Timeline of Billings, Montana

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Billings, Montana, USA.

Prior to 20th century

1877 – Homesteaders arrive. 1882 March 24: Incorporation date of the Minnesota and Montana Land and Improvement Company. First church established. Billings Depot built. Billings Herald newspaper begins publication. Billings Cemetery established. 1883 Coulson-Billings street railway begins operating. Billings Fire Brigade organized. 1885 – Billings Daily Gazette newspaper begins publication. 1889 – Town becomes part of new State of Montana. 1891 – The Weekly Times newspaper begins publication.

20th century

1901 – Public Library established. 1902 – Billings and Northern Railroad in operation. 1903 – Moss Mansion (residence) built. 1904 Northern Hotel in business. BBWA Canal tunnel dug through the Rimrocks. 1907 – Babcock Theatre built. 1908 – Billings Polytechnic founded. 1910 Masonic Temple (Billings, Montana) built. Population: 10,031. 1912 – Billings and Central Montana Railway in operation. 1917 – Cereal Food Processor Building constructed. 1927 – Eastern Montana Normal School founded. 1928 – Billings Municipal Airport begins operating. 1929 – Yale Oil refinery begins operating. 1931 – Fox Theater opens. 1932 – Cobb Field baseball park opens. 1935 – Intermountain Union College relocated to Billings (approximate date). 1937 – Pictograph Cave excavation begins near city. 1940 – Billings Senior High School opens. 1944 – St. Patrick's High School established. 1947 Rocky Mountain College established. Carter Oil Company refinery built near Billings. 1948 – Billings Mustangs baseball team formed. 1950 Billings Symphony Orchestra founded. Shrine Auditorium built. Population: 31,834. 1953 – Billings Studio Theater company founded. 1957 – Yellowstone County Courthouse built. 1958 – June 2: Tornado. 1959 – Billings West High School established. 1962 – Kampgrounds of America headquartered in Billings. 1964 – Yellowstone Art Center opens. 1969 – Billings Vocational-Technical Education Center (BVTC) opens. 1971 – Western Heritage Center opens. 1974 – Sage Tower built. 1975 Montana Entertainment Trade and Recreation Arena opens. Granite Tower built. Rimrock Mall in business. 1977 – Norwest Bank built. 1980 Sheraton Hotel built. City covered in ash from 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. Population: 66,798. 1982 – Rocky Plaza condos built. 1985 – First Interstate Center built. 1986 – Flag of Billings, Montana design adopted. 1987 – Skyview High School established. 1988 – City filled with smoke from Yellowstone fires of 1988. 1990 – Population: 81,151. 1992 – December 18: Airplane crash. 1993 Billings Bulls ice hockey team formed. Community members protest antisemitism, launching the Not In Our Town movement. 1994 Montana Women's Prison in operation. Eastern Montana College and the Vocational-Technical Education Center become Montana State University Billings. 1995 – ZooMontana opens. 1996 – Charles Tooley becomes mayor. 1999 Four Dances Natural Area acquired by US Bureau of Land Management. City website online. Mormon Temple dedicated.

21st century

2000 – Population: 89,847. 2002 – Skypoint awning/sculpture installed. 2007 – Billings Dharma Center dedicated. 2008 – Dehler Park (stadium) opens. 2009 Magic City Rollers roller derby league formed. Tom Hanel becomes mayor. 2010 June 20: 2010 Billings tornado. Population: 104,170. 2011 – July: Oil pipeline bursts near city. 2012 New federal courthouse built. Northern Hotel reopens. 2014 – New public library built. 2017 – Bill Cole becomes mayor. 2020 – Population: 117,116. 2022 – Shrine Auditorium reopens as the Eagle Seeker Community Center. 2023 – Rocky Vista University campus opens. 2024 Inner Belt Loop (Skyway Drive) completed. Billings Logan International Airport terminal expanded. 2025 – Billings City Hall moved to former federal building. 2026 – Mike Nelson becomes mayor.

Timeline of Billings, Montana

Bron en licentie