Timeline of Billings, Montana facts for kids

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, 1882: 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.
• 1906 – Babcock Theater 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.
• 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.
• 1962 – Kampgrounds of America headquartered in Billings.
• 1964 – Yellowstone Art Center 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.
• 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.
• 1994 – Montana Women's Prison in operation.
• 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.
• 2017
  • Bill Cole becomes mayor