]] have called the Billings area home since about 1700. The present-day [[Crow Nation]] is just south of Billings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crowtribe.com/ |title=Official Website of the Crow Tribe - Aps?alooke Nation Executive Branch |access-date=January 31, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131021713/http://www.crowtribe.com/ |archive-date=January 31, 2013  }}</ref>

===Lewis and Clark Expedition===
In July 1806, [[William Clark]] (of the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]]) passed through the Billings area. On July 25 he arrived at what is now known as [[Pompeys Pillar National Monument|Pompey's Pillar]] and wrote in his journal, "... at 4 P M arrived at a remarkable rock, i ascended this rock and from its top had a most extensive view in every direction."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804–1806|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/8419/8419-h/8419-h.htm#link32H_4_0351|publisher=Project Gutenburg|access-date=February 26, 2013|author=Meriwether Lewis and William Clark}}</ref> Clark carved his name and the date into the rock, leaving the only remaining physical evidence of their expedition. He named the place Pompey's Tower, naming it after the son of his [[Shoshone]] interpreter and guide [[Sacajawea]]. In 1965, Pompey's Pillar was designated as a national historic landmark, and was proclaimed a national monument in January 2001. An interpretive center has been built next to the monument.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pompeys Pillar National Monument|url=http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/content/mt/en/fo/billings_field_office/pompeyspillar.html|publisher=Bureau of Land Management|access-date=February 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316083125/http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/content/mt/en/fo/billings_field_office/pompeyspillar.html|archive-date=March 16, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Coulson/Billings===
[[File:Coulson, Montana.jpg|thumb|[[Coulson, Montana]]]]

The area where Billings is today was known as Clark's Fork Bottom. Clark's Fork Bottom was to be the hub for hauling freight to Judith and Musselshell Basins. At the time these were some of the most productive areas of the [[Montana Territory]]. The plan was to run freight up Alkali Creek, now part of Billings Heights, to the basins and [[Fort Benton, Montana|Fort Benton]] on the [[Hi-Line (Montana)|Hi-Line]].{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}

In 1877, settlers from the Gallatin Valley area of the Montana Territory formed [[Coulson, Montana|Coulson]], the first town of the Yellowstone Valley.<ref name="autogenerated2" /> The town was started when John Alderson built a sawmill and convinced PW McAdow to open a general store and trading post on land Alderson owned on the bank of the Yellowstone River. The store went by the name of Headquarters, and soon other buildings and tents were built as the town began to grow. At this time before the coming of the railroad, most goods coming to and going from the Montana Territory were carried on paddle riverboats. It is believed it was decided to name the new town Coulson in an attempt to attract the Coulson Packet Company that ran riverboats between St. Louis and many points in the Montana Territory. In spite of their efforts the river was traversed only once by paddle riverboat to the point of the new town.

Coulson was a rough town of dance halls and saloons and not a single church. The town needed a sheriff and the famous mountain man [[Liver-Eating Johnson|John "Liver-Eating" Johnson]] took the job. Many disagreements were settled with a gun in the coarse Wild West town. Soon a graveyard was needed and [[Boothill Cemetery (Billings, Montana)|Boothill Cemetery]] was created. It was called Boothill because most of the people in it were said to have died with their boots on. Today, Boothill Cemetery sits within Billings's city limits and is the only remaining physical evidence of Coulson's existence.

When the railroad came to the area, Coulson residents were sure the town would become the railroads hub and Coulson would soon be the territory's largest city. The railroad only had claim to odd sections and it had two sections side-by-side about two miles west of Coulson. Being able to make far more money by creating a new town on these two sections the railroad decided to create the new town of Billings, the two towns existed side by side for a short time with a trolley even running between them. However, most of Coulson's residents moved to the new booming town of Billings. In the end, Coulson faded away, with the last remains of the town disappearing in the 1930s. Today Coulson Park, a Billings city park, sits on the river bank where Coulson once was.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yellowstone County Towns, Train Stations & Post Offices|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mtygf/towns.htm|publisher=rootsweb|access-date=March 27, 2013}}</ref>

===Early railroad town===
Named after the [[Northern Pacific Railway]] president [[Frederick H. Billings]], the city was founded in 1882.<ref name="names">{{cite book|last1=Carkeek Cheney|first1=Roberta|title=Names on the Face of Montana|date=1983|publisher=Mountain Press Publishing Company|location=Missoula, Montana|isbn=0-87842-150-5|page=5}}</ref><ref name="mhs">{{cite web|title=Montana Place Names Companion|url=http://mtplacenames.org/|publisher=Montana Historical Society|access-date=July 25, 2017}}</ref> The Railroad formed the city as a western railhead for its further westward expansion. At first the new town had only three buildings but within just a few months it had grown to over 2,000. This spurred Billings's nickname of the Magic City because, like magic, it seemed to appear overnight.<ref name="autogenerated2" />

{{Panorama|image=File:MT Panoramic view of Billings 1915.jpg|caption=Panoramic view of downtown Billings, 1915, looking east and south from the intersection of North 28th Street (extending away in the photo's right half) and 3rd Avenue North (extending away in the photo's  left half). The [[Electric Building (Billings, Montana)|Electric Building]] is under construction (center). [[First Congregational United Church of Christ (Billings, Montana)|First Congregational Church]] is on the far left. |height=200}}

The nearby town of Coulson appeared a far more likely site. Coulson was a rough-and-tumble town where arguments were often followed by gunplay. [[Liver-Eating Johnson]] was a lawman in Coulson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://johnlivereatingjohnston.com/ |title=John Liver Eating Johnston |publisher=Johnlivereatingjohnston.com |date=July 5, 2009 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> Perhaps the most famous person to be buried in Coulson's Boothill Cemetery is H.M. "Muggins" Taylor,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billings.k12.mt.us/talesw/teamtale/castle/taylor.htm |title=Taylor |publisher=Billings.k12.mt.us |access-date=August 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722022000/http://www.billings.k12.mt.us/talesw/teamtale/castle/taylor.htm |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the scout who carried the news of Custer's Last Stand at the [[Battle of the Little Bighorn|Battle of Little Bighorn]] to the world. Most buried here were said to have died with their boots on. The town of Coulson had been on the [[Yellowstone River]], which made it ideal for the commerce [[steamboat]]s brought up the river. However, when the Montana & Minnesota Land Company oversaw the development of potential railroad land, they ignored Coulson, and platted the new town of Billings just a couple of miles to the northwest. Coulson quickly faded away; most of her residents were absorbed into Billings. Yet, for a short time, the two towns coexisted; a trolley even ran between them. But ultimately there was no future for Coulson as Billings grew. Though it stood on the banks of the Yellowstone River only a couple of miles from the heart of present-day downtown Billings, the city of Billings never built on the land where Coulson once stood. Today Coulson Park sits along the banks of the Yellowstone where the valley's first town once stood.<ref name="autogenerated2" />

===20th century===
[[File:Montana - Billings - NARA - 23941913 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of Downtown Billings, 1930]]
By the 1910 census, Billings's population had risen to 10,031, ranking it the sixth fastest-growing community in the nation.<ref name="autogenerated2" /> Billings became an energy center in the early years of the twentieth century with the discovery of oil fields in Montana and Wyoming. Then the discovery of large natural gas and coal reserves secured the city's rank as first in energy.<ref name="autogenerated2" /> In the early 20th century, its served as regional trading center and energy hub for eastern Montana and northern Wyoming, an area then known as the [[Midland Empire]].

[[File:First Interstate Center, Billings, MT cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|Built in 1985 and standing at {{Convert|272|ft|m}}, [[First Interstate Center]] is the tallest building in Montana.<ref>{{cite web|title=First Interstate Center|url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=6284|access-date=August 1, 2012|author=Skyscraper Source Media Inc.}}</ref>]]

After [[World War II]], Billings became the region's major financial, medical and cultural center. Billings has had rapid growth from its founding; in its first 50 years growth was, at times, as high as 200 to 300 percent per decade.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T9HrAAAAMAAJ&q=census+billings+montana+1900&pg=PA311 |title=Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910: Population by Counties and ... – United States. Bureau of the Census |date=May 17, 2012 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref>

Billings growth has remained robust throughout the years. In the 1950s, its growth rate was 66 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://population.us/mt/billings/ |title=Population of Billings, Montana |location=Billings / |publisher=population.us |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref> The [[1973 oil embargo]] by [[OPEC]] spurred an oil boom in eastern Montana, northern Wyoming and western North Dakota. With this increase in oil production, Billings became the headquarters for energy sector companies. In 1975 and 1976, the [[Colstrip]] coal-fire generation plants 1 and 2 were completed; plants 3 and 4 started operating in 1984 and 1986.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Billings saw major growth in its downtown core; the first high-rise buildings to be built in Montana were erected. In 1980, the 22-floor Sheraton Hotel was completed. Upon its completion, it was declared "the tallest load-bearing brick masonry building in the world" by the Brick Institute of America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=sheratonbillingshotel-billings-mt-usa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021232341/http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=sheratonbillingshotel-billings-mt-usa |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |title=Crowne Plaza, Billings, U.S.A |location=Billings / |publisher=Emporis.com |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> During the 1970s and 1980s, other major buildings were constructed in the downtown core;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/wm/ci/bu/?id=102598 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024100808/http://www.emporis.com/wm/ci/bu/?id=102598 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |title=Buildings of Billings |publisher=Emporis.com |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> the Norwest Building (now Wells Fargo), Granite Tower, Sage Tower, the MetraPark arena, the TransWestern Center, many new city-owned parking garages, and the [[First Interstate Center]], the tallest building in Montana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=1interstatecenter-billings-mt-usa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024234428/http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=1interstatecenter-billings-mt-usa |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |title=First Interstate Center, Billings, U.S.A |location=Billings / |publisher=Emporis.com |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref>

With the completion of large sections of the interstate system in Montana in the 1970s, Billings became a shopping destination for an ever-larger area. The 1970s and 1980s saw new shopping districts and shopping centers developed in the Billings area. In addition to the other shopping centers, two new malls were developed, and Rimrock Mall was redeveloped and enlarged, on what was then the city's west end. Cross Roads Mall was built in Billings Heights, and West Park Plaza in Midtown. Several new business parks were also developed on the city's west end during this period.

Billings was affected by the [[1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens]] in May; the city received about {{Convert|1|in|adj=on}} of ash on the ground.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2000/fs036-00/ |title=Mount St. Helens – From the 1980 Eruption to 2000, Fact Sheet 036-00 |publisher=pubs.usgs.gov |access-date=August 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512162409/http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2000/fs036-00/ |archive-date=May 12, 2013  }}</ref> The [[Yellowstone fires of 1988]] blanketed Billings in smoke for weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yellowstone-bearman.com/yfire.html |title=Yellowstone's Year Of Fire-1988 |publisher=Yellowstone-bearman.com |date=August 20, 1988 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref>

In the 1990s, the service sector in the city increased with the development of new shopping centers built around big box stores which built multiple outlets in the Billings area. With the addition of more interchange exits along [[I-90]], additional hotel chains and service industry outlets are being built in Billings. Development of business parks and large residential developments on the city's west end, South Hills area, Lockwood, and the Billings Heights were all part of the 1990s. Billings received the [[All-America City Award]] in 1992.

===21st century===
[[File:4th Av Downtown Billings, Montana.JPG|thumb|Intersection of 4th Ave. N., and N. 28th St. downtown]]

In the 21st century, Billings saw the development of operations centers in the city's business parks and downtown core by such national companies as GE, Wells Fargo, and First Interstate Bank. Billings avoided the economic downturn that affected most of the nation from 2008 to 2012 as well as the housing bust.<ref>{{cite web | last =Lutey | first = Tom |url=http://missoulian.com/special-section/montana-economy/article_46ed8913-601a-58b8-ad39-036786d870bd.html |title=Billings economy not an illusion |publisher=Missoulian.com |date=December 19, 2010 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref><ref name="BillGaz 2010-12-26" /> The Downtown Billings Alliance led efforts to transform downtown to increase economic and civic opportunities.<ref name="dba">{{cite web |title=the mission |url=https://downtownbillings.com/about/about-the-dba/ |publisher=Downtown Billings Alliance |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref> In 2002, [[Skypoint]] was completed. This artistic structure provides a defining area to host events. Downtown saw a renaissance of the historic area as building after building was restored.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gazette opinion: Another wave of downtown renaissance |url=https://billingsgazette.com/opinion/gazette-opinion-another-wave-of-downtown-renaissance/article_d47612c3-ff51-5ce2-82ab-449eb08096b8.html |publisher=Billings Gazette |access-date=20 May 2023 |date=Jul 17, 2018}}</ref> In 2007, Billings was designated a [[Preserve America|Preserve America Community]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.preserveamerica.gov/12-26-07PAcommunity-billingsMT.html |title=Preserve America Community |publisher=Preserveamerica.gov |date=March 13, 2009 |access-date=August 7, 2012 |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716075427/http://www.preserveamerica.gov/12-26-07PAcommunity-billingsMT.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Various changes were made to make the city more environmentally friendly. The [[Billings Metropolitan Transit|MET Transit Center]] for city buses received [[LEED]] Platinum status in 2010. This was the first transportation facility in the US to do so.<ref name="bpw">{{cite web |title=City of Billings receives U.S. Green Building Council LEED Cities Grant |url=https://www.billingsmtpublicworks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/867/LEED-Cities-Press-Release-on-Scholarship-Grant-04192021-final |publisher=Billings Public Works |access-date=20 May 2023 |date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> In 2022, Billings received LEED Gold certification, the first city to do so in Montana and the 21st globally.<ref name="gold LEED">{{cite web |title=LEED for Cities Gold |url=https://www.billingsmt.gov/3097/LEED-for-Cities-Gold |publisher=City of Billings |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref> Projects to achieve this status included increased efficiency at the water and waste water treatment plant, adding electric city buses and EV charging stations, and adding a conservation area to the west-end.<ref name="gold LEED" />

Significant road developments began, providing infrastructure for city growth. In 2000, a new exit on [[Interstate 90]] was completed. Zoo Drive exit provides ease of access to the quickly growing West End area.<ref name="shiloh">{{cite web |title=Gazette opinion: Public investment paves way for Shiloh businesses |date=September 3, 2014 |url=https://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/editorial/gazette-opinion/gazette-opinion-public-investment-paves-way-for-shiloh-businesses/article_0501b889-4e5a-5f58-8092-4da509f86175.html |publisher=Billings Gazette |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref> The [[Yellowstone River]] bridge is being rebuilt as part of the Billings Bypass project, which will create a new arterial roadway from Lockwood to the Heights.<ref name="river bridge">{{cite web |last1=Riesinger |first1=Russ |title=Bridge construction underway for new Billings Bypass project |url=https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/bridge-construction-underway-for-new-billings-bypass-project |publisher=KTVQ |access-date=20 May 2023 |date=May 19, 2021}}</ref><ref name="MT DOT">{{cite web |title=Project Overview |url=https://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/billingsbypass/ |publisher=Montana Department of Transportation |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref>

The city saw a significant growth in businesses. With the completion of the Shiloh interchange exit, the TransTech Center was developed<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.transtechcenter.com/ |title=Transtech Center |publisher=Transtech Center |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> and more hotels were built. In 2010 the Shiloh corridor was open for business with the completion of the Shiloh parkway, a {{convert|4.8|mi|km|adj=on}} multi-lane street with eight [[roundabout]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/government-and-politics/article_146041ab-beff-52c0-97a1-791734c50f36.html|title=Shiloh Road open end to end | publisher = BillingsGazette.com |date=November 13, 2010 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref>  Other new centers include Billings Town Square and West Park Promenade, Montana's first open-air shopping mall. In 2009, ''Fortune Small Business'' magazine named Billings the best small city in which to start a business.<ref name="autogenerated1" /><ref name="billingsgazette.com" />

On June 20, 2010 (Father's Day), [[2010 Billings tornado|a tornado]] touched down in the downtown core and Heights sections of Billings. The [[MetraPark Arena]] and area businesses suffered major damage. In the 2010s, Eastern Montana and North Dakota experienced an energy boom due to the [[Bakken formation]], the largest oil discovery in U.S. history.<ref name="marketwire.com" /><ref name="wallstreet-online.de" />

==Geography==
[[File:Billings MT and Yellowstone River.jpg|thumb|left|The Rims border the northern and eastern edges of the downtown core.]]

[[File:Feral horses - Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range - Montana.jpg|thumb|left|Feral horses - Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range - Montana]]

Two-thirds of the city is in the Yellowstone Valley and the South Hills area and one-third in the Heights-Lockwood area. The city is divided by the Rims, long cliffs, also called the [[Rimrocks]]. The Rims run to the north and east of the downtown core, separating it from the Heights to the north and Lockwood to the east, with the cliffs to the north being {{convert|500|ft|m}} tall and to the east of downtown, the face rises {{convert|800|ft|m}}. The elevation of Billings is {{Convert|3,126|ft|m}} above sea level. The [[Yellowstone River]] runs through the southeast portion of the city. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|43.52|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|43.41|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.11|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=December 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012 }}</ref>

Around Billings, seven mountain ranges can be viewed. The [[Bighorn Mountains]] have over 200 lakes and two peaks that rise to over {{convert|13000|ft|m}}: Cloud Peak, at {{convert|13167|ft|m|abbr=on}} and Black Tooth Mountain, at {{convert|13005|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bighornmountains.com/hiking.htm|title=Hiking & Backpacking |publisher=BighornMountains.Com |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> The [[Pryor Mountains]] directly south of Billings rise to a height of {{Convert|8,822|ft|m}} and are unlike any other landscape in Montana. They are also home the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pryormountains.org/ |title=The Pryor Mountains |publisher= The Pryors Coalition |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> The [[Beartooth Mountains]] are the location of Granite Peak, which at {{convert|12807|ft|m}} is the highest point in the state of Montana. The [[Beartooth Highway]], a series of steep zigzags and switchbacks along the Montana–Wyoming border, rises to {{Convert|10,947|ft|m}}. It was called "the most beautiful drive in America" by [[Charles Kuralt]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Robbins|first=Jim|title=U.S. Budget Cuts Imperil Remote Town's Lifeline|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/16/us/us-budget-cuts-imperil-remote-town-s-lifeline.html|work=The New York Times|date=June 16, 1996 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> The Beartooth Mountains are just northeast of Yellowstone National Park. The [[Crazy Mountains]] to the west rise to a height of {{Convert|11,209|ft|m}} at Crazy Peak, the tallest peak in the range.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=14245|title=Crazy Mountains |publisher=Peakbagger.com |date=November 1, 2004 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> [[Big Snowy Mountains]], with peaks of {{Convert|8,600|ft|m}}, are home to Crystal Lake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.montanahikes.com/Crystal_lake.php |title=Crystal Lake in the Big Snowy Mountains |publisher=Montanahikes.com |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> The [[Bull Mountains]] are a low-lying heavily forested range north of Billings Heights. The [[Absaroka Range]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://greater-yellowstone.com/Absaroka-Mountains.html | title=The Absaroka Mountain Range | publisher=greater-yellowstone.com | access-date=May 11, 2016}}</ref> stretches about {{convert|150|mi|km|abbr=on}} across the Montana–Wyoming border, and {{Convert|75|mi|km}} at its widest, forming the eastern boundary of Yellowstone National Park.

===Climate===
[[File:Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) - Billings Area, MT(ThreadEx).svg|thumb|right|Climate chart for Billings]]
Downtown Billings has a cold [[semi-arid climate]] (Köppen: ''BSk'') bordering [[humid continental]] climate ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dfa'') when using the {{convert|-3|°C}} isotherm,<ref>Peel, M. C., Finlayson, B. L., and McMahon, T. A.: [//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Americas_K%C3%B6ppen_Map_original_colors.png Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification], Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 11, 1633–1644, 2007.</ref> with dry, hot summers, and cold, dry winters. In the summer, the temperature can rise to over {{convert|100|°F|1}} on an average of 1 to 3 days per year, while the winter will bring temperatures below {{convert|0|F|C|1|disp=or}} on an average of 12.9 days per year. The snowfall averages {{convert|57.4|in|cm}} a year, but because of warm [[chinook winds]] that pass through the region during the winter, snow does not usually accumulate heavily or remain on the ground for long: the greatest depth has been {{convert|33|in|cm}} on April 5, 1955, after a huge storm which dumped {{convert|4.22|in|mm}} of water equivalent precipitation as snow in the previous three days under temperatures averaging {{convert|26.7|F|C|1}}.

The snowiest year on record was 2017–18, with {{convert|106.1|in|cm}}, topping the 2013–14 previous record of {{convert|103.5|in|cm}}. The first freeze of the season on average arrives by October 6 and the last is May 5. Spring and autumn in Billings are usually mild, but brief. Winds, while strong at times, are considered light compared with the rest of Montana and the [[Rocky Mountain Front]].

Due to its location, Billings is susceptible to severe summer weather as well. On June 20, 2010, [[2010 Billings tornado|a tornado]] touched down in the Billings Heights and Downtown sections of the city. The tornado was accompanied by hail up to golf ball size, dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning, and heavy winds. The tornado destroyed a number of businesses and severely damaged the 12,000-seat MetraPark Arena.<ref>{{cite web|author=Matt Brown, Associated Press Writers |url=http://www.mtstandard.com/news/state-and-regional/article_b8d6f6ec-7cc5-11df-886c-001cc4c002e0.html |title=UPDATED: Tornado heavily damages MetraPark, Billings stores |publisher=Mtstandard.com |date=June 20, 2010 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Billings, Montana ([[Billings Logan International Airport]]), 1991&ndash;2020 normals, extremes 1934&ndash;present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed   = yes
|Jan record high F = 68
|Feb record high F = 72
|Mar record high F = 80
|Apr record high F = 90
|May record high F = 96
|Jun record high F = 105
|Jul record high F = 108
|Aug record high F = 105
|Sep record high F = 103
|Oct record high F = 91
|Nov record high F = 77
|Dec record high F = 73
|Jan avg record high F = 56.3
|Feb avg record high F = 59.7
|Mar avg record high F = 70.1
|Apr avg record high F = 79.0
|May avg record high F = 85.8
|Jun avg record high F = 94.1
|Jul avg record high F = 99.9
|Aug avg record high F = 98.4
|Sep avg record high F = 93.0
|Oct avg record high F = 81.3
|Nov avg record high F = 67.3
|Dec avg record high F = 56.2
|year avg record high F = 101.1
|Jan high F = 36.0
|Feb high F = 39.2
|Mar high F = 49.0
|Apr high F = 56.9
|May high F = 66.9
|Jun high F = 77.0
|Jul high F = 87.3
|Aug high F = 85.8
|Sep high F = 74.3
|Oct high F = 58.8
|Nov high F = 45.7
|Dec high F = 36.1
|year high F = 59.4
|Jan mean F = 27.0
|Feb mean F = 29.4
|Mar mean F = 38.0
|Apr mean F = 45.8
|May mean F = 55.3
|Jun mean F = 64.7
|Jul mean F = 73.3
|Aug mean F = 71.6
|Sep mean F = 61.4
|Oct mean F = 47.9
|Nov mean F = 36.2
|Dec mean F = 27.6
|year mean F = 48.2
|Jan low F = 17.9
|Feb low F = 19.7
|Mar low F = 26.9
|Apr low F = 34.7
|May low F = 43.8
|Jun low F = 52.4
|Jul low F = 59.3
|Aug low F = 57.5
|Sep low F = 48.6
|Oct low F = 37.1
|Nov low F = 26.7
|Dec low F = 19.2
|year low F = 37.0
|Jan avg record low F = -7.4
|Feb avg record low F = -2.3
|Mar avg record low F = 5.9
|Apr avg record low F = 20.9
|May avg record low F = 30.6
|Jun avg record low F = 41.3
|Jul avg record low F = 50.6
|Aug avg record low F = 46.5
|Sep avg record low F = 35.1
|Oct avg record low F = 18.4
|Nov avg record low F = 4.5
|Dec avg record low F = -4.0
|year avg record low F = -15.7
|Jan record low F = -30
|Feb record low F = -38
|Mar record low F = -21
|Apr record low F = -5
|May record low F = 14
|Jun record low F = 32
|Jul record low F = 41
|Aug record low F = 35
|Sep record low F = 22
|Oct record low F = -7
|Nov record low F = -22
|Dec record low F = -32
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.55
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.57
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.90
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.72
|May precipitation inch = 2.36
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.22
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.22
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.87
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.36
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.37
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.60
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.57
|year precipitation inch = 14.31
|Jan snow inch = 10.6
|Feb snow inch = 9.1
|Mar snow inch = 8.2
|Apr snow inch = 7.5
|May snow inch = 0.9
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.3
|Oct snow inch = 4.5
|Nov snow inch = 6.5
|Dec snow inch = 9.8
|year snow inch = 57.4
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 6.6
|Feb precipitation days = 6.9
|Mar precipitation days = 8.6
|Apr precipitation days = 10.4
|May precipitation days = 12.2
|Jun precipitation days = 11.2
|Jul precipitation days = 7.7
|Aug precipitation days = 6.0
|Sep precipitation days = 6.8
|Oct precipitation days = 8.2
|Nov precipitation days = 6.1
|Dec precipitation days = 6.2
|year precipitation days = 56.9
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 6.8
|Feb snow days = 7.0
|Mar snow days = 6.4
|Apr snow days = 4.2
|May snow days = 0.8
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.2
|Oct snow days = 2.5
|Nov snow days = 4.4
|Dec snow days = 6.5
|year snow days = 38.8
|Jan humidity = 60.2
|Feb humidity = 59.3
|Mar humidity = 58.2
|Apr humidity = 53.8
|May humidity = 54.9
|Jun humidity = 53.3
|Jul humidity = 45.6
|Aug humidity = 44.5
|Sep humidity = 51.6
|Oct humidity = 52.7
|Nov humidity = 59.4
|Dec humidity = 60.9
|year humidity = 54.5
|Jan sun = 130.2
|Feb sun = 156.6
|Mar sun = 236.5
|Apr sun = 255.5
|May sun = 282.0
|Jun sun = 304.7
|Jul sun = 355.4
|Aug sun = 329.0
|Sep sun = 255.8
|Oct sun = 203.2
|Nov sun = 127.6
|Dec sun = 116.4
|year sun = 2752.9
|Jan percentsun = 46
|Feb percentsun = 54
|Mar percentsun = 64
|Apr percentsun = 63
|May percentsun = 61
|Jun percentsun = 65
|Jul percentsun = 75
|Aug percentsun = 75
|Sep percentsun = 68
|Oct percentsun = 60
|Nov percentsun = 45
|Dec percentsun = 43
|year percentsun = 62
|Jan dew point C = -12.3
|Feb dew point C = -9.6
|Mar dew point C = -6.8
|Apr dew point C = -2.9
|May dew point C = 2.4
|Jun dew point C = 7.0
|Jul dew point C = 8.4
|Aug dew point C = 7.0
|Sep dew point C = 3.4
|Oct dew point C = -1.3
|Nov dew point C = -6.6
|Dec dew point C = -10.9
|source 1 = NOAA (relative humidity, dew points and sun 1961–1990)<ref name=NOAA1>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00024033&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access (Billings Logan Intl AP)
|access-date = August 28, 2022
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230802134715/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00024033&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|archive-date = 2023-08-02
}}
</ref><ref name= NOAAsun>
{{cite web 
|title = WMO climate normals for BILLINGS/LOGAN INT'L ARPT MT 1961–1990 
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
|url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP4/72677.TXT
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230802133831/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP4/72677.TXT
|archive-date = 2023-08-02
|url-status = dead
|access-date = August 2, 2023
}}</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name="NOWData">
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=byz
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data
|access-date = August 28, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|location = Billings Water Treatment Plant, 1991&ndash;2020 normals, extremes 1894&ndash;present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high F = 75
|Feb record high F = 76
|Mar record high F = 82
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 108
|Jul record high F = 112
|Aug record high F = 107
|Sep record high F = 101
|Oct record high F = 95
|Nov record high F = 80
|Dec record high F = 75
|Jan avg record high F = 57.4
|Feb avg record high F = 61.4
|Mar avg record high F = 72.1
|Apr avg record high F = 80.8
|May avg record high F = 86.4
|Jun avg record high F = 94.4
|Jul avg record high F = 99.4
|Aug avg record high F = 98.5
|Sep avg record high F = 94.3
|Oct avg record high F = 83.2
|Nov avg record high F = 69.0
|Dec avg record high F = 57.7
|year avg record high F = 100.5
|Jan high F = 36.5
|Feb high F = 40.6
|Mar high F = 50.9
|Apr high F = 58.6
|May high F = 67.6
|Jun high F = 76.9
|Jul high F = 86.3
|Aug high F = 85.4
|Sep high F = 75.2
|Oct high F = 60.4
|Nov high F = 46.5
|Dec high F = 36.8
|year high F = 60.1
|Jan mean F = 25.4
|Feb mean F = 29.0
|Mar mean F = 37.8
|Apr mean F = 45.8
|May mean F = 54.7
|Jun mean F = 63.7
|Jul mean F = 71.2
|Aug mean F = 69.6
|Sep mean F = 60.1
|Oct mean F = 47.3
|Nov mean F = 35.1
|Dec mean F = 26.3
|year mean F = 47.2
|Jan low F = 14.4
|Feb low F = 17.3
|Mar low F = 24.7
|Apr low F = 33.1
|May low F = 41.9
|Jun low F = 50.4
|Jul low F = 56.2
|Aug low F = 53.7
|Sep low F = 45.0
|Oct low F = 34.3
|Nov low F = 23.7
|Dec low F = 15.8
|year low F = 34.2
|Jan avg record low F = -11.2
|Feb avg record low F = -4.1
|Mar avg record low F = 4.8
|Apr avg record low F = 20.3
|May avg record low F = 30.2
|Jun avg record low F = 39.5
|Jul avg record low F = 48.2
|Aug avg record low F = 44.7
|Sep avg record low F = 33.4
|Oct avg record low F = 17.9
|Nov avg record low F = 3.1
|Dec avg record low F = -6.3
|year avg record low F = -18.8
|Jan record low F = -39
|Feb record low F = -49
|Mar record low F = -34
|Apr record low F = -5
|May record low F = 14
|Jun record low F = 26
|Jul record low F = 37
|Aug record low F = 28
|Sep record low F = 18
|Oct record low F = -11
|Nov record low F = -28
|Dec record low F = -41
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.56
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.57
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.97
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.88
|May precipitation inch = 2.47
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.45
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.31
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.80
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.52
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.60
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.68
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.62
|year precipitation inch = 15.43
|Jan snow inch = 7.5
|Feb snow inch = 4.7
|Mar snow inch = 4.9
|Apr snow inch = 3.2
|May snow inch = 0.1
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 1.7
|Nov snow inch = 3.1
|Dec snow inch = 9.8
|year snow inch = 35.0
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 5.0
|Feb precipitation days = 4.8
|Mar precipitation days = 5.7
|Apr precipitation days = 8.9
|May precipitation days = 10.7
|Jun precipitation days = 10.4
|Jul precipitation days = 6.9
|Aug precipitation days = 5.1
|Sep precipitation days = 6.3
|Oct precipitation days = 7.3
|Nov precipitation days = 5.6
|Dec precipitation days = 4.5
|year precipitation days = 81.2
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 3.5
|Feb snow days = 3.2
|Mar snow days = 1.9
|Apr snow days = 1.3
|May snow days = 0.1
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 1.0
|Nov snow days = 1.8
|Dec snow days = 3.9
|year snow days = 18.7
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA2>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00240802&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access (Billings WTP)
|access-date = August 28, 2022
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230802223159/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00240802&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|archive-date = 2023-08-02
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name="NOWData"/>
}}
{{Graph:Weather monthly history
| table=Ncei.noaa.gov/weather/Billings, Montana.tab
| title=Billings monthly weather statistics
}}

===Neighborhoods and sections===
{{main|Sections of Billings, Montana}}

Billings has 10 sections within its city limits, most of which have their own designated neighborhood task forces.

The South Side is one of the oldest residential areas in the city, and it is the city's most culturally diverse neighborhood. Its South Park is an old-growth City park, host to several food fairs and festivals in the summer months. Clark Avenue in the Terry–Central Park neighborhood is home to many of Billings's first mansions. Midtown, the most densely populated portion of the city is in the midst of [[gentrification]] on a level few, if any, areas in Montana have ever seen. New growth is mainly concentrated on Billings's West End, where Shiloh Crossing is a new commercial development, anchored by Scheels, Montana's largest retail store. Residentially, the West End is characterized by upper income households. Denser, more urban growth is occurring in the Southwest Corridor's Josephine Crossing, one of Billings's many new contemporary neighborhoods. Downtown is a blend of small businesses and office space, together with restaurants and a walkable brewery district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visitbillings.com/billings-brew-trail|title=Billings Brew Trail &#124; visitbillings.com|website=Visitbillings.com}}</ref> The Heights, defined as the area of the city northeast of the Metra, is predominantly residential, and a new school was completed in 2016 to accommodate growth in the neighborhood.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/education/students-take-first-trip-through-halls-of-medicine-crow-middle/article_51fceaf5-226d-5164-8ae3-340b9d1c5307.html|title=Students take first trip through halls of Medicine Crow Middle School|first=Matt|last=Hoffman|website=The Billings Gazette|date=April 8, 2016 }}</ref> The Rimrocks ("Rims") separate the Heights from Downtown.

=== Tallest buildings ===
{{main|List of tallest buildings in Billings}}

The tallest building in Billings and Montana as well as a five-state region is the [[First Interstate Center]], which stands at {{convert|272|ft|m}} and 20 floors above ground level.<ref name="Emporis" /> Billings is also home to the world's tallest load-bearing brick building,{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} the [[Crowne Plaza Hotel Billings|DoubleTree Tower]], which stands {{convert|256|ft|m}}. With a floor count of 22 floors above ground level, the DoubleTree Tower is the tallest hotel in the city and state. It was the tallest from 1980 to 1985. The [[Wells Fargo]] Building, formerly the Norwest Bank Building, was the tallest building in Montana from 1977 until 1980.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wells Fargo Plaza |url=http://www.emporis.com/building/wellsfargoplaza-billings-mt-usa |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102052909/http://www.emporis.com/building/wellsfargoplaza-billings-mt-usa |archive-date=November 2, 2012 |access-date=March 27, 2013 |publisher=Emporis GmbH}}</ref>

===Surrounding areas===
{{main|Billings Metropolitan Area}}
Billings is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Statistical Area. The metropolitan area consists of three counties: [[Yellowstone County, Montana|Yellowstone]], [[Stillwater County, Montana|Stillwater]], and [[Carbon County, Montana|Carbon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apps.bea.gov/regional/docs/msalist.cfm |title=BEA Statistical Areas|author=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=US Bureau of Economic Analysis |access-date=July 26, 2020 }}</ref> The population of the entire metropolitan area was at 184,167 in the 2020 Census.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apps.bea.gov/regional/bearfacts/action.cfm |title=Personal Income for Billings |author=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=US Bureau of Economic Analysis |access-date=July 26, 2020 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 145
|1880= 587
|1890= 836
|1900= 3211
|1910= 10031
|1920= 15100
|1930= 16386
|1940= 23216
|1950= 31834
|1960= 52851
|1970= 61581
|1980= 66798
|1990= 81151
|2000= 89847
|2010= 104170
|2020= 117116
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 31, 2014}}</ref><br />2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

[[File:Race and ethnicity 2020 Billings, MT.png|thumb|Map of racial distribution in Billings, 2020 U.S. census. Each dot is one person: {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(115, 178, 255)|White}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(159, 212, 0)|Black}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(255, 0, 0)|Asian}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(255, 170, 0)|Hispanic}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(140, 81, 181)|Multiracial}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(153, 102, 51)|Native American/Other}}]]

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Billings, Montana – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Billings city, Montana|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US3006550&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Billings city, Montana|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US3006550&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Billings city, Montana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US3006550&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|80,770
|90,503
|style='background: #ffffe6; |95,214
|89.90%
|86.88%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |81.30%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|466
|750
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,039
|0.52%
|0.72%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.89%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|2,860
|4,204
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,227
|3.18%
|4.04%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.46%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|516
|755
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,057
|0.57%
|0.72%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.90%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|35
|84
|style='background: #ffffe6; |187
|0.04%
|0.08%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.16%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|44
|61
|style='background: #ffffe6; |421
|0.05%
|0.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.36%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|1,398
|2,357
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,034
|1.56%
|2.26%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.15%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|3,758
|5,456
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,937
|4.18%
|5.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.78%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''89,847'''
|'''104,170'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''117,116'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010 census===
As of the census<ref name="2010 Census">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 104,170 people, 43,945 households, and 26,194 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2399.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 46,317 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1067.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 89.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4.4% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.2% of the population.

There were 43,945 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.4% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.6% of residents under the age of 18; 9.8% between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% from 25 to 44; 26.3% from 45 to 64; and 15% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age in the city was 37.5 years. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

===Income===
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $35,147, and the median income for a family was $45,032. The per capita income for the city was $19,207. As of 2021, the median household income had risen to $63,608, slightly higher than the statewide median income of $60,560. Per capita income was $37,976. About 9.2% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over. 36.6% of the population has a bachelor's degree or higher.

==Economy==
Billings's location was essential to its initial economic success. Billings's future as a major trade and distribution center was basically assured from its founding as a railroad hub due to its geographic location. As Billings quickly became the region's economic hub, it outgrew the other cities in the region. The Billings trade area serves over a half million people.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> A major trade and distribution center, the city is home to many regional headquarters and corporate headquarters. Because Montana has no sales tax, Billings is a retail destination for much of Wyoming, North and South Dakota as well as much of Montana east of the [[Continental Divide]]. $1 out of every $7 spent on retail purchases in Montana is spent in Billings. The percentage of wholesale business transactions done in Billings is even stronger: Billings accounts for more than a quarter of the wholesale business for the entire state (these figures do not include Billings portion of sales for Wyoming and the Dakotas).<ref>{{cite web | last =Lutey | first = Tom |url=http://missoulian.com/special-section/montana-economy/billings-ahead-of-almost-everywhere-agriculture-retail-energy-health-care/article_a8dcdecc-2751-11e1-940e-001871e3ce6c.html |title=Billings ahead of almost everywhere: Agriculture, retail, energy, health care driving economy |publisher=Missoulian.com |date=December 18, 2011 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> Billings is an energy center because it sits amidst the largest coal reserves in the United States, as well as large oil and natural gas fields.

[[File:Wells Fargo Plaza, Billings, Montana.JPG|thumb|upright|Wells Fargo Center]]

In 2009, ''Fortune Small Business'' magazine named Billings the best small city in which to start a business.<ref name="billingsgazette.com" /> Billings has a diverse economy including a large and rapidly growing medical corridor that includes inpatient and outpatient health care. Billings has a large service sector including retail, hospitality and entertainment. The metro area is also home to commercial and residential construction, building materials manufacturing and distribution, professional services, financial services, banking, trucking, higher education (4 campuses, 19 others have a physical presence/classes), auto parts wholesaling and repair services, passenger and cargo air, cattle, media, printing, heavy equipment sales and service, business services, consumer services, food distribution, agricultural chemical manufacturing and distribution, energy exploration and production, surface and underground mining, and metal fabrication, providing a diverse and robust economy.

Agriculture is Montana's #1 industry.<ref name="Dept of Ag">{{cite web |title=Home |url=https://agr.mt.gov/ |publisher=Montana Department of Agriculture |access-date=21 May 2023}}</ref> Billings contributes to this economy with the [[Western Sugar Cooperative| Western Sugar Cooperative Plant]], processing multi-million dollar crops of sugar beets each year.<ref name="Chamber of Commerce" /> Other crops include alfalfa, wheat, barley, and corn.<ref name="chamber ag">{{cite web |title=Agriculture |url=https://www.billingschamber.com/business-advocacy/agriculture/#:~:text=The%20areas%20east%20and%20west,%2C%20corn%2C%20and%20sugar%20beets. |publisher=Billings Chamber of Commerce |access-date=21 May 2023}}</ref> Billings has 2 livestock auction locations out of the 13 statewide.<ref name="Dept of Livestock">{{cite web |title=Montana Brand Offices and Livestock Markets |url=https://liv.mt.gov/Brands-Enforcement/Livestock-Markets |publisher=Montana Department of Livestock |access-date=21 May 2023}}</ref> Several farm and ranch supply stores are located in Billings, providing for the large retail radius the city serves. [[Dean Foods|Meadow Gold]] has a milk processing center in the town.

Billings plays a vital part in the energy sector. Out of Montana's 4 oil refineries, 3 of those are in Yellowstone County.<ref name="EIA">{{cite web |title=Montana |url=https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=MT#:~:text=Montana's%204%20refineries%20can%20process,are%20in%20the%20Billings%20area. |publisher=U.S. Energy Information Administration |access-date=21 May 2023}}</ref> Montana has about three-tenths of the nation's estimated recoverable coal reserves.<ref name="EIA" /> In 2022, a large pumped hydro storage project was planned near Billings.<ref name="EIA" />

Corporate headquarters include [[Kampgrounds of America]], [[First Interstate BancSystem|First Interstate Bank]],<ref name="bigskyeda-edc" /> and The Waggoners Trucking.<ref>{{cite web |title=Automobile, Van, Light Truck Transportation |url=http://www.waggonerstrucking.com/customers-services/transportation-services/ |publisher=The Waggoners Trucking |access-date=21 May 2023}}</ref> Billings also has a nearby facility for [[Molson Coors]],<ref name="chamber ag" /> a manufacturing facility for Coca-Cola,<ref name="Coca-Cola">{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Rob |title=Local Coca Cola bottler breaks ground on new facility in Billings |url=https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/local-coca-cola-bottler-breaks-ground-on-new-facility-in-billings/article_038f226c-c948-51bc-b71a-f9f0b2993473.html |publisher=Billings Gazette |access-date=21 May 2023 |date=Mar 31, 2022}}</ref> and several other food and beverage distributors. Some major employers include St. John's Lutheran Ministries, Avitus Group, [[United States Bakery|Franz Bakery]], and [[Komatsu Limited|Komatsu]].

==Arts and culture==
===Museums===
* [[Moss Mansion|Moss Mansion Historic House Museum]]
* [[Western Heritage Center]]
* Wise Wonders Children's Museum
* [[Yellowstone Art Museum]]
* [[Yellowstone County Museum]]

===Historic areas===
*[[Billings station|Billings Depot]]
* Downtown Historic District
* [[Boothill Cemetery (Billings, Montana)|Boothill Cemetery]]
* Black Otter Trail
* [[Luther Kelly|Yellowstone Kelly's]] Grave
[[File:ZooMontana Tiger 01.JPG|thumb|Siberian tiger at ZooMontana]]

===Zoos===
* [[ZooMontana]], {{Convert|70|acre|adj=on}} zoo and botanical garden

===Venues===
[[File:RAA3.JPG|thumb|MetraPark Arena (currently called "First Interstate Arena at MetraPark" due to sponsorship)]]

====MetraPark====
[[First Interstate Arena|MetraPark]], currently called "First Interstate Arena at MetraPark" due to sponsorship, is a 12,000-seat multi-purpose building that was completed in 1975. METRA stands for "Montana Entertainment Trade and Recreation Arena". It is the largest indoor venue in Montana and is used for concerts, rodeos, ice shows, motor sports events, and more.<ref>{{cite web |author=Facilities <!-- .entry-content --> |url=http://www.metrapark.com/site/facilities/ |title=MetraPark Facilities &#124; Arena, Expo Center, Montana Pavilion, The Grandstands |publisher=Metrapark.com |access-date=August 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608090847/http://www.metrapark.com/site/facilities/ |archive-date=June 8, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Alberta Bair Theater====
[[File:Alberta Bair Theater 2024.jpg|thumb|Alberta Bair Theater]]
The Alberta Bair Theater is a 1,400-seat performing arts venue noted for its 20-ton capacity hydraulic lift that raises and lowers the stage apron.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.albertabairtheater.org/facility.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819114949/http://www.albertabairtheater.org/facility.php|url-status=dead|title=Alberta Bair Theater<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=August 19, 2012}}</ref> Opened in 1931 and originally called the Fox Theater, it was renamed in 1987 in honor of Alberta Bair and her substantial donations that helped fund the building's renovation.

====Eagle Seeker Community Center====
Built in 1950, the Eagle Seeker Community Center (formerly the Shrine Auditorium) is a smaller, cost-effective venue that has hosted national shows. It seats 2,340 for concerts and offers 550 off-street parking spots.

==== Dehler Park====
[[Dehler Park]] is a multi-use stadium that is home of the [[Billings Mustangs]], a [[Pioneer League (baseball)|Pioneer League]] baseball team. It replaced [[Cobb Field]] and Athletic Park swimming pool in the summer of 2008. Dehler Park has a capacity of 3,500 to over 6,000.

====Wendy's Field====
Wendy's Field at Daylis Stadium is a local stadium used for high school games. It is next to Billings Senior High.

====Centennial Ice Arena====
[[Centennial Ice Arena]] is home to the Billings Amateur Hockey League, Figure Skating Clubs and Adult Hockey.

====Babcock Theater====
[[File:Billings, Montana. the Babcock Theater.JPG|thumb|upright|The historic Babcock Theater]]

The [[Babcock Theater]] is a 750-seat performing arts theater in Billings, Montana. It was built in 1907 and at the time was considered the largest theater between Minneapolis and Seattle. Purchased by the City of Billings in 2018,<ref>{{cite web |title=Our History |url=https://www.babcockbillings.com/history |publisher=Babcock Theater |access-date=21 May 2023}}</ref> it hosts events and shows movies by Art House Cinema.

====Alterowitz Arena====
This 4,000-seat venue primarily hosts MSU Billings sports, local events, and some national touring events. This facility has gyms, racket ball courts as well as an Olympic-size pool with bleachers for aquatic events.

====Fortin Center====
Fortin Center is a 3,000-seat arena on the campus of [[Rocky Mountain College]] used primarily for the college's sporting events.

===Arts===
* Backyard Theatre
* Billings Public Library<ref>Daniel F. Ring, "Men of Energy and Snap: The Origins and Early Years of the Billings Public Library," ''Libraries & Culture'' (2001) 36#3 (2001) pp 397–412</ref>
* [[Billings Studio Theater]]
* [[Billings Symphony Orchestra]]
* Billings Youth Orchestra
* NOVA: Performing Arts Center
* Sacrifice Cliff Theatre Co. 
* Yellowstone Chamber Players
* Yellowstone Repertory Theatre

===Events===
* Billings Pride Week (June)<ref>{{cite web|author=Staff|title=Gay Pride festival takes shap|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/gay-pride-festival-takes-shape/article_b38c477c-7acf-5f22-b9d8-22036cea27e5.html|work=Billings Gazette|date=April 28, 2007|access-date=November 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Marino |first=Michael J. |date=July 1, 2022 |title=Nearly 4,000 Attend Billings Pride Event Downtown |edition=40 |volume=45 |work=Yellowstone County News |url=https://www.yellowstonecountynews.com/202207011122/nearly-4000-attend-billings-pride-event-downtown/ |access-date=November 15, 2022}}</ref>
* Strawberry Festival (July)<ref name="Straw-Fest">{{cite web |access-date=2022-08-15 |year=2022 |website=Downtown Billings |url=https://downtownbillings.com/event/31st-annual-strawberry-festival/ |title=31st Annual Strawberry Festival |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714222423/https://downtownbillings.com/event/31st-annual-strawberry-festival/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* MontanaFair (August)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.montanafair.com |title=MontanaFair in Billings |access-date=September 13, 2010}}</ref>
* Billings Artwalk (first Friday of every other month at downtown businesses)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://artwalkbillings.com/ |title=ArtWalk Downtown Billings |publisher=Artwalkbillings.com |access-date=February 25, 2020}}</ref>

===Breweries and distilleries===
With nine [[Craft beer|microbreweries]] in the metropolitan area, Billings has more breweries than any community in Montana. The downtown breweries include Montana Brewing Co., Thirsty Street Tap Room, Angry Hank's Tap Room, Carters Brewery, and Überbrew.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jan Falstad |url=http://billingsgazette.com/business/thirst-for-craft-beers-prompts-a-boom-in-billings-brew/article_a34df020-6670-518e-af72-d61e9eac3c14.html |title=Thirst for craft beers prompts a boom in Billings brew pubs : Business | publisher = BillingsGazette.com |date=April 29, 2012 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> Downtown Billings is also home to two distilleries, offering a variety of handcrafted spirits and cocktails. The West End is the location of several other breweries and a third distillery.<ref>{{cite news|last=Howard|first=Tom|title=Trailhead Spirits: Distilling Montana's essence into memorable beverages|url=http://billingsgazette.com/business/features/trailhead-spirits-distilling-montana-s-essence-into-memorable-beverages/article_b905b1cd-9ff7-54e3-82e9-7da96733121d.html|newspaper=Billings Gazette|date=February 1, 2013}}</ref> The Billings Brew Trail<ref>{{Cite web |title=Billings Brew Trail {{!}} VisitBillings.com - Awe And Wonder - Visit Billings® |url=https://www.visitbillings.com/billings-brew-trail |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Visitbillings.com}}</ref> features all of the distilleries and breweries across the city, as well as a cider house and a winery.

==Sports==
* [[Billings Mustangs]], an independent [[Pioneer Baseball League|Pioneer League]] baseball team that was formerly (up through 2020) affiliated with the [[Cincinnati Reds]]
* [[Outlaws Arena Football Team|Billings Outlaws]], an [[Arena Football League|AF1]] indoor football team that plays at [[First Interstate Arena]]. The Outlaws are defending champions in the AF1 league.
* The [[Northern International Livestock Exposition]] (NILE) Rodeo at MetraPark
* Great American Championship Motorcycle Hill Climb, billed as "The Oldest, Richest and Biggest Motorcycle Hill Climb in the United States"

==Parks and recreation==
*[[Lake Elmo State Park]]
*[[Rimrocks|Rimrocks ("The Rims")]]
*[[Skypoint]]
*Yellowstone Kelly Interpretive Site<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parks & Trails |url=https://www.billingsparks.org/parks-trails/ |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=Billings Parks and Recreation |language=en-US}}</ref>
*Zimmerman Park

==Government==
{{See also|List of mayors of Billings, Montana}}

{| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; float:right; margin: .5em;"
|+ '''City Council:'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.aspx?NID=159 |title=City Council Members |publisher=The City of Billings, Montana |access-date=September 12, 2010}}
</ref>
|-
| '''Mayor''' ||  Bill Cole
|-
| '''Ward 1''' ||  Ed Gulick / Kendra Shaw
|-
| '''Ward 2''' ||  Jennifer Owen / Roy Neese
|-
| '''Ward 3''' ||  Denise Joy / Bill Kennedy
|-
| '''Ward 4''' ||  Scott Aspenlieder<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pyburn |first=Evelyn |date=November 10, 2023 |title=Voters Defeat Recreation/Parks Bond in Landslide |pages=1, 3 |work=Yellowstone County News}}</ref> / Dan Tidswell
|-
| '''Ward 5''' ||  Mike Boyett / Tom Rupsis
|}

[[File:Billings, Montana. the new federal courthouse.JPG|thumb|James F. Battin Federal Courthouse]]

Billings is the county seat of [[Yellowstone County, Montana|Yellowstone County]], the most populous county in Montana.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Yellowstone County, Montana|url=http://www.co.yellowstone.mt.gov/cofacts.asp|publisher=Yellowstone County, Montana|access-date=February 28, 2013}}</ref> It is also the location of the James F. Battin Federal Courthouse, one of five federal courthouses for the [[United States District Court for the District of Montana|District of Montana]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Courthouse Locations|url=http://www.mtd.uscourts.gov/courthouselist.html|publisher=U. S. District Court of Montana|access-date=February 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228034615/http://www.mtd.uscourts.gov/courthouselist.html|archive-date=February 28, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Billings is governed via the mayor council system. There are ten members of the city council who are elected from one of five wards with each ward electing two members. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote. Both the mayor and council members are officially nonpartisan. The city charter, also called the Billings, Montana City Code (BMCC) was established 1977.

Unlike some other cities in Montana, Billings's city ordinances do not contain provisions that forbid discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.<ref name="KTVQNDOFight2019">{{cite news |last1=Lagge |first1=Mitch |title=Billings City Council member says he's dropping NDO effort |url=https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/billings-city-council-member-says-hes-dropping-ndo-effort |access-date=October 2, 2019 |publisher=[[KTVQ]] |date=October 1, 2019}}</ref> An effort to pass a non-discrimination ordinance in Billings failed in 2014, after then-mayor Tom Hanel cast a tie-breaking vote against it at the conclusion of a meeting that lasted 8.5 hours.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ferguson |first1=Mike |title=Council defeats NDO by 6–5 count |url=https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/government-and-politics/council-defeats-ndo-by---count/article_b0740778-d45d-55de-92a7-78a8ffa02e46.html |access-date=October 2, 2019 |work=[[Billings Gazette]] |date=August 12, 2014}}</ref> An effort to introduce an NDO measure to the City Council was briefly floated in September 2019 by a city council member,<ref>{{cite news |title=Billings City Council to look at non-discrimination ordinance again |url=https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/billings-city-council-to-look-at-non-discrimination-ordinance-again |access-date=October 2, 2019 |publisher=[[KTVQ]] |date=September 10, 2019}}</ref> but was abandoned approximately a month later.<ref name="KTVQNDOFight2019"/>

==Education==
===Primary and secondary===
====Public====
[[Billings Public Schools]] has two components: Billings Elementary School District and Billings High School District.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apps.opi.mt.gov/SchoolDirectory/frmdirectorydistrictpdf.aspx|title=Directory of Montana Schools|publisher=[[Montana Office of Public Instruction]]|date=2024-03-13|access-date=2024-03-13|pages=303–305/319}}</ref>

There are six elementary school districts covering portions of Billings: Most of it is in Billings Elementary School District<!--ELM 03870-->, and other portions are in: [[Elysian Elementary School District]]<!--ELM 09840-->, [[Elder Grove Elementary School District]]<!--ELM 09720-->, [[Canyon Creek Elementary School District]]<!--ELM 05460-->, [[Blue Creek Elementary School District]]<!--ELM 04230-->, and [[Independent Elementary School District]]<!--ELM 14820-->. All of Billings is in Billings High School District<!--SEC 03900-->.<ref name=LewisClarkSchoolDistrictmaps2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st30_mt/schooldistrict_maps/c30111_yellowstone/DC20SD_C30111.pdf|title=2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Yellowstone County, MT|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-03-13}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st30_mt/schooldistrict_maps/c30111_yellowstone/DC20SD_C30111_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

Billings Public Schools consists of 22 elementary schools, six middle schools, and three high schools ([[Billings Senior High School|Senior High]], [[Skyview High School (Montana)|Skyview High]], and [[Billings West High School|West High]]) that have approximately 15,715 students and 1,850 full-time employees.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Billings Public Schools|url=http://www.billingsschools.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=63|publisher=Billings Public Schools|access-date=February 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321233946/http://www.billingsschools.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=63|archive-date=March 21, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> District 3, Independent, and Elder Grove School Districts each have one elementary school, those being Blue Creek Elementary,<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.bluecreek.k12.mt.us/about_us.htm|publisher=Blue Creek School|access-date=February 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624052734/http://www.bluecreek.k12.mt.us/about_us.htm|archive-date=June 24, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Elder Grove Elementary,<ref>{{cite web|title=District Information|url=http://www.eldergrove.k12.mt.us/index.php/district-info|publisher=Elder Grove School|access-date=February 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527092129/http://eldergrove.k12.mt.us/index.php/district-info|archive-date=May 27, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Independent Elementary, respectively. Canyon Creek School District operates Canyon Creek School, which serves grades K–8.

====Private====
* Billings Catholic Schools
** [[Billings Central Catholic High School]] (grades 9–12)
** St. Francis Catholic School (grades K–8)
** St. Francis Daycare
* Billings Christian Schools (grades Pre–12)
* Billings Educational Academy (grades K–12)
* Grace Montessori Academy (grades Pre–8)<ref>h{{cite web|url=http://gmamt.org/ |title=Grace Montessori Academy, a Billings Christian Montessori School }}</ref>
* Mount Olive Lutheran School (grades Pre-8)
* Sunrise Montessori (grades Pre–5)
* Trinity Lutheran School (grades K–8)

===Colleges and universities===
[[File:MSU Billings, Petro Hall, 2025.jpg|thumb|Petro Hall at [[Montana State University Billings]]]]

Billings has three institutions of higher learning. [[Montana State University Billings]] (MSU Billings) is part of the state university system, while [[Rocky Mountain College]] and [[Rocky Vista University]] are private.

Other institutions that maintain a Billings presence include [[Walla Walla University]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Billings Campus |url=https://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/grad-studies/social-work-msw/billings-campus |access-date=2025-08-17 |website=Walla Walla University}}</ref> the [[University of Mary]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Billings, MT |url=https://www.umary.edu/about/campus-facilities-locations/satellite-locations/billings-mt |access-date=October 13, 2025 |website=University of Mary |language=en}}</ref> and the [[Montana State University]] College of Nursing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Billings Campus Profile - Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing |url=https://www.montana.edu/nursing/directory/billings-campus-profile/ |access-date=2025-08-17 |website=Montana State University}}</ref> [[Yellowstone Christian College]] was headquartered in Billings from 1974 to 2021, when it moved to [[Kalispell]].<ref>{{cite web |author-last=Miller |author-first=Norm |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Yellowstone Christian College Changes Name |url=https://mtsbc.org/2022/08/yellowstone-christian-college-changes-name/ |access-date=March 7, 2024 |publisher=Montana Southern Baptist Convention}}</ref>

====Montana State University Billings====
Montana State University Billings was founded in 1927 as Eastern Montana Normal College to train teachers. The name was shortened to Eastern Montana College in 1949, and it was given its present name when the Montana State University System reorganized in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|title=History & Overview of MSU Billings|url=http://www.msubillings.edu/geninfo/history.htm|access-date=August 8, 2012|author=Montana State University Billings}}</ref> The university offers associate/bachelor's/master's degrees and certificates in fields such as business, education, and medicine.<ref>{{cite web|title=Degrees, Programs, & Minors|url=http://www.msubillings.edu/future/degrees.asp|access-date=August 9, 2012|author=Montana State University Billings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829022442/http://www.msubillings.edu/future/degrees.asp|archive-date=August 29, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Around 4,000 students attend MSU Billings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Full and Part Time Enrollment|url=http://www.msubillings.edu/InstitutionalResearch/default.htm#Full_and_Part_Time_Enrollment_|work=Institutional Research|access-date=August 8, 2012|author=Montana State University Billings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117023957/http://www.msubillings.edu/InstitutionalResearch/default.htm#Full_and_Part_Time_Enrollment_|archive-date=January 17, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

City College at MSU Billings was established in 1969 as the Billings Vocational-Technical Education Center. Its governance was passed to the Montana University System Board of Regents in 1987, when it became known as the College of Technology. It was officially merged with MSU Billings (then known as Eastern Montana College) in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|title=About the College|url=http://citycollege.msubillings.edu/General_info.htm|publisher=Montana State University Billings|access-date=September 19, 2012}}</ref> The name was changed to the present name in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pickett|first=Mary|title=Regents approve new COT names|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/regents-approve-new-cot-names/article_cc31edf1-b58e-50fe-b48e-fb3e1cdbb4be.html|work=The Billings Gazette|date=May 25, 2012 |access-date=September 19, 2012}}</ref> Known as the "comprehensive two-year college arm" of MSU Billings,<ref>{{cite web|title=City College Home|url=http://citycollege.msubillings.edu/|publisher=Montana State University Billings|access-date=September 19, 2012}}</ref> the college offers degrees and programs in a variety of fields, including automotive, business, computer technology, and nursing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Degrees and Programs|url=http://citycollege.msubillings.edu/Programs.htm|publisher=Montana State University Billings|access-date=September 19, 2012}}</ref>

====Rocky Mountain College====
Through the marriage of three institutions of higher learning, [[Rocky Mountain College]] is Montana's oldest college. Rocky Mountain College (RMC) was founded in 1878.<ref name="About RMC">{{cite web|title=About RMC|url=http://www.rocky.edu/about-rocky/|publisher=Rocky Mountain College|access-date=January 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126184050/http://www.rocky.edu/about-rocky/|archive-date=January 26, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The campus that became RMC was known as the Billings Polytechnic Institute until 1947, when it joined the [[College of Montana|Montana Collegiate Institute]] in Deer Lodge (Montana's first institution of higher learning) and Intermountain Union College in Helena to form to Rocky Mountain College.<ref name="RMC history">{{cite web|title=History of RMC|url=http://www.rocky.edu/about-rocky/HistoryOfRMC.php|publisher=Rocky Mountain College|access-date=January 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115121320/http://rocky.edu/about-rocky/HistoryOfRMC.php|archive-date=January 15, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the 2013 fall semester, there were 1,068 students attending Rocky Mountain College.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fall 2013 Student Body Profile|url=http://www.rocky.edu/about-rocky/institutional-research/pdf/Fall2013_StudentBodyProfile.pdf|publisher=Rocky Mountain College|access-date=March 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407024939/http://rocky.edu/about-rocky/institutional-research/pdf/Fall2013_StudentBodyProfile.pdf|archive-date=April 7, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The college offers 50 majors offered in 24 different fields including art, education, music, psychology, and theater.<ref>{{cite web|title=RMC – Majors|url=http://www.rocky.edu/academics/academic-programs/undergraduate-majors/|publisher=Rocky Mountain College|access-date=January 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126184932/http://www.rocky.edu/academics/academic-programs/undergraduate-majors/|archive-date=January 26, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> RMC is affiliated with the [[United Church of Christ]], the [[United Methodist Church]], and the [[Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)]].<ref>{{cite web|title=General Information|url=http://www.rocky.edu/academics/course-catalog/GeneralInformation.php|publisher=Rocky Mountain College|access-date=January 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120013712/http://rocky.edu/academics/course-catalog/GeneralInformation.php|archive-date=January 20, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Rocky Vista University ====
[[Rocky Vista University]], a private for-profit school of [[Osteopathic medicine in the United States|osteopathic medicine]], operates the Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine. The campus, completed in 2023, is located on the West End. Classes began the same year.<ref name="RVU">{{cite news|last=Monaco|first=Hailey|title=Rocky Vista Montana College completes construction in Billings, looks forward to first class|url=https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/rocky-vista-montana-college-completes-construction-in-billings-looks-forward-to-first-class|access-date=April 5, 2023|website=KTVQ News|date=January 23, 2023}}</ref> The university later announced plans to establish a College of Veterinary Medicine at the Billings campus by 2026.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--not stated-->|date=January 12, 2024|title=Rocky Vista announces plans for college of veterinary medicine amid growing vet shortage|url=https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/rocky-vista-announces-plans-for-college-of-veterinary-medicine-amid-growing-vet-shortage|website=KTVQ News|access-date=March 7, 2024}}</ref>

==Media==
{{main|Media in Billings, Montana}}

=== Newspapers ===
The largest media market in Montana and Wyoming, Billings is serviced by a variety of print media. Newspaper service includes the ''[[Billings Gazette]]'', a daily morning broadsheet newspaper owned by [[Lee Enterprises]]. It is the largest daily newspaper in Montana, with a Sunday circulation of 52,000 and a weekday circulation of 47,000. It publishes three editions: the state edition, which circulates in most of Eastern Montana and all of South Central Montana; the Wyoming edition, which circulates in Northern Wyoming; and the city edition, which circulates in Yellowstone County.

''[[Yellowstone County News]]'' is the next leading print newspaper, owned by Jonathan & Tana McNiven.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jonathan McNiven {{!}} Yellowstone County News |date=February 28, 2017 |url=https://www.yellowstonecountynews.com/about/jonathanmcniven/ |access-date=April 4, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> It is published on a weekly basis and provides news and columns for "Yellowstone County and the communities of Lockwood, Shepherd, Huntley, Worden, Ballanatine, Pompey's Pillar, Custer and Billings."<ref>"About."  ''Yellowstone County News.'' p. 2''.'' 2022 April 1.</ref> It is also recognized as the Publication of Record for both the City of Billings and Yellowstone County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who is the Best of Yellowstone County 2022? {{!}} Yellowstone County News |url=https://www.yellowstonecountynews.com/who-is-the-best-of-yellowstone-county/ |access-date=April 4, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Other publications include other more specialized weekly and monthly publications.

=== Magazines ===
Billings has several community magazines including ''Magic City Magazine,''<ref>{{cite web|author=Lee DMS Group |url=http://magiccitymagazine.com/ |title=Magic – Billings' City Magazine Since 2003 |publisher=Magiccitymagazine.com |date=April 24, 2009 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> which features local feature stories and unique human interest pieces,<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=http://montanamagazines.com/magic/pages/about.html |access-date=April 22, 2023 |website=Magic City Magazine}}</ref> and ''Yellowstone Valley Woman''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yellowstonevalleywoman.com/ |title=Yellowstone Valley Woman |publisher=Yellowstone Valley Woman |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref>

=== Television and radio ===
The Billings area has four major non-news television stations, two major news television stations, one community television station, four [[PBS]] channels<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superpages.com/yellowpages/C-Television+Broadcasting+Companies+%26+Stations/S-MT/T-Billings/ |title=Billings Television Broadcasting Companies & Stations in Billings MT Yellow Pages by SuperPages |publisher=Superpages.com |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> and several Low-Power Television ([[LPTV]]) channels. The major TV stations include [[KTVQ]] channel 2 ([[CBS]] affiliate and part of the [[Montana Television Network]] [MTN]), [[KHMT]] channel 4 ([[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] affiliate), [[KSVI]] channel 6 ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate with [[The CW]] on DT2), [[KULR-TV]] channel 8 ([[NBC]] affiliate) and [[PBS]] member station [[Montana PBS|KBGS-TV]] on channel 16.

It is also served by twenty-two commercial radio stations, Yellowstone Public Radio ([[NPR]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheradio.net/metro/billings_mt.aspx |title=Radio Stations in Billings MT |access-date=August 7, 2012 |archive-date=August 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830173619/http://www.ontheradio.net/metro/billings_mt.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a Low-Power (LP) radio station. [[KFHW-LP]] is a radio station at 101.1 FM in Billings, an extension of the Yellowstone County News, also known as "YCN Radio" and/or "YCN Sports & Radio."<ref>{{Cite web |title=YCN Radio |url=https://www.yellowstonecountynews.com/ycnradio/ |access-date=April 22, 2023 |website=Yellowstone County News}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
Several large irrigation ditches, including the [[Billings Bench Water Association Canal]], run through Billings.

===Transportation===
====Airports====
[[Billings Logan International Airport]] is close to downtown; it sits on top of the Rims, a {{convert|500|ft|m|adj=on}} cliff that overlooks the downtown core. Scheduled passenger service and air cargo flights operate from this airfield.

The [[Laurel Municipal Airport]] is a publicly owned public-use airport in [[Laurel, Montana]], {{convert|11|mi|km|spell=in}} southwest of downtown Billings. It has three runways exclusively serving privately operated general aviation aircraft and helicopters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&rls=en&psj=1&um=1&q=airports+yellowstone+county+montana&fb=1&gl=us&hq=airports&hnear=Yellowstone,+Montana&cid=7817700564093957969|title=Laurel Municipal Airport |publisher=Google Maps |date=January 1, 1970 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref>

====Public transportation====
[[File:Billings, Montana, downtown MET transit center.JPG|thumb|Downtown MET transit center]]

The [[Billings METropolitan Transit]] is Billings's public transit system. MET Transit provides fixed-route and paratransit bus service to the City of Billings. All MET buses are accessible by citizens who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices. They are wheelchair lift-equipped and accessible to all citizens who are unable to use the stairs. MET buses are equipped with bike racks for their bike-riding passengers. There are Westend and Downtown transit centers allowing passengers to connect with all routes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.aspx?nid=259 |title=City of Billings, MT – MET Transit |publisher=Ci.billings.mt.us |date=June 8, 2012 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> The Billings Bus Terminal is served by [[Express Arrow]], [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]], and [[Jefferson Lines]], which also provide regional and interstate bus service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greyhound.com/ |title=Home |publisher=Greyhound.com |access-date=August 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060312191347/http://www.greyhound.com/ |archive-date=March 12, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Trail system====
[[File:Billings, Montana-Swords Park Trail.JPG|thumb|Billings, Montana-Swords Park Trail]]

Billings has an extensive trail system running throughout the metro area. The rapidly expanding trail system, known as the Heritage trail system, has a large variety of well-maintained trails and pathways.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prpl.info/parks/trails.html |title=Billings Parks & Rec – Trails |publisher=Prpl.info |access-date=August 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704084454/http://www.prpl.info/parks/trails.html |archive-date=July 4, 2012 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

====Highways====
[[File:US-87 Billings Heights.JPG|thumb|US-87 in Billings Heights]]

[[Interstate 90 in Montana|Interstate 90]] runs east–west through the southern portion of Billings, serving as a corridor between Billings Heights, Lockwood, Downtown, South Hills, Westend, Shiloh, and Laurel. East of Downtown, between Billings Heights and Lockwood, Interstate 90 connects with [[Interstate 94 in Montana|Interstate 94]], which serves as an east–west corridor between Shepherd, Huntley, Lockwood, Downtown, South Hills, Westend, Shiloh, and Laurel via its connection with I-90.

[[Montana Highway 3]] is a north–south highway that runs along the edge of the North Rims connecting Downtown and the West End with the Rehberg Ranch, Indian Cliffs and Billings Heights. [[U.S. Route 87 in Montana|U.S. Highway 87]] runs through the center of Billings Heights and is known as Main Street within the city limits. This is the busiest section of roadway in the state of Montana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/docs/datastats/atr/atrbook12.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328183037/http://mdt.mt.gov/publications/docs/datastats/atr/atrbook12.pdf |archive-date=2013-03-28 |url-status=live |title=Montana's Automatic Traffic Recorders |website=Mdt.mt.gov |date=2012 |access-date=February 25, 2020}}</ref> It connects to U.S. Highway 87 East, which runs through Lockwood as Old Hardin Road.<ref name="google1" />

The Billings Bypass will create a new and more direct connection between the Billings Heights and [[Lockwood, Montana|Lockwood]] by connecting I-90 with Montana Highway 87 and Old Highway 312.<ref>{{cite web|title=Project Description|url=http://www.billingsbypass.com/index.htm|publisher=Billings Bypass EIS|access-date=March 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116111919/http://www.billingsbypass.com/index.htm|archive-date=January 16, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The project will include a new bridge over the Yellowstone River (completed in 2023) and the reconstruction of the I-90 Johnson Lane Interchange. The Billings Bypass is tentatively set for completion in 2027.<ref>{{cite web|title=Billings Bypass Status/Schedule|url=https://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/billingsbypass/schedule.aspx|publisher=Montana Department of Transportation|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref>

====Rail====
There is currently no service, though until 1979 [[Amtrak]]'s ''[[North Coast Hiawatha]]'' stopped at the [[Billings Depot]], serving a Chicago to [[Seattle]] route. Before Amtrak, Billings was well-served by [[Northern Pacific Railway|Northern Pacific]], [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern]], and [[Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad|Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy railroads]] with direct routes to [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]], [[Denver]], Chicago, [[Great Falls, Montana|Great Falls]], and the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]]. (Billings was the northern and western terminus for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad).

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority was formed in 2020 to advocate for restoring Amtrak's ''North Coast Hiawatha'' route. In 2023, the organization was awarded $500,000 by the [[Corridor Identification and Development Program]] to explore the proposal's logistics and feasibility. The ''North Coast Hiawatha'' received further recognition from its identification in the 2024 Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study.<ref>{{cite news|last=Eggert|first=Amanda|date=February 21, 2024|title=Long-distance rail route through southern Montana garners another nod from feds|url=https://montanafreepress.org/2024/02/21/long-distance-rail-route-through-southern-montana-garners-another-nod-from-feds/|publisher=Montana Free Press|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref>

===Healthcare===
The city's rapidly growing health care sector employed nearly 13,000 people in 2012; they earned $641 million in wages, or about 20 percent of all wages in the city. Employment doubled in 25 years and wage rates in constant dollars grew by 162 percent.<ref>Mike Ferguson, "Billings' health care system a significant part of the local economy, study shows," [http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/billings-health-care-system-a-significant-part-of-the-local/article_343f0a6b-fefa-5a2a-9cc6-4348935a0310.html ''Billings Gazette'' Dec. 14, 2014]</ref> The city has two hospitals with Level I Trauma Center status: St. Vincent Regional Hospital and [[Billings Clinic]].

St. Vincent Regional Hospital was founded in 1898 by the [[Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth]] as St. Vincent Hospital.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://svh-mt.org/history|publisher=St. Vincent Healthcare|access-date=February 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321153223/http://svh-mt.org/History|archive-date=March 21, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The name was changed to the present name in 2024.<ref>{{cite news|last=Forte|first=Travia|title=St. Vincents will Now Be Known As St. Vincent Regional Hospital|url=https://www.kulr8.com/news/st-vincents-will-now-be-known-as-st-vincent-regional-hospital/article_ca743be2-af67-11ee-bf6e-5b65cab291c7.html|access-date=March 27, 2024|website=KULR-8|date=January 9, 2024}}</ref> In 2011, the hospital and its 30 clinics employed approximately 2,100 people and received more than 400,000 patient visits each year.<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Facts|url=http://svh-mt.org/2011_facts|publisher=St. Vincent Healthcare|access-date=February 1, 2013}}</ref> In 2022, the hospital announced plans to build a new 295-bed facility as a replacement for its current building.<ref>{{cite news|last=Conlon|first=Casey|title=St. Vincent Healthcare announces plans to build 'replacement' hospital in Billings|url=https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/st-vincent-healthcare-announces-plans-to-build-replacement-hospital-in-billings|access-date=March 28, 2024|website=KULR-8|date=June 2, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=St. Vincent inviting local tradespeople to partner on multi-million-dollar hospital replacement|url=https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/st-vincent-inviting-local-tradespeople-to-partner-on-multi-million-dollar-hospital-replacement/article_b1c2b57c-fb41-11ed-b678-a78b26db87d0.html|access-date=March 28, 2024|work=Billings Gazette|date=May 23, 2023}}</ref> The following year, it achieved [[Trauma center#Level I|Level I Trauma Center]] status.<ref>{{cite news|title=St. Vincent Hospital achieves Level I Trauma Center status|url=https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/intermountain-health-trauma1-billings-montana/article_c260d97c-fdb6-11ee-aecf-bf4ee418a73b.html|access-date=July 17, 2024|work=Billings Gazette|date=April 18, 2024}}</ref> It is the second largest hospital in the state, behind Billings Clinic. St. Vincent Regional Hospital is run by Intermountain Health,<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://intermountainhealthcare.org/about |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=intermountainhealthcare.org |language=en}}</ref> which operates over 30 hospitals across the mountain west, including two others in Montana.

[[Billings Clinic]] started in 1911 as the general practice of Dr. Arthur J. Movius. By 1939, three new general practitioners had joined Dr. Movius's practice and the name was changed to The Billings Clinic. Billings Deaconess Hospital (founded in 1907) merged with Billings Clinic in 1990 to form the current hospital.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Billings Clinic|url=http://www.billingsclinic.com/body.cfm?id=969|publisher=Billings Clinic|access-date=February 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712112159/http://www.billingsclinic.com/body.cfm?id=969|archive-date=July 12, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Billings Clinic now employs over 4,500 people,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billingsclinic.com/about-us/|title=Billings Clinic - About Us|website=Billingsclinic.com}}</ref> including nearly 600 physicians, and is one of the largest employers in Montana.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Billings Clinic|url=http://www.billingsclinic.com/AboutUs|publisher=Billings Clinic|access-date=February 1, 2013}}</ref> In January 2013, Billings Clinic was added to the Mayo Clinic Care Network, only the 12th hospital nationally to be added to the network and the only such health system in Montana.<ref>{{cite news|last=Uken|first=Cindy|title=Billings Clinic forms formal relationship with Mayo Clinic|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/billings-clinic-forms-formal-relationship-with-mayo-clinic/article_33b16cdb-a285-5ade-839e-93694a98399d.html|access-date=February 1, 2013|newspaper=Billings Gazette|date=January 9, 2013}}</ref> In 2023, Billings Clinic became the first Level I Trauma Center in Montana and Wyoming, covering a region of nearly 550 miles.

Other medical facilities include the Northern Rockies Radiation Oncology Center, Rimrock Foundation (addiction treatment both inpatient and outpatient), Advanced Care Hospital of Montana (a 40-bed long-term acute-care hospital), South Central Montana Mental Health Center, Billings VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, Billings Clinic Research Center (pharmaceutical field trials, osteoporosis are two long-time focuses), Billings MRI, City/County Public Health's Riverstone Health, HealthSouth Surgery Center and Physical Therapy offices, Baxter/Travenol BioLife plasma collection center, and many independent practices.

===Public safety===
The [[Billings Police Department]] is the main [[law enforcement agency]] in Billings. It is the largest city police force in [[Montana]], with about 162 sworn officers and 80 civilian employees. There are nine police beats.

The Billings Fire Department was founded in 1883 as a volunteer fire company named the Billings Fire Brigade. The Yellowstone Hook and Ladder Company was founded in 1886; that company was disbanded in 1888 after the mayor criticized the group for how that handled a fire, leaving the town without a fire department for almost six months.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of the Billings Fire Department|url=http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.aspx?NID=851|publisher=City of Billings|access-date=February 24, 2013}}</ref> The last volunteer fire company, Maverick Hose Company, served as the city's fire department until 1918.<ref>{{cite web|title=Taking Off|url=http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.aspx?NID=1789|publisher=City of Billings|access-date=February 24, 2013|archive-date=June 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629212715/http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.aspx?NID=1789|url-status=dead}}</ref> The modern fire department has eight stations, employs 179 people, and received a class two rating by ISO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fire {{!}} City of Billings, MT - Official Website |url=https://www.billingsmt.gov/2884/Fire |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=www.billingsmt.gov}}</ref>

==Notable people==
More widely famous people who have lived in Billings include:

===Historical===
* [[Frank Borman]], astronaut<ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=M. T. N. |date=2023-11-09 |title=Montanan Frank Borman, who circled the moon for NASA, dies at 95 in Billings |url=https://www.ktvq.com/news/montana-news/montanan-frank-borman-who-circled-the-moon-for-nasa-dies-at-95-in-billings |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=Q2 News (KTVQ) |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Albert D. Cooley]], aviator and Lieutenant general, USMC; [[Navy Cross]]
* [[Will James (artist)|Will James]], artist and author
* [[Calamity Jane]], frontierswoman
* [[Liver-Eating Johnson]], mountain man and sheriff
* [[Terry C. Johnston]], western novelist<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=DAN BURKHART Of The Gazette |date=2001-03-22 |title=Author to follow character in death |url=https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_a8a3549e-d094-5025-8121-0df5ec80a02a.html |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=Billings Gazette |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Charles Lindbergh]], aviator

===Sports===
* [[Gary Albright]], wrestler
* [[Carolin Babcock]], tennis player<ref>{{Cite news |date=1987-03-31 |title=Carolin Stark Is Dead; Tennis Star in 1930's (Published 1987) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/31/obituaries/carolin-stark-is-dead-tennis-star-in-1930-s.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119213836/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/31/obituaries/carolin-stark-is-dead-tennis-star-in-1930-s.html |archive-date=2025-01-19 |access-date=2025-09-25 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Jeff Ballard (baseball pitcher)|Jeff Ballard]], [[Major League Baseball]] pitcher<ref>{{Cite news |last=Seideman |first=David |title=Big Leaguer Recovers 'Priceless' Baseball 25 Years Later |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidseideman/2018/01/11/big-leaguer-recovers-priceless-baseball-25-years-later/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250503215754/https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidseideman/2018/01/11/big-leaguer-recovers-priceless-baseball-25-years-later/ |archive-date=2025-05-03 |access-date=2025-09-25 |work=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Ed Breding]], former NFL player
* [[Julie Brown (athlete)|Julie Brown]], distance runner<ref>{{Cite web |last=lpalmer@billingsgazette.com |first=LILLIAN PALMER |date=2025-07-18 |title=Inaugural torchbearer Julie Brown returns for 40th Big Sky State Games |url=https://406mtsports.com/extra/inaugural-torchbearer-julie-brown-returns-for-40th-big-sky-state-games/article_25e4086c-b367-55e2-b696-ee2f5c89ce4c.html |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=406 MT SPORTS |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Kurt Burris]], former NFL player<ref>{{Cite news |title=Kurt Bane Burris |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1999/07/24/kurt-bane-burris/62234680007/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925015352/https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1999/07/24/kurt-bane-burris/62234680007/ |archive-date=2025-09-25 |access-date=2025-09-25 |work=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Mike Burton (swimming)|Mike Burton]], Olympic gold medalist in swimming<ref>{{Cite web |last=Page |first=Charli White {{!}} Photography By Casey |date=2016-06-05 |title=Mike Burton: Insightful lessons from a lifetime Olympian |url=https://montanamagazines.com/magic/mike-burton-insightful-lessons-from-a-lifetime-olympian/article_d7e087ff-f4cd-5bfe-9f7f-272409262a22.html |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=Montana Magazines |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Ruben Castillo (boxer)|Ruben Castillo]], boxer{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}
* [[Jim Creighton (basketball)|Jim Creighton]], former NBA player{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}
* [[Mitch Donahue]], former NFL player<ref>{{Cite web |last=khansen@billingsgazette.com |first=KYLE HANSEN |date=2016-08-11 |title=For Billings' Mitch Donahue, Hall induction caps memorable 2016 |url=https://406mtsports.com/extra/where-are-they-now/for-billings-mitch-donahue-hall-induction-caps-memorable-2016/article_a21c355f-b266-5a72-8b56-b1ae25bc093f.html |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=406 MT SPORTS |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Dwan Edwards]], NFL player<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mansch |first=Scott |title=Former Columbus athlete Dwan Edwards stars for Carolina |url=https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/sports/2015/01/08/former-columbus-athlete-dwan-edwards-stars-carolina/21477335/ |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=Great Falls Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Brad Holland]], former [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-02-19 |title=SHOOTING THE BREEZE WITH .. Boys & Girls Clubs executive and former USD men's basketball coach Brad Holland |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2011/02/19/shooting-the-breeze-with-boys-girls-clubs-executive-and-former-usd-mens-basketball-coach-brad-holland/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925021418/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2011/02/19/shooting-the-breeze-with-boys-girls-clubs-executive-and-former-usd-mens-basketball-coach-brad-holland/ |archive-date=2025-09-25 |access-date=2025-09-25 |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Chris Horn (American football)|Chris Horn]], former AFL and NFL player<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=JOHN WARNER/Gazette |date=2005-02-19 |title=Receiving honors: Rocky salutes current NFL receiver, former Battlin' Bear Chris Horn |url=https://billingsgazette.com/sports/article_674a40f8-88b6-578b-b9f4-1ecb071d34ce.html |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=Billings Gazette |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Dave McNally]], Major League Baseball pitcher<ref>{{Cite web |last=SCHERTING 406mtsports.com |first=MIKE |date=2024-06-08 |title=McMemories: 49 years ago Saturday, Billings' Joe McIntosh, Dave McNally pitched against each other in Majors |url=https://406mtsports.com/extra/mcmemories-49-years-ago-saturday-billings-joe-mcintosh-dave-mcnally-pitched-against-each-other-in/article_904fa6d8-25fd-11ef-ae77-ff9fb63337f4.html |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=406 MT SPORTS |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Roy McPipe]], former [[American Basketball Association (1967-1976)|ABA]] player
* [[Andy Moog]], former NHL player
* [[Brent Musburger]], sportscaster<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-08-12 |title=Bill Bighaus: Musburger has fond memories of Billings roots |url=https://billingsgazette.com/sports/more/article_bc673b75-ce9a-59e8-942f-dd544cab1090.html |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=Billings Gazette |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Nich Pertuit]], football player<ref>{{Cite web |last=Letasky |first=John |date=2014-04-09 |title=Pertuit living his dream on and off the football field |url=https://billingsgazette.com/sports/more/article_7d97ab87-7b59-5dfd-80c9-0e23704324fc.html |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=Billings Gazette |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Kirk Scrafford]], former NFL player
* [[Greg Smith (ice hockey)|Greg Smith]], former [[National Hockey League|NHL]] player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Colorado College, long NHL career shaped Hall of Fame inductee Greg Smith's life |url=https://gazette.com/2017/05/09/colorado-college-long-nhl-career-shaped-hall-of-fame-inductee-greg-smiths-life-b464c874-fc0a-56bb-b38a-14ace957d59a/ |access-date=2025-10-01 |website=Colorado Springs Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Leslie Spalding]], [[LPGA]] golfer<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-16 |title=Billings native Leslie Spalding playing at the U.S. Senior Women's Open |url=https://406mtsports.com/golf/billings-native-leslie-spalding-playing-at-the-u-s-senior-womens-open/article_fab0757e-843a-5ec3-ae72-403b7db6d7ac.html |access-date=2025-10-01 |website=406 MT SPORTS |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Keith Wortman]], former [[National Football League|NFL]] player

===Arts and entertainment===
* [[Carson Allen]], singer and musician{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}
* [[Stanley Anderson]], actor
* [[Katie Blair]], [[Miss Montana Teen USA]] 2006, [[Miss Teen USA 2006]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}
* [[John Dahl]], movie director<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-06-22 |title=How John Dahl Was Lured to the Dark Side |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/entertainment/2007/06/22/how-john-dahl-was-lured-to-the-dark-side/fad0f574-50a6-481e-a9c4-0437af8a4bf8/ |access-date=2025-10-08 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=John Dahl |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/john-dahl/credits/3000098628/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211171126/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/john-dahl/credits/3000098628/ |archive-date=2024-12-11 |access-date=2025-10-08 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Timothy DeLaGhetto]], internet and television personality<ref>{{Cite web |last=Flint |first=Aaron FlintAaron |date=2025-08-25 |title=Honduran Arrested After Slamming Into Billings Police Vehicle |url=https://montanatalks.com/honduran-hits-billings-police/ |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=Montana Talks |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Annie Duke]], professional [[poker]] player and author<ref>{{Cite news |title=Annie Duke, Flush With Success |url=http://articles.philly.com/2010-06-08/entertainment/24961645_1_annie-duke-poker-bracelet-howard-lederer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518174836/http://articles.philly.com/2010-06-08/entertainment/24961645_1_annie-duke-poker-bracelet-howard-lederer |archive-date=2014-05-18 |access-date=2025-10-09 |work=Philly.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Bob Enevoldsen]], jazz multi-instrumentalist<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=2005-12-07 |title=Bob Enevoldsen, 85; Jazz Trombonist Played With Big Bands |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-dec-07-me-passings7.1-story.html |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Andrea Fraser]], artist<ref>{{Cite web |last=Greenberger |first=Alex |date=2021-06-17 |title=The ARTnews Accord: Artists Lorraine O'Grady and Andrea Fraser Talk Art World Activism and the Limits of Institutional Critique |url=https://www.artnews.com/art-news/artists/lorraine-ogrady-andrea-fraser-artists-institutional-critique-conversation-1234596040/ |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=ARTnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Arlo Guthrie]], folk singer<ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Keith Loria, Special to the |date=2016-02-04 |title=Guthrie celebrates golden anniversary of "Alice's Restaurant" |url=https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/guthrie-celebrates-golden-anniversary-of-alice-s-restaurant/article_13ddef94-cb7d-11e5-a2ff-c7254301714b.html |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=Fairfax County Times |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Ethel Hays]], [[cartoonist]] and illustrator<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Audrey |date=2019-12-19 |title=Western Heritage Center remembers female cartoonist from Billings |url=https://www.kulr8.com/news/western-heritage-center-remembers-female-cartoonist-from-billings/article_b380d68a-22bb-11ea-9027-ef58ea04466a.html |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=NonStop Local Billings |language=en}}</ref>
* [[David T. Hanson]], environmental photographer<ref>{{Cite web |title=David T. Hanson {{!}} Smithsonian American Art Museum |url=https://americanart.si.edu/artist/david-t-hanson-5938 |access-date=2025-10-10 |website=americanart.si.edu |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Will James (artist)|Will James]], western artist<ref>{{Cite web |last=Journal |first=Big Sky |date=2014-07-15 |title=Images of the West: Authentic Artist Will James [1892-1942] |url=https://bigskyjournal.com/authentic-artist-will-james-1892-1942/ |access-date=2025-10-10 |website=Big Sky Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Brandon Jovanovich]], opera singer
* [[Wesley Kimler]], artist
* [[Jeff Kober]], actor<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dani Cutler NonStop Local Multimedia Journalist |title=Emmy-winning actor & writer Jeff Kober guides Billings through meditation & "Embracing Bliss" |url=https://www.kulr8.com/news/emmy-winning-actor-writer-jeff-kober-guides-billings-through-meditation-embracing-bliss/article_f09422ea-462c-11ef-bfc0-b7a2be1afa26.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723221433/https://www.kulr8.com/news/emmy-winning-actor-writer-jeff-kober-guides-billings-through-meditation-embracing-bliss/article_f09422ea-462c-11ef-bfc0-b7a2be1afa26.html |archive-date=2024-07-23 |access-date=2025-10-14 |work=NonStop Local Billings |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Leo Kottke]], musician
* [[Wally Kurth]], actor<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-21 |title=Wally Kurth to perform at the Legends of Country Rock music festival |url=https://www.kulr8.com/news/wally-kurth-to-perform-at-the-legends-of-country-rock-music-festival/article_1a4c864f-6656-5ff3-a3f0-cb62c5890808.html |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=NonStop Local Billings |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Joyce La Mers]], author of [[light poetry]]
* [[Bud Luckey]], [[Academy Award]] Nominee, famed [[Pixar]] animator for [[Toy Story]] 1–3<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lutey |first=Tom |date=2018-02-26 |title=Billings native who helped bring Pixar and Disney characters to life dies |url=https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_1ab04dd9-fe03-5ffd-9744-c6d6b50bd0d6.html |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=Billings Gazette |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Helen Lynch]], actress<ref>{{Cite book |last=D'Ambrosio |first=Brian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bBueDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Helen+Lynch%22+actress&pg=PA77 |title=Montana Entertainers: Famous and Almost Forgotten |date=2019-07-08 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-1-4396-6733-0 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[T. J. Lynch]], screenwriter
* [[Stan Lynde]], creator of the [[comic strip]] ''[[Rick O'Shay]]'', painter, and novelist
* [[Chase McBride]], singer, musician, and visual artist
* [[Ralph McQuarrie]], [[Academy Award]]-winning designer for ''[[Cocoon (film)|Cocoon]]'', the original ''[[Star Wars]]'' trilogy, the original ''[[Battlestar Galactica]]'', and ''[[E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial]]''
* [[Marlene Morrow]], former ''[[Playboy]]'' [[Playboy Playmate|Playmate]] of the Month
* [[J. K. Ralston]], Western painter
* [[Chan Romero]], pioneer of [[rock and roll]] was born in Billings
* [[Rick Rydell]], [[talk radio]] host
* [[Pete Simpson]], musician and television performer in the 1950s in Billings; later member of the [[Wyoming House of Representatives]]; [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[governor of Wyoming]] in 1986.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pelzer |first=Jeremy |date=January 1, 2011 |title=Wyoming's Simpson family out of public office, but probably not for long |url=https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/wyoming-s-simpson-family-out-of-public-office-but-probably/article_20cb1170-cac9-52e2-9f69-3087d5cfbb87.html |access-date=May 29, 2019 |website=Casper Star-Tribune Online}}</ref>
* [[Auggie Smith]], comedian
* [[Carol Thurston]], actress
* [[Chuck Tingle]], two-time Hugo Award nominee
* [[David Yost]], actor and producer, most notably the Blue Power Ranger on the ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]''

===Political===
* [[James F. Battin]], former congressman from Montana
* [[Jim Battin]], [[California state senator]]
* [[Shane Bemis]], Mayor of Gresham, Oregon
* [[John Bohlinger]], former [[Lieutenant Governor of Montana|lieutenant governor of Montana]]
* [[Roy Brown (Montana politician)|Roy Brown]], former Montana state senator for District 25 and former gubernatorial candidate
* [[Conrad Burns]], served in the U.S. Senate from 1988 to 2007
* [[Amanda Curtis]], Montana state representative for District 76 and U.S. Senate Democratic candidate<ref>{{Cite web |last=Standard |first=MIKE SMITH The Montana |date=2014-08-16 |title=Who is Amanda Curtis?: A profile of Democrats' candidate for Senate |url=https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_0b80c4a2-133d-5e06-9b2e-01644612bf25.html |access-date=2025-10-12 |website=Billings Gazette |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Hazel Hunkins Hallinan]], women's rights activist and journalist<ref>{{Cite news |date=1982-05-19 |title=Hazel H. Hallinan, 91, Journalist and Activist (Published 1982) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/19/obituaries/hazel-h-hallinan-91-journalist-and-activist.html |access-date=2025-10-12 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Mike Mansfield]], U.S. representative and U.S. senator for Montana, longest-serving Senate majority leader for Democratic Party, and U.S. Ambassador to Japan
* [[Jonathan McNiven]], former Montana state representative 
* [[Ray Metcalfe]], member of the [[Alaska House of Representatives]]
* [[Henry L. Myers]], [[U.S. senator]] and justice of the [[Supreme Court of Montana]]
* [[Denny Rehberg]], former congressman from Montana and former lieutenant governor of Montana<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Matthew |last2=Hanson |first2=Amy Beth |date=2024-06-01 |title=From his Montana ranch, a retired lawmaker is angling for a comeback in a crowded House race |url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-montana-house-rehberg-134bcc73496dab8ee06097e67f685080 |access-date=2025-10-12 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Tom Stout]], former congressman from Montana and editorial writer for the ''Billings Gazette''
* [[Burt L. Talcott]], former congressman from California<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Peter |title=Three generations of Talcotts help build Great Falls |url=https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/money/2016/10/20/three-generations-talcotts-help-build-great-falls/92446166/ |access-date=2025-10-12 |website=Great Falls Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Sister cities==
* {{flagdeco|DEU}} [[Billings, Hesse|Billings]], Hessen, Germany
* {{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Kumamoto|Kumamoto, Kumamoto]], Japan

==See also==
* The [[USS Billings (LCS-15)|USS ''Billings'' (LCS-15)]], a {{sclass|Freedom|littoral combat ship|0}} [[littoral combat ship]] of the [[United States Navy]] that is named after the city of Billings

==References==
{{Reflist
| refs =

<ref name="ZIPcode">
{{cite web
 |date=November 10, 2007
 |url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp
 |title=ZIP Code Lookup
 |publisher=[[United States Postal Service]]
 |access-date=November 10, 2007
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903025217/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp
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}}
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<ref name="autogenerated1">
{{cite web
| url = https://money.cnn.com/smallbusiness/best_places_launch/2009/snapshot/34.html
| title = Best Places to Launch a Small Business 2009 – Billings, MT – FORTUNE Small Business
| publisher=CNN
| access-date = August 7, 2012
}}
</ref>

<ref name="BillGaz 2010-12-26">
{{cite web
| url = http://billingsgazette.com/business/article_b322d771-a414-54b0-b344-009ca2993bb9.html
| title = Eastern part of state faring better economically
| publisher = BillingsGazette.com
| date = December 26, 2010
| access-date = August 7, 2012
}}
</ref>

<ref name="marketwire.com">{{cite web
| url = http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/bakken-the-biggest-oil-discovery-in-us-history-843988.htm
| title = Bakken: The Biggest Oil Discovery in U.S. History
| publisher = Marketwire.com
| date = April 15, 2008
| access-date = August 7, 2012
| archive-date = July 31, 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120731084729/http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/bakken-the-biggest-oil-discovery-in-us-history-843988.htm
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

<ref name="wallstreet-online.de">
{{cite web
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| title = Bakken: The Biggest Oil Discovery in U.S. History &#124; wallstreet:online
| publisher = Wallstreet-online.de
| date = April 15, 2008
| access-date = August 7, 2012
}}
</ref>

<ref name="2012poleshift.wetpaint.com">{{cite web
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| title = N. Dakota Bakken Oil Deposit Would Free USA of Foreign Oil Dependence – 2012 Pole Shift Witness
| publisher = 2012poleshift.wetpaint.com
| access-date = August 7, 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120703145159/http://2012poleshift.wetpaint.com/page/N.+Dakota+Bakken+Oil+Deposit+Would+Free+USA+of+Foreign+Oil+Dependence
| archive-date = July 3, 2012
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

<ref name="bigskyeda-edc">
{{cite web
| author = Big Sky Economic Development
| url = http://www.bigskyeda-edc.org/
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080425060917/http://bigskyeda-edc.org/
| url-status = usurped
| archive-date = April 25, 2008
| title = Big Sky Economic Development
| publisher = Bigskyeda-edc.org
| access-date = August 7, 2012
}}
</ref>

<!-- Unused citation<ref name="visitmt1">
{{cite web
| url = http://custer.visitmt.com/categories/moreinfo.asp?siteid=129&IDRRecordID=3107
| title = Pictograph Cave State Park
| publisher = Custer.visitmt.com
| access-date = August 7, 2012
}}
</ref> -->

<ref name="autogenerated2">
{{cite web
| url = http://www.yhpb.org/VirtualTours/BillingsTour/billings.html
| title = Historic Downtown Billings – Historical Overview
| publisher = Yhpb.org
| access-date = August 7, 2012
| url-status = usurped
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120316202918/http://www.yhpb.org/VirtualTours/BillingsTour/billings.html
| archive-date=March 16, 2012
}}
</ref>

<!--<ref name="mossmansion.com">
{{cite web
| url = http://www.mossmansion.com/
| title = Welcome to the Historic Moss Mansion – About the Museum
| publisher = Mossmansion.com
| access-date = August 7, 2012
}}
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<ref name="billingsgazette.com">
{{cite web
| url = http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_1b8ca078-b7f7-11de-b482-001cc4c03286.html
| title = Magazine names Billings best small city for launching business
| publisher = BillingsGazette.com
| date = October 13, 2009
| access-date = August 7, 2012
}}
</ref>

<!--
<ref name="cbsnews1">
{{cite web
| url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/montana-tornado-rips-roof-off-sports-arena/
| title = Montana Tornado Rips Roof off Sports Arena
| work = CBS News
| access-date = August 7, 2012
}}
</ref>
-->

<!--<ref name="NCDC Billings Airport">{{cite web
| title = Climatography of the United States No. 20: BILLINGS INTL AP, MT 1971–2000
| url = http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/mt/240807.pdf
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = September 25, 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140719092208/http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/mt/240807.pdf
| archive-date = July 19, 2014
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>-->

<!--<ref name="NCDC Downtown Billings">{{cite web
| title = Climatography of the United States No. 20: BILLINGS WATER PLANT, MT 1971–2000
| url = http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/mt/240802.pdf
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = September 25, 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140719221550/http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/mt/240802.pdf
| archive-date = July 19, 2014
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>-->

<ref name="Emporis">
{{cite web
| url = http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=1interstatecenter-billings-mt-usa
| title = First Interstate Center &#124; Buildings
| location=Billings /
| publisher = Emporis
| access-date = August 7, 2012
| url-status = usurped
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121024234428/http://www.emporis.com/building/first-interstate-center-billings-mt-usa
| archive-date = October 24, 2012
}}
</ref>

<ref name="google1">
{{cite web
| author = Billings, Mt
| url = https://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en&q=billings+montana&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Billings,+Mt&gl=us&ei=fuEkTY62CcL7lweu3YTpAQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title
| title = billings montana
| publisher=Google Maps
| date = January 1, 1970
| access-date = August 7, 2012
}}
</ref>

<!--
<ref name="quick facts yellowstone">
{{cite web
|title=Yellowstone County, Montana
|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30111.html
|publisher=United States Census Bureau
|access-date=March 27, 2013}}
</ref>
-->

<!--Unused citations
<ref name="billingsguide.com">
{{cite web
| url = http://www.billingsguide.com/Visguide13.html
| title = Billings Historic Site Tour
| publisher = Billingsguide.com
| date = June 20, 2010
| access-date = August 7, 2012
}}
</ref>
-->
}}

==Further reading==
{{See also|Timeline of Billings, Montana#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Billings, Montana}}
* Hardt, Mark D. "The Emergence of a Competitive Core: Bifurcation Dynamics in Billings, Montana." in ''Downtowns: Revitalizing the Centers of Small Urban Communities'' (2013).
* Mandler, Lou. "Billings and Beyond." ''Montana; The Magazine of Western History'' 68.4 (2018): 53–96, focus on  the progressive vision of mayor Willard Fraser, elected mayor of Billings four times between 1963 and 1971.
* Kliewer, Waldo O. "The Foundations of Billings, Montana." ''Pacific Northwest Quarterly'' 31.3 (1940): 255–283. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/41441145 online]
* Van West, Carroll. ''Capitalism on the frontier: Billings and the Yellowstone Valley in the nineteenth century'' (U of Nebraska Press, 1993) [https://books.google.com/books?id=HuL_XaNaxgMC&dq=Billings,+Montana+history&pg=PP15 online].
* Van West, Carroll. ''Images of Billings: A Photographic History'' (Billings: Western Heritage Press, 1990)
* Wright, Kathryn. ''Billings: The Magic City and How It Grew'' (Billings: K. H. Wright, 1978)
* ''An Illustrated History of the Yellowstone Valley, State of Montana'' (Spokane, Wash.: Western Historical Publishing Company, 1907)

==External links==
{{Commons category|Billings, Montana}}
* [https://www.billingsmt.gov/ City of Billings]
* [https://www.billingschamber.com/ Billings Chamber of Commerce]
* [https://www.billingsschools.org/ Billings Public Schools]
* [http://www.usacitiesonline.com/mtcountybillings.htm#statistics Billings Statistics]
* [https://www.visitbillings.com/ Montana Convention and Visitors Bureau (Billings)]
{{wikivoyage inline|Billings}}

{{Geographic location
| Center    = Billings (central city)
| North     = [[Roundup, Montana]]
| Northeast = [[Shepherd, Montana]]
| East      = [[Lockwood, Montana]]
| Southeast = [[Crow Agency, Montana]]
| South     = [[Pryor, Montana]]
| Southwest = [[Laurel, Montana]]
| West      = [[Bozeman, Montana]]
| Northwest = [[Helena, Montana]]
| image     = 
}}

{{Billings, Montana}}
{{Yellowstone County, Montana}}
{{Montana}}
{{Montana Regions and Towns with Breweries}}
{{Montana county seats}}{{Portal bar|United States|Montana|North America|Geography|Cities}}{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Billings, Montana| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Montana]]
[[Category:Cities in Yellowstone County, Montana]]
[[Category:Billings metropolitan area]]
[[Category:County seats in Montana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1877]]
[[Category:1877 establishments in Montana Territory]]
[[Category:Railway towns in Montana]]