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Background • Federal Census Summary • State Map with County Boundaries • Counties • Links to State Resources Background
The eastern and central parts of Montana were acquired as early as the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, but had no organized government until Nebraska Territory was established in 1854. The northwestern part of Montana was included in the newly established Oregon Territory in 1848. The whole of the present-day State was included in Idaho Territory in 1863, and was established as a separate territory in 1864 with essentially its present boundaries. Montana was admitted as a State on November 8, 1889.
| Capital: Helena | Total Area: 147,165 sq mi | ||
| Latitude: 44°26'N to 49°N | Longitude: 104°2'W to 116°2'W | ||
| Last Significant Boundary Change: 1870 | |||
In 1860 census coverage of present-day Montana was limited to two forts enumerated in Nebraska Territory and some settlers in the Bitter Root Valley enumerated in Washington Territory. In 1870 census coverage included all of the present State.
| 1790: --- | 1800: --- | 1810: --- | 1820: --- |
| 1830: --- | 1840: --- | 1850: --- | 1860: --- |
| 1870: 20,595 | 1880: 39,159 | 1890: 142,924 | 1900: 243,329 |
| 1910: 376,053 | 1920: 548,889 | 1930: 537,606 | 1940: 559,456 |
| 1950: 591,024 | 1960: 674,767 | 1970: 694,409 | 1980: 786,690 |
| 1990: 799,065 | 2000: 902,195 |