Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name, derived from the Spanish word (mountain). Montana has several nicknames, including "The Treasure State" and "Big Sky Country", and slogans that include "Land of the Shining Mountains" and more recently, "The Last Best Place". The state ranks fourth in area, but 44th in population, and accordingly has the third-lowest population density in the United States. The economy is primarily based on services, with ranching, wheat farming, oil and coal mining in the east, and lumber, tourism, and hard rock mining in the west. Millions of tourists annually visit Glacier National Park, the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, and three of the five entrances to Yellowstone National Park.

Academics

+ Academics from Montana Name Lifetime Montana connection Comments Refs 1936–2002 Lived in Helena during retirement Professor; historian; biographer 1923–2020 Born in Billings Historian specializing in the American Civil War and World War II; chief historian of the National Park Service (1981–1994); National Park Service Historian Emeritus 1954–present Born near Malta; attended college in and lives in Missoula Memoirist; associate professor at the University of Montana 1948–present Lives in Missoula Historian and writer on the Western United States; professor and A.B. Hammond Chair in Western History at the University of Montana 1913–1997 Born in Livingston Educator noted for the adoption of the theory of andragogy 1902–1990 Moved to Missoula in 1909 Author; scholar; dean of students and William Rainey Harper Professor of English at the University of Chicago 1949–present Lives on the Crow Indian Reservation Founded Little Big Horn College 1905–1989 President of Montana State College (1943–1964) in Bozeman Agricultural economics professor; active in Washington, D.C., and overseas agricultural economics work; Democratic candidate for governor of Montana (1964) 1918–2010 Born Labor lawyer and law professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School 1938–2016 Born in Livingston Rhodes Scholar; economist; former dean of the MIT Sloan School of Management; author of numerous bestsellers on economics; columnist 1920–1981 Born, raised and college student in Missoula; lived in Missoula and Red Lodge Historian; history writer; A.B. Hammond Professor of Western History at the University of Montana 1940–2003 Born in Browning; attended college and lived in Missoula Poet; history writer; taught at the University of Washington, Cornell University, and the University of Montana; 1997 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas

Artists

+ Artists from Montana Name Lifetime Montana connection Comments Refs 1973–present Born in Kalispell Artist and curator 1954–present Lives and works part time in Born in Jefferson City Abstract color field/landscape painter 1926–2007 Born in Butte; attended college in Bozeman; lived and taught in Missoula Sculptor and ceramicist; professor of ceramics 1946–present Lives part-time in Bozeman Sculptor and printmaker; married to fellow sculptor Deborah Butterfield 1949–present Lives part-time in Bozeman Sculptor who makes horses out of found objects; married to fellow sculptor John E. Buck 1939–2019 Lives near Livingston Painter; lithographer; writer; restaurateur 1877–1972 Lived in Helena and on a ranch near Canyon Ferry Lake Artist and illustrator 1917–2010 Born in Kalispell Artist; a founder of the Northwest SchoolBob DeWeese1920–1990Lived in Bozeman and taught at Montana State UniversityReceived the 1995 Montana Governor's Award for the ArtsGennie DeWeese1921–2007Lived in BozemanPainter, 1995 received the Montana Governor's Award for the Arts 1950–present Born in Great Falls; lives in Missoula Lithographer; painter; poster artist; watercolorist; one of Montana's most popular and widely known contemporary graphic artists; known for whimsical images of animals (trout swimming in a bathtub, elk with their antlers on fire, etc.) 1936–1993 Lived and died in Great Falls Satirical cartoonist who used the pen name "Mal" 1892–1989 Born in and raised in Billings Syndicated cartoonist specializing in flapper-themed comic strips 1892–1942 Lived his later adult years at Pryor Creek and in Billings Western artist; author; won the Newbery Medal in 1927 1869–1938 Lived in Sheridan, Demersville (now Kalispell), Helena, Butte, and Flathead Lake Western sculptor and writer; Native American ally; Montana State Representative (1903–1905); Montana Assistant Secretary of State (1905–1907) 1931–2013 Born in Billings; raised on sheep ranch near Lodge Grass; attended college in Missoula; lived in last years of his life Helena Cartoonist who drew the comic strips Rick O'Shay and Latigo; western mystery novelist 1852–1919 Moved to Montana at age 20; lived in Deer Lodge, Butte, and Missoula 19th-century realist painter 1896–1987 Born in Choteau; lived in Helena, Dawson County, and Billings Western painter of the American Old West whose primary topics were the American West and images of cowboys and American Indians 1943–present Born and raised on the Crow Indian Reservation; attended college in Bozeman and Billings; lives in Lodge Grass Contemporary Native artist; some of his work is in the Smithsonian Institution 1886–1953 Spent significant time in Montana; ashes spread by the Blackfeet along the eastern edge of Glacier National Park Painter; made over 250 paintings of Native Americans, especially the Blackfeet 1864–1926 Moved to Montana at age 16; lived in Cascade, and Great Falls Western painter; storyteller; author; primary topics were the American Old West and images of cowboys and American Indians 1914–1999 Born on the Blackfeet Reservation; lived near Glacier National Park Sculptor of western themes 1924–2002 Born, raised, and attended college in Bozeman; lived in Helena Abstract expressionist ceramicist

Photographers

+ Photographers from Montana Name Lifetime Montana connection Comments Refs 1868–1928 Lived in Terry Photographer; moved to Terry in the late 19th century with her naturalist husband Ewen; together they took pictures of Montana prairie life 1853–1921 Spent extensive time working in and photographing Montana Photographer; publisher; entrepreneur; played a major role in documenting the settlement and early history of the Northwest through photographs; official photographer of the Northern Pacific Railway and Yellowstone National Park; operated early transportation concessions in the park from the West Yellowstone area 1843–1942 Spent extensive time photographing Montana, especially the Yellowstone region Painter; Civil War and geological survey photographer; explorer of the American West; obtained the first photographs of Fort Ellis and settlements and geological features in the Paradise Valley along the Yellowstone River (1871) 1923–2009 Born in Butte; attended college in Bozeman Architectural photographer with extensive portfolio of buildings of national (U.S.) importance 1876–1961 Photographer in Bozeman and Anaconda With his brother Alfred, purchased the Bozeman photography business of Grant and Tippet, which was renamed "Schlechten Brothers"; later went into farming; then owned a photography studio in Anaconda; made large format camera series of photos of Yellowstone National Park 1877–1970 Photographer in Bozeman, Montana With his brother Albert, purchased the Bozeman photography business of Grant and Tippet, which was renamed "Schlechten Brothers"; operated a solo portrait studio (1900–1940s) 19??–197? Photographer in Bozeman, Montana Son of Alfred Schlechten; created a spoof college annual at Montana State College (1933); ran a studio in West Yellowstone, Montana, and conducted extensive photography of Yellowstone National Park; took over Schlechten Brothers studio in the 1940s

Athletes

Montanans participate in a wide variety of sports, including baseball, basketball, boxing, cycling, football, golf, rodeo, figure skating, skiing, and wrestling.

+ Athletes from Montana Name Lifetime Montana connection Comments Refs 1945–present Born and raised in Missoula Olympic freestyle wrestler; bronze medalist at 1976 Summer OlympicsMelby, Richie. (February 10, 2018). #MTTop20 No. 1: Olympic medalist Gene Davis the pioneer in Montana wrestling. MontanaSports.com. Retrieved February 8, 2021. 1953–present Attended high school in Helena National Football League left tackle (1975–1983); four-time Pro Bowler; played in three Super Bowls, winning one 1967–presentBorn in Great FallsGolden Gloves light welterweight national champion (1987); Olympics competitor (1988); professional boxer 1945–present Born and lived for several years in Deer Lodge National Basketball Association (NBA) power forward (1968–1980) and head coach (1990–2011); considered one of the Top 10 coaches in NBA history 1973–present Born and raised in Butte, Montana Professional road bicycle racer; won the 2007, 2008 and 2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour 1920–1965 Born in Bridger; raised in Red Lodge Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world champion All-Around Cowboy (1950 & 1953); elected to ProRodeo Hall of Fame (1979) 1952–present Lived in Kalispell National Football League wide receiver (1974–1983) 1942–2002 Born and lived in Billings Major League Baseball starting pitcher (1962–1975) 1961–present Born in Helena First ever professional extreme skier 1937–2017 Born in Great Falls Rifle shooter; three-time Olympic medalist—gold and silver in the 1964 Summer Olympics and gold in the 1972 Summer Olympics; once held 80 national championships and 29 world records

Authors