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.
 * 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.
 * 1962 – Kampgrounds of America headquartered in Billings.
 * 1964 – Yellowstone Art Center 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.
 * 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.
 * 1994 – Montana Women's Prison in operation.
 * 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.
 * 2017
 * Bill Cole becomes mayor