Dates, times and locations provided by the Chamber of Commerce, event organizers and others, are subject to change. Billings is the Treasure State's largest city and a hub for retail, business and agricultural activity of a region that encompasses Eastern Montana, the western Dakotas and Northern Wyoming. Known for the quality of its schools and its post-secondary educational opportunities, the city is a medical and retirement hub for the region. It also has a strong family orientation, with a long list of organizations and other activities for all ages. A charter for the city was approved in 1885.
Billings is county seat of Yellowstone County and has been nicknamed The Magic City.
A city on the grow, Billings had a population of 81,151 in 1990's census, while Yellowstone County's population was set at 113,419. According to the Census Bureau, the Billings metro area had grown to a population of 126,158 in 1998. Natural resources, education, agriculture and medical industries are foremost in the region. The city has a large medical corridor, drawing clients from the region and out of state. Three oil refineries in the area rank as large employers.