# 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, 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.
* 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 Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine opens.
* 2024
** Inner Belt Loop (Skyway Drive) completed.
** Billings Logan International Airport adds 3 gates and 4 jet bridges.