Billings Montana MT Warrant Search

Billings, Montana Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is located in the south-central portion of the state. Billings is experiencing rapid growth; it has had the largest actual growth of any City in Montana with an increase in population of 15,998 since 2000. The 2009 Census population estimates put Billings's population at 105,845. The only city in Montana to surpass 100,000 people, it is the 60th fastest growing city out of the 272 cities in the U.S. with populations over 100,000. Billings is the county seat of Yellowstone County and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over 500 miles (800 km). It is the largest metropolitan area between Denver, Colorado and Calgary, Alberta and between Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Spokane, Washington.Billings was nicknamed the Magic City because of its rapid growth from its founding as a railroad town in 1882. The city is named for Frederick H. Billings, a former president of the Northern Pacific Railroad. With one of the largest trade areas in the United States, Billings is the trade and distribution center for most of Montana, Northern Wyoming and western portions of North Dakota and South Dakota. Billings is also the retail destination for much of the same area. With more hotel accommodations then any area within a five state region the city hosts a verity of conventions, concerts, sporting events and other rallies.Area attractions include Yellowstone National Park, Pompey's Pillar, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Pictograph Cave (Billings, Montana), Chief Plenty Coups State Park, Zoo Montana, Red Lodge Mountain Resort and the Beartooth Highway. History Most of Billings is located in the Yellowstone Valley, carved out by the Yellowstone River. It is common to find fossilized fish in the area. Some of pictographs in the Pictograph Cave 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Billings are 2,100 years old. The Crow Indians frequented this area from about the year 1700. In 1806, William Clark traveled through the region on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He inscribed his name on Pompey's Pillar, a rock formation 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Billings, on July 25, 1806. Clark wrote that he climbed the sandstone pillar and 'had a most extensive view in every direction on the Northerly Side of the river'. Clark named the place 'Pompys Tower' in honor of a young Shoshone boy he had nicknamed 'Pompy.' The boy's mother was Sacajawea, who had helped guide the Lewis and Clark expedition and had acted as an interpreter. The name of the formation was changed by 1814 to the current title. Clark's inscription is the only remaining physical evidence found along the route that was followed by the expedition.Billings was founded in 1877 and established in 1882 in Montana Territory near the already-existing town of Coulson. Coulson had been situated on the Yellowstone River, which made it ideal for the commerce that Steamboats 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 several miles to the West. When the Northern Pacific Railroad was built, Coulson died as Billings flourished. The land that was once the town of Coulson is now Coulson Park. Northern Pacific Railroad President Frederick H. Billings, along with other executives of the railroad, bought land in the Yellowstone Valley, then later sold it back to his own railroad. This practice was both legal and common at the time.As Billings grew from the tracks of the Northern Pacific Railroad, it appeared the only development would be to the south side of the railroad tracks. On March 15, 1882, Frederick Billings and other Northern Pacific officials formed the Montana & Minnesota Land & Improvement Co., which platted and promoted the sale of land in what would become Billings. Two main commercial streets were built along the railroad tracks and were named Montana. and Minnesota. avenues after the land company, Montana Ave to the north and Minnesota Ave. the south of the tracks. After the company was formed, the city grew quickly and earned the nickname, 'The Magic City' because the city appeared to grow like magic. By mid-June that year, Billings had grown to 79 tent shelters and 81 houses. 75 more homes were being built as well. The buildings were hastily built along the south of the tracks. By the end of 1883, Billings had 400 buildings and 1,500 people. The commercial district had matured to a nine-block area. Still most homes were located in the south side with many different classes calling Billings home. South Park was also built in the new city. Billings first swimming pool was built in 1914. Mansions were also beginning to be constructed by early Billings pioneers, two of which are the Moss Mansion and a structure known as 'The Castle' which emulated European design with its crow-step gable construction.After World War II, Billings boomed into the major financial, medical and cultural center of the region. Billings always experienced rapid growth from it’s founding, in it’s first 50 years growth was at times in the 300 and 400 percentile. Billings growth has remained robust throuout the years and at times almost unmanageable as in the 1950s when it had a growth rate of 66.0%. Thou the Billings area had more population than the Great Falls area, From 1950 till 1970 Great Falls had a larger portion of its population within its city limits. With better control over its urban sprawl in the 1960s Billings was able to surpass Great Falls to officially become Montana's largest city in 1970. 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 were operational in 1984 and 1986.In the 1970s and 1980’s Billings saw major growth in it’s Downtown core. The first high-rise buildings to be built in Montana were erected during this time period. In 1980 the 22-floor Sheraton Hotel was completed. At the time it was the tallest building from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Seattle, Washington And from Denver, Colorado to Calgary, Alberta (Canada). Upon its completion it was also declared the tallest load-bearing brick masonry building in the world by the Brick Institute of America. During the 70's and 80's Billings also saw the completion of other important buildings in its downtown core; the Norwest Building (now Wells Fargo), Granite Tower, Sage Tower the MetraPark arena, the TransWestern center, many new city owed parking garages and the First Interstate Tower, now the tallest building in Montana.With the completion of large sections of the interstate system in Montana in the 1970s, Billings became an even bigger shopping destination for an ever increasingly larger area. The 70's and 80's saw new shopping districts and shopping centers developed in the Billings area. In addition to the other shopping centers developed, two new malls were developed and a third mall redeveloped and enlarged, Rimrock mall on what was then the city's west end, Cross Roads Mall, no longer in existence, in Billings Heights, and West Park Plaza mall in midtown. In addition several new business parks were 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 an inch of ash on the ground. The Yellowstone fires of 1988 blanketed Billings in smoke for weeks.In the 1990s Billings saw farther enlargement of its service sector With the arrival of new shopping-centers built around Box stores such as Target, Wal Mart and Office Depot all of which built multiple outlets in the BIllings area. With the addition of more interchange exits along I90 even more hotel chains and service industry outlets built in Billings. Development of more business parks and large residential developments on the city’s westend, South Hills area Lockwood and the Billings Heights were all part of the 1990s. Billings received the All-America City Award in 1992.In the 21st century Billings saw the development of many operations centers in the city's business parks and downtown core by such national company’s as GE, Wells Fargo and First Interstate Bank. It also saw renewed growth in the downtown core with the addition of numerous new buildings new parking garages and a new MET transit center and In 2002 Skypoint was completed. Downtown also saw a renaissance of the historic areas within the downtown core as building after building was restored to its perverse glory. In 2007, Billings was designated a Preserve America Community. With The completion of the Shiloh interchange exit off of I90 The TransTech Center was developed and yet more hotel development as well. In 2010 the Shiloh corridor was open for business with the completion of the Shiloh parkway, a 4.8 mile multi-laned street with eight roundabouts.Even more shopping centers were developed in the 21st century. Some of the new centers are Shiloh Crossing Which brought the first Kohl’s department store to Montana, Billings Town Square with Montana’s first Cabela's and West Park Promenade Montana’s first open air shopping mall. Billings saw continued growth with the largest actual growth of any city in Montana. On June 20, 2010 (Father's Day) a tornado touched down in the Downtown Core and Heights sections of Billings. The Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark and area businesses suffered major damage. Billings continues to be the trade and distribution, retail, financial, medical, agricultural, and cultural center for the Northern Rockies/Great Plains and continues to be the 'Star of the Big Sky Country.'. Geography Billings is located at 45°47′12″N 108°32′14″W / 45.78667°N 108.53722°W / 45.78667; -108.53722 (45.786553, -108.537139), with two thirds of the city in the Yellowstone Valley, the city being divided into the Valley and the Heights by the Rims, a long cliff, also called the Rimrocks. The Yellowstone River runs through the southeast portion of the city. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 33.8 square miles (87.6 km²), of which, 33.7 square miles (87.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.33%) is water. Around Billing six mountain ranges can be viewed,the Bighorn Mountains, the Pryor Mountains, the Beartooth Mountains, the Crazy Mountains, the Big Snowy Mountains and the Bull Mountains. Climate Billings features a four-season steppe climate (Koppen BSk), with hot summers, and cold, dry winters. In the summer, the temperature can rise to over 100 °F (38 °C) (1 to 3 times per year) while the winter can bring temperatures below zero, with 17 to 18 such nights per year. The snowfall averages about 57 inches a year, but because of warm Chinook winds that pass through the region between December and March, the snow doesn't usually accumulate heavily or remain on the ground for long. First frosts generally come early (late September to early October) and last frosts (late April to early May) late. 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. Severe Weather Although far from Tornado Alley, Billings is not immune from severe weather, but tornadoes are very rare in Billings. The first recorded tornado to touch down in Billings was on June 2, 1958. On June 20, 2010, for the second time in Billings history, a tornado touched down in Billings' Heights and Downtown Core sections with heavy hail up to softball size, dangerous cloud to ground lightning, and dangerous heavy winds. The tornado destroyed a number of businesses and severely damaged the 12,000 seat Rimrock Auto Arena with no major injuries or death. The tornado rated an F-2 Tornado. Population The 2009 Census population estimates put Billings population at 105,845 with a population density of 3,140.8/sq mi (1,047.0/km2). The 2000 census showed there were 89,847 people, 37,525 households, and 23,152 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,665.1 people per square mile (1,029.1/km²). There were 39,293 housing units at an average density of 1,165.6/sq mi (450.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.87% White, 0.55% African American, 3.44% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.45% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.18% of the population.There were 37,525 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.93.In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.The median income for a household in the city was $35,147, and the median income for a family was $45,032. Males had a median income of $32,525 versus $21,824 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,207. About 9.2% of families and 12.0% 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.At the 2005-2007 American Community Survey Estimates, the city's population was 91.9% White (87.2% non-Hispanic White alone), 1.9% Black or African American, 5.4% American Indian and Alaska Native , 1.3% Asian, 0.4% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 1.4% from some other race and 2.0% from two or more races. 5.1% of the total population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.4% of the population had a Bachelor's degree or higher. Sections There are currently 10 official first level of districts called 'sections' within the city limits of Billings, Montana. Government 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. The current city charter, also called the Billings, Montana City Code (BMCC) was established 1977. Billings politics are strongly conservative, mainly voting Republican along with Yellowstone County. In the 2008 presidential election, the majority of Billings voted for John McCain. 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 136 sworn officers and 80 civilian employees. There are nine police beats.The Billings Fire Department provides emergency services including fire suppression, emergency medical response, hazardous materials response, high angle rescue, confined space rescue, vehicle accident extrication, fire investigations, fire inspections, and fire education. The department has 97 employees, including four battalion chiefs, 27 captains, 27 engineers, and 39 firefighters.American Medical Response (AMR) provides emergency medical services at the paramedic care level in Billings, and supports other agencies throughout Yellowstone County. Economy The importance of Billings geographic location cannot be overstated in reference to its economic success. It sets in the center of a vast geographical area, An area bordered by Minneapolis, Minnesota to the east and Seattle, Washington to the west Calgary, Alberta (Canada) to the north and Denver Colorado to the south. Billings future as a major trade and distribution center was basically assured from its founding as a railroad hub due to it’s geographic location. As Billings quickly became the regions economic hub it outgrew the other cities in the region, amongst them Miles city, Missoula, Butte and Great Falls. Billings trade area is geographically one of the largest trade areas in the United States. The Billings Trade area services close to a half million people. A major trade and distribution center the city is home to many regional headquarters and corporate headquarters. With Montana having no sales tax, Billings is a Retail destination for much of Wyoming, North and South Dakota as well as most of Montana. Billings is an energy center. Billings sets amidst the largest coal reserves in the United States also large Oil and natural gas fields.Billings has a diverse economy including a large and rapidly growing medical corridor that includes inpatient and outpatient health care. Billiings has a large service sector including retail, hospitality and entrainment. The metro area is also home to 3 oil refineries a sugar beet refining plant and a coal fire generation plant, commercial and residential construction, building materials mfg and distribution, professional services, financial services, banking, trucking, higher education (4 campuses, 19 others have a physical presence/classes here), auto parts wholesaling and repair services, passenger and cargo air, cattle, media, printing, wheat and barley farming, sugar beet refining, milk processing, heavy equipment sales and service, business services, consumer services, food distribution, ag chemical mfg and distribution, energy exploration and production, surface and underground mining, metal fabrication, and many others providing a diverse and robust economy.Corporate headquarters include Stillwater Mining Company, Kampgrounds of America, First Interstate Banks, Computers Unlimited, Tire-Rama, Western Plains Machinery, Tractor & Equipment Co., Bresnan Communications, Corporate Air, Employee Benefits Management Services, Edwards Jet Service, Waggoners Trucking, Meadowlark Agency, Ryan Restaurant Corp., CTA Architects & Engineers, JGA Architects, HKM Engineering, Electrical Consultants Inc. engineering, Unifield Engineering, Energy Labs, and others.[citation needed] Fortune 500 firms with branch operations in Billings include Exxon/Mobil, Wal-mart, GM, Conoco-Phillips, Ford, Wells Fargo, General Electric, USBank, Travelers, BNSF, Pennsylvania Power & Light, MDU Resources, Sears/K-Mart, Target Corporation, New York Life, Morgan Stanley.[citation needed] Transportation Interstate 90 runs east/west through Billings. Interstate 94 begins a few miles east of the city limits. U.S. Highway 87 is the north/south highway that begins on the edge on the Heights and is northeast of Downtown Billings. Note: US 87 North does not go through Billings, It turns into Main Street in the Heights before connecting to U.S. Highway 87 East. Major Roads going east and west in Billings include Broadwater Avenue, Central Avenue, Grand Avenue, King Avenue West, and Poly Drive. Major Roads going North and South in Billings include 24th Street West, Zimmerman Trail/32nd Street West, Division Road, Shiloh Road, Main Street, and North 27th Street. The Billings METropolitan Transit, the MET, provides public transportation.Greyhound has an eastern terminus at Billings; Rimrock Trailways also provides regional and interstate bus service. Amtrak last served Billings in 1979, when the North Coast Hiawatha ended. The nearest Amtrak stop is at Malta, 212 miles (341 km) north of Billings. Billings Logan International Airport, located northwest of downtown Billings, offers non-stop service to a number of cities in the western United States and within Montana as well as charter jet, plane, or helicopter. Medical facilities The Billings Metro Area has two Level II trauma hospitals, St. Vincent Healthcare and the Billings Clinic which is the largest cluster of medical facilities between Salt Lake, Denver, Boise, Lethbridge, Rapid City, and Fargo. Employs over 5,000 directly. Neurosurgery, highly rated cardiac surgery, neonatology and obstetrics, extensive cancer treatment, inpatient psychiatric care, orthopedics and rehab, dedicated air ambulances both fixed-wing planes and helicopters.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 Deering Clinic, HealthSouth Surgery Center and Physical Therapy offices, Baxter/Travenol BioLife plasma collection center, and many independent practices.An increasing number of assisted living facilities and senior independent living options, a static number of nursing homes, and sizable home health care services target the rapidly growing aging population, already 1 in 8 Montanans are over 65 making it the 4th 'oldest' state in the U.S. after Florida, Arizona, and Wyoming.Billings campuses train physician assistants, biochemists, registered nurses, speech pathologists, licensed practical nurses, surgical technicians, x-ray technicians, medical records clerks, athletic trainers, and health care business students at the undergraduate and graduate level as of 2007. Public The city of Billings operates 22 elementary schools in district 2. The elementary schools are Alkali Creek, Arrowhead, Beartooth, Bench, Big Sky, Bitterroot, Boulder, Broadwater, Burlington, Central Heights, Eagle Cliffs, Highland, McKinley, Meadowlark, Miles Avenue, Newman, Orchard, Poly Drive, Ponderosa, Rose Park, Sandstone, and Washington. There is also a district 3 in Billings, which only contains the elementary school Blue Creek and a district 8, which contains Elder Grove School, teaching grades K - 8. The four middle schools in Billings are Riverside Middle School, Lewis and Clark, Will James, and Castle Rock. There are three high schools as well, including Billings Senior High, West High, and Skyview. For two of the high schools, Senior High and West High, there has been a great increase in the population of students, so there are now two other sites that most freshmen temporarily go for their classes for half of the day. The Lincoln Center is the site for Senior, and the Career Center is West's site. Private The Billings Catholic Schools operatesBillings Central Catholic High School(grades 9-12), St. Francis Upper (grades 6-8), St Francis Intermediate (grades 3-5), St Francis Primary, (K-2) and St Francis Daycare Trinity Lutheran Church operates Trinity Lutheran School, serving grades K-8 Billings Christian Schools serving grades K-12 Adelphi Christian Academy serving grades K-12 (Closed at the end of the 2009 School Year) Billings Educational Academy serving grades K-12 Grace Montessori Academy serves Pre-6 Colleges and universities There are several higher level learning facilities in Billings. These include state schools (Montana State University Billings and The College of Technology) and private schools (Rocky Mountain College and Yellowstone Baptist College).Montana State University Billings was originally named Eastern Montana Normal School when it was founded and then named Eastern Montana College before being renamed to its present name when the Montana State University System reorganized in 1994. The university was established in 1927 and offers Associate/Bachelor/Master degrees and certificates in various education fields. Currently around 5,000 students attend MSU Billings.MSU Billings College of Technology (West campus) was originally another associate-level community college. This college recently merged with the main campus. In the past few years, enrollment has risen to over 1,200 full time students (accounting for nearly 1/5 of the student body). Projections with grant improvements and workforce needs foresee a 2,000 student increase in the near future.Billings also offers two private schools. Rocky Mountain College is Montana's oldest and first institution of higher learning, founded in 1878. It is a private comprehensive college offering over 40 liberal arts and professionally oriented majors. Rocky Mountain College is often simply called 'Rocky' or 'RMC' for short. Rocky is proud of its standing record of being ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 10 in quality and a “best value” among comprehensive colleges in the West. Along with its quality Rocky also continues to maintain a 99% graduate placement rate. Yellowstone Baptist College also offers a limited curriculum. Arts Alberta Bair Theater Babcock Theatre Billings Studio Theater Billings Symphony Orchestra Rimrock Opera Company Venture Theatre Yellowstone Art Museum Yellowstone Chamber Players Yellowstone County Museum Western Heritage Center Recreation/events There are a number of activities in and around Billings. From hiking, rock climbing, mountain climbing, fishing, art walks, Live after 5 concerts, food fairs and rodeos. Some annual events include:Billings Skate Park: all year Wine&FoodFestival at MSU Billings: May StrawberryFestival underSkypoint: June SummerFair at North Park: July 4 July Parade inLaurel, Montana: July Gay Pride Weekend Alive After 5: Thursdays June - September Battle of the Little Big Horn Re-enactment nearCrow Agency, Montana: June Farmers Market under Skypoint: Every Saturday June to October Big Sky State Games - July Great American Championship Motorcycle Hill Climb Skyfest (Hot air balloons): July/August MontanaFair at the MetraPark fairgrounds: August 13–21 Magic City Blues Festival: August inDowntown Billings Crow Fair& Rodeo inCrow Agency, Montana: August Burn the Point (classic car show): September in Downtown Billings Harvest Fest: October Christmas Parade in Downtown Billings: November 24 Festival of Trees: December The Christmas Stroll in Downtown Billings: December Billings Artwalk Media Billings is the largest media market in Montana and Wyoming.The Billings Metropolitan Area is served by two major news television stations, four major non-news television stations, one community television station, twenty-two commercial radio stations and one major daily newspaper. The Billings Gazette is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper printed in Billings, Montana and owned by Lee Enterprises. It is the largest daily newspaper in Montana, with a Sunday circulation of 52,434 and a weekday circulation of 47,105. The paper publishes in 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. Attractions Attractions located within Billings include the Yellowstone Art Museum, Moss Mansion Historic House Museum, the Western Heritage Center, the Billings Depot, and Skypoint. The Moss Mansion Historic House Museum is located in Billings on 914 Division St. It is a turn of the century, red-stoned mansion built by P.B. Moss, who moved to Billings from Paris, Missouri. It was inhabited solely by Mr. and Mrs. Moss, their six children, and 3 servants. The house was built for a cost of $105,000, when most homes averaged about $3000. It has 28 rooms, and is 60 feet (18 m) square. It rises 45 feet (14 m) into the air. The Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can still see the original furniture, draperies, carpets and fixtures during a one-hour guided tour. Seasonal exhibits are also featured. The Moss Mansion was designed by the famous New York Architect Henry Hardenbergh, who also designed the original Waldorf-Astoria, Plaza Hotel, Willard Hotel, and Copley Hotel. The Moss Mansion is operated by the Billings Preservation Society, Inc., a non-profit organization.Downtown attractions include the Western Heritage Center Museum which is located in the historic Parmly Billings Library building on Montana Avenue in the downtown Historic District. The Parmly Billings library, a Richardsonian Romanesque sandstone building built in 1901, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This regional museum interprets a unique collection of artifacts and oral histories that document the history of the Yellowstone River Valley and the Northern High Plains. The Western Heritage Center is an affiliate museum of the Smithsonian Institution. The Western Heritage Center is one of six museums in the state of Montana accredited by the American Association of Museums.In 1977, the Billings City Council created the Billings Historical District: Montana Avenue from North 26th Street to North 22nd and north to First Avenue North. In 1978 the Historic District has was entered into the National Register of Historic Places. The Northern Pacific Billings Depot or simply the Billings Depot is a cornerstone of the Historic District. The arrival of the railroad in 1882 signaled the real beginning of Billings. Designed in the Beaux Arts Eclectic style, the four original buildings included the Depot building, railroad lunchroom, mail building and an office building. The Depot featured a spacious waiting area for 200 passengers, a gentlemen’s smoking room, a ladies’ waiting room, a baggage area and service offices. Today the Depot is used as an events center hosting a wide variety of events.Boothill Cemetery is a burial ground for Coulson Montana, a rough cow town that presided Billings. Coulson stood on the banks of the Yellowstone river about two miles from present day downtown Billings. Most of the people buried here were said to have died with their boots on. The cemetery was started when one gent in a Coulson saloon called another a liar. Nearly all of those interred at Boothill met with violent deaths. The most famous person to be buried here is Muggins Taylor, the scout who carried the news of Custer's Last Stand to the world. The last burial at Boothill was in 1882. Today Boothill is at the base of Swords Park and just off of Main Street in Billings Heights, the busiest street in Montana.Black Otter Trail is a scenic drive just off of Airport Road, U.S. 318. The road passes Boothill Cemetery, climbs Kelly Hill and winds through Swords Park a large city park in the center of the City. The park is on the edge of the Rimrocks, 500-foot cliffs that divide the downtown area from Billings Heights. Black Otter Trail is named after a Crow chief who was killed here by a Sioux war party. He was given a treetop burial on a site overlooking the Yellowstone River.Yellowstone Kelly’s Grave is a monument to Yellowstone Kelly, who lived from 1849 to 1928. Kelly was the epitome of a frontiersman, army scout, dispatch rider, and hunter. At his own request, he was buried on Kelly Hill which is near the edge of the Rimrocks in Swords Park overlooking the Yellowstone River and now downtown Billings. Six mountain ranges can be viewed from here the Bighorn Mountains, the Pryor Mountains, the Beartooth Mountains, the Crazy Mountains, the Big Snowy Mountains and the Bull Mountains.Skypoint is a tent-like structure over the intersection 2nd Avenue and Broadway, located in downtown Billings. Its highest point is 73 feet (22 m) tall. There are three 'sails' that make up the structure. The largest sail can move to let the sun through or to cover the intersection if it rains. This is part of the plan to revitalize downtown Billings and attract more people to downtown. Skypoint was completed in 2002 and was originally named the 'Defining Element' until it got i