Montana

Major highways include:. A proposed arena in Brooklyn is in the planning stages and if apporoved, the Nets would move across the Hudson River for the 2007-2008 season. Montana has several ski areas including:. The owner has threatened to move the franchise beginning with the 2005-2006 season. The Minor League baseball teams are:. In 2004 and 2005 there were constant rumors that the Nets were going to move back to New York. Some of the historical cities and towns of Montana are:. Teaming with Kidd, Carter rallied the team from being more than 10 games out of the playoffs to gain the final seed in the Eastern Conference. However, the duo could not overcome O'Neal again and were swept by the Miami Heat in the 2005 postseason.

Some of the major cities and towns in Montana are:. In 2005, after two disappointing seasons, the Nets acquired disgruntled star Vince Carter from the Toronto Raptors. Montana's largest city is Billings. The following season Kidd again led the Nets to the finals, only to be thwarted by the San Antonio Spurs. Its industrial outputs are mining, lumber and wood products, food processing, and tourism. Under Kidd, the Nets advanced to the NBA Finals that season, but were defeated by Shaquille O'Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers. Its agricultural outputs are cattle, wheat, barley, sugar beets, hay, and hogs. In 2001, though, the Nets acquired Jason Kidd, a perennial all-star.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (http://www.bea.gov/) estimates that Montana's total state product in 2003 was $26 billion. Per capital personal income in 2003 was $25,406, 47^th in the nation. In the mid 1990s, the team continually tried to rebuild, as the Nets brought in star after star, only to see them fail. Players, such as Stephon Marbury, Kendall Gill, Keith Van Horn, and Jayson Williams each played for the Nets a few seasons before being traded again. Several Indian reservations are located in Montana: Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Crow Indian Reservation, Rocky Boys Indian Reservation, Blackfeet Indian Reservation, and the Flathead Indian Reservation. However, the team failed to advance in the playoffs, and after the stunning death of Petrovic, the others were traded. senators are Max Baucus (Democrat) and Conrad Burns (Republican). However, the next few seasons yielded a shift from veterans to young players, as the Nets acquired Derrick Coleman, Drazen Petrovic, and Kenny Anderson. Its two U.S. Led by Darryl Dawkins, Buck Williams, Otis Birdsong, and Michael Ray Richardson, the team finally had a winning season and advanced into the playoffs, beating the Philadelphia 76ers before falling to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The capital of Montana is Helena and its current Governor is Brian Schweitzer (Democrat) who was sworn in on January 3, 2005. In the 1983-1984 season, though, the Nets fielded what was believed to be their best team since joining the NBA. See: List of Montana Governors. The next few years were disappointing, as the Nets compiled losing season after losing season, never advancing in the playoffs. It is operated by the National Park Service, but is also a 1900-acre (7.7 kmē) working ranch. The year after the Nets joined the NBA, the franchise relocated to New Jersey, becoming the New Jersey Nets. The Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site in Deer Lodge Valley is maintained as a link to the ranching style of the late 19th century. The next season the ABA merged to form the NBA. Hampered by contract disputes, the Nets were forced to send Erving to the Philadelphia 76ers, ending a highly-promising era.

Cattle ranching has long been central to Montana's history and economy. After a grueling series with the Denver Nuggets, the Nets won the championship series and could boast their second championship in three years. Montana was also the location of the final battles of the Nez Perce Wars. Erving again led them to a successful 55-win season; he also was named MVP again that year. Colonel George Armstrong Custer was fought in Montana near the present day town of Hardin. However, the team rebounded in the 1975-1976 season. Army Lt. The next season also looked to be promising, but the Nets were stunned early on in the playoffs and were denied their second championship.

For instance, the last stand of U.S. After Erving was declared the ABA's MVP, the Nets advanced in the playoffs and won their first ever ABA title. Montana was the scene of the Native Americans' last effort to keep their land. In the 1973-1974, with Erving, the Nets dramatically improved their record to a 55- win season. Montana became a United States territory (Montana Territory) on May 26, 1864 and the 41^st state on November 8, 1889. J". The smaller Pend d'Oreille and Kalispel tribes were found around Flathead Lake and the western mountains, respectively. In the 1973 offseason, however, the Nets acquired Julius Erving, known as "Dr.

Groups included the Crows in the south-central area, the Cheyenne in the southeast, the Blackfeet, Assiniboine and Gros Ventres in the central and north-central region and the Kootenai and Salish in the western sector. The 1972 - 1973 season was one of disappointment, as the Nets only won 30 games. Native Americans were the first inhabitants of modern-day Montana. Barry left after that postseason, sending the Nets into rebuilding mode. Sagebrush and various species of grass are common plants in the region, and forests cover 1/4 of the state. However, they could not overcome the Indiana Pacers and lost the series four games to two. Additionally, flowers native to Montana include asters, bitterroots, daisies, lupines, poppies, primroses, columbine, lilies and dryads. In 1972, two years after the acquisition of star Rick Barry, the Nets advanced to the ABA finals.

Vegetation of the area includes pine, larch, fir, spruce, aspen, birch, cedar, ash, and alder trees. The team was renamed to "Nets" to rhyme with the two other professional sports team in New York: the New York Mets and New York Jets. The Yellowstone, a tributary of the Missouri, rises in the Yellowstone Park in Wyoming, flows northeast across the state through canyons and gorges, and enters the Missouri a few miles east of the North Dakota boundary. Originally called the New Jersey Americans, the team changed its name and location to become the New York Nets. The Missouri river, formed by the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin rivers crosses the northeastern part of the state and enters North Dakota. The franchise was established in 1967 as part of the American Basketball Association. The Clark Fork of the Missouri (not to be confused with the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River) rises in the Rocky Mountains near Butte, and after flowing west turns north and forms portion of the Idaho boundary. In 2004, the franchise was sold to Bruce Ratner.

The principal river systems in Montana are the Clark Fork of the Columbia, the Missouri, and the Yellowstone. The New Jersey Nets are a National Basketball Association team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The highest point in the state, Granite Peak, is 12,799 feet high. Rod Thorn. The mountains are intersected by numerous valleys and canyons, through which flow several beautiful rivers. Kevin Loughery. Besides the prominent mountain ranges there are many spurs, detached ridges, and smooth, sloping buttes. Lawrence Frank.

In the south near the Yellowstone River the mountains reach an altitude of 10,000 feet and the peaks are perpetually covered with snow. Byron Scott. East of the Rocky Mountains is a rolling tableland, traversed by several large rivers. Chuck Daly. Between these ranges is a great basin, forming one-fifth of the entire area. Nenad Krstic. The Bitterroot Mountains from the western boundary line, and east of this the main chain of the Rocky Mountains cross the state. Richard Jefferson.

In the west it is extremely mountainous. Jason Kidd. The surface of the state is highly diverse. Vince Carter. 275,000 acres (1100 kmē) are administered as state parks and forests. 52 Buck Williams. The Federal government administers 36,000,000 acres (146,000 kmē). 32 Julius Erving.

Other sites include the Little Bighorn National Monument, Bighorn Canyon National Recreational Area, Big Hole National Battlefield, and the National Bison Range. There are also a number of National Forests and National Wildlife Refuges. 25 Bill Melchionni. Montana contains Glacier National Park and portions of Yellowstone National Park. 23 John Williamson. Montana is also one of many areas to claim the disputed title of "world's shortest river" (the Roe River). 4 Wendell Ladner. Major rivers in the state include the Missouri, Clark Fork of the Columbia, Milk, Flathead and Yellowstone. 3 Drazen Petrovic.

With a land area of 376,978 kmē (145,552 square miles), Montana is the fourth largest in the United States (after Alaska, Texas, and California). Richard Jefferson. In the south is the Wyoming border, and on the west and southwest is the Idaho border, marked by the Bitterroot River. Vince Carter. To the east is the border with North Dakota; to the southeast is a short border with South Dakota. Jason Kidd. The state borders the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Alonzo Mourning.

Montana and Canada share a 877km (545-mile) northern border. Keith Van Horn. Main articles: List of Montana counties, List of Montana rivers. Kenyon Martin. The USS Montana was named in honor of the state. Stephon Marbury. postal abbreviation is MT. Kerry Kittles.

Its U.S. Armon Gilliam. The largest city is Billings. Kendall Gill. The state capital is Helena. Yinka Dare. Senator (Max Baucus). Chris Childs.

The state is generally regarded as Republican; many are surprised to hear that the state has a Democratic governor (Brian Schweitzer), Democratic-controlled legislature (the Montana State Legislature), and one Democratic U.S. Kenny Anderson. Montana's people are largely homogenous, with 89.5 percent of the population white (but with a sizable American Indian representation at 6.2 percent). Bob McAdoo. The state became the first to elect a female member of Congress, Jeannette Rankin. Nate Archibald. Originally inhabited by Native Americans, modern-day Montana became Montana Territory in 1864 and later became the 41st state in 1889. Rick Barry.

The western one-third of the state is primarily mountainous terrain, while the eastern two-third is part of the northern Great Plains. Drazen Petrovic. The state ranks fourth in size but has a low population and population density, with much of the state being rural. The economy is primarily ranching-based, with some agricultural crops (wheat, barley, sugar beets) and a significant lumber and mineral industry. Julius Erving. The name probably comes from the Spanish word montaņa ("mountain"). Montana is a state in the western United States.

MacLean, Norman, Young Men and Fire. MacLean, Norman, A River Runs Through It. Doig, Ivan, English Creek. Doig, Ivan, Dancing at the Rascal Fair.

ISBN 0806118903.. University of Oklahoma: 1984. Montana: An Uncommon Land. Toole, Kenneth Ross.

ISBN 0295971290.. University of Washington: 1991. Montana: A History of Two Centuries. al.

Lang, William L., et. ISBN 0803273398.. Bison Books: 2003. Montana: High, Wide, and Handsome.

Howard, Joseph Kinsey. Highway 93. U.S. Highway 212.

U.S. Highway 2. U.S. Interstate 94.

Interstate 90. Interstate 15. In the movie 'Star Trek: First Contact', Montana is the location of the historical first contact between humans and an alien race, the Vulcans. Shortest river in the world: The Roe River.

State fish: Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout. State bird: Western Meadowlark. State animal: Grizzly Bear. State tree: Ponderosa Pine.

State flower: Bitterroot. Turner near Libby. Showdown Ski Area near White Sulphur Springs. Red Lodge Mountain near Red Lodge.

Moonlight Basin near Bozeman. Discovery near Philipsburg. Bridger Bowl near Bozeman. Blacktail near Lakeside.

Big Sky near Bozeman. Big Mountain near Whitefish. Billings Mustangs. Helena Brewers.

Great Falls White Sox. Missoula Osprey.