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: 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 built.
1904
* Northern Hotel in business.
* BBWA Canal tunnel dug through the Rimrocks.
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.
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 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 campus opens.
2024
*Inner Belt Loop completed.
*Billings Logan International Airport terminal expanded.
2025 – Billings City Hall moved to former federal building.
2026 – Mike Nelson becomes mayor.