Perhaps you’ve heard of “The Treasure State”, or “Big Sky Country”. But have you heard “Stub-Toe State”, “EZ 2 LUV”, “Headwaters State”, or “Bonanza State”?
What nicknames, right? These are just a few of the nicknames Montana has received since becoming a territory in 1889. Each one represents a unique aspect of the state’s history and identity – from its impactful mining era to its pleasing scenery and wide open skies.
Read on for answers to all of your questions about Montana’s nicknames, and find a list of Montana’s 13 nicknames and the stories behind them.
In this article:
- What does the name Montana mean?
- How did Montana get its name?
- What is Montana’s official nickname?
- How many other nicknames does Montana have?
- What are Montana’s nicknames? Montana’s 13 nicknames
What does the name Montana mean?
The name “Montana” comes from the Spanish word montaña, which is rooted in a Latin word for “mountainous”. Montana is home to the Rocky Mountains, which stretch 250+ miles (402 km) north-south along the western side of the state, containing 300+ peaks at over 9,500 ft (2 896 m).
How did Montana get its name? Who named Montana?
The name Montana appeared in a bill in 1863 that established the Idaho Territory, from which Montana was later subdivided. Chairman James Ashley of Ohio, who chose the name from a Latin dictionary, carried the legislation.
What is Montana’s official nickname?
Montana’s official nickname is the ‘Treasure State’, which refers to the state’s long mining history.
Other nicknames include the “Bonanza State”, “Mountain State”, and “Headwaters State”.
How many other nicknames does Montana have?
Montana has 13 nicknames, each one representing a different aspect of the state’s identity and history. For example, “Stub-Toe State” alludes to the dangers of the mountains, and “Treasure State” refers to Montana’s abundant mineral wealth.
Below is a list of all of Montana’s 13 nicknames and their meanings.
What are Montana’s nicknames? Montana’s 13 nicknames
- The Treasure State. “Treasure State” is the official nickname of Montana. It alludes to the abundance of natural metals, minerals, and stones that made Montana one of the primary mining states throughout the 1800s. In fact, Montana was the world’s largest producer of copper in the late 1800s.
Read more: Why is Montana called the Treasure State?
- Big Sky Country. Or the “Big Sky State’. While this isn’t the official state nickname, it often overshadows “Treasure State”. This Montana nickname originated from Alfred Bertram Guthrie Jr.’s book The Big Sky. In the book, Guthrie uses this term to refer to Montana’s enormous skies. After the Montana State Highway Department used it in a 1960s tourism promotion, it stuck. You can see it today on some Montana license plates as well as the state quarter.
- Bonanza State. Similar to “The Treasure State”, this Montana nickname references Montana’s mining history.
- Land of Shining Mountains. This Montana nickname refers to the sparkling, snow-capped peaks of Montana’s Rocky Mountains. Though it also alludes to the minerals mined from Montana’s mountains.
- The Last Best Place. This Montana nickname originates from many Montana residents’ belief that Montana is one of the few remaining, uninhabited, well-preserved areas left in the United States.
- Stub-Toe State. The origin of this Montana nickname is unknown, but many believe it refers to the dangers that Montana’s mountains present to hikers. This nickname was recorded in the World Almanac in 1922.
- Headwaters State. Many people refer to Montana as the “Headwaters State” because much of the water that flows to the rest of the United States originates in Montana. Two of the nation’s major water systems originate here – the Missouri River and the Columbia River.
- Mountain State. This is an appropriate nickname for Montana, referring to the 250-mile (402 km) stretch of the Rocky Mountains along the western side of the state. Montana’s mountains contain more than 300 peaks above 9,600 ft (2 896 m) in elevation.
- Montana: High, Wide, and Handsome. This Montana nickname, or phrase, may have originated from C. B. Glasscock’s 1935 book, War of the Copper Kings, in which he describes life in Butte as “high, wide, and occasionally handsome”. The phrase was also used in a Montana Highway Department publicity brochure, and Joseph Kinsey Howard used it as the title of his 1943 history book.
- Montana – Unspoiled, Unforgettable. Montana’s State Tourism Advisory Council adopted this Montana nickname in 1988, which refers to Montana’s uninhabited landscape.
- Montana – Naturally Inviting. Out of fear that the ever-popular “Big Sky Country” slogan could be confused with advertising for the Montana ski area of the same name, state promotors created “Montana – Naturally inviting” in 1985 as a replacement. Nonetheless, “Big Sky Country” stuck.
- The 406. This Montana nickname is relatively young and references the state’s telephone area code.
- EZ 2 LUV. The state tourism office adopted this Montana nickname in 1995 from an MSU student’s license plate.
The list of Montana nicknames continues to grow, so check back as they roll in and we update this article!
If you want to take a deeper dive into Montana’s history, here are some top-recommended books that explore the eventful history of this state:
FAQs – Montana’s nicknames
Below are answers to commonly asked questions about Montana’s nicknames.
What is Montana’s most popular nickname?
Montana’s most popular nickname is “Big Sky Country”, which refers to the state’s large, open skies. However, Montana’s official nickname is the “Treasure State”, which alludes to the abundance of natural resources mined in Montana since the 1800s.
Funny nicknames for Montana
One of Montana’s funniest or most unusual nicknames may be “Bonanza State”. This nickname simply refers to the state’s abundant natural resources found below ground.
What is Billings, Montana’s nickname?
Billings Montana’s nickname “Magic City” comes from the rapid growth the city has experienced from its founding in March 1882. A second, unofficial, Billings nickname among local residents is “B-Town”.
What is Bozeman, Montana’s nickname?
Bozeman’s most common nickname is “The Bozone”, which refers to the central area of the town.
What is Helena, Montana’s nickname?
Helena, Montana’s nickname is the Queen City of the Rockies. The name first appeared around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, due to Helena’s attractive architecture.
What is Missoula, Montana’s nickname?
Missoula, Montana earned the nickname “The Garden City” due to its relatively milder climate, which made it a suitable place for producing fruits and vegetables for surrounding areas. A second, unofficial, Missoula nickname is “Zootown”.
What is Butte, Montana’s nickname?
Butte has received several nicknames over the past century, most of which allude to its prominent role in Montana mining, such as “The Richest Hill on Earth” and “The Mining City”.
