STATES AND TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES (MONTANA).

In this post we will looking at Montana and its territories, Its past and present governors and current House of representative’s members.

INTRODUCTION.

Montana is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west; North Dakota and South Dakota to the east; Wyoming to the south; and by the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan to the north. It is the fourth-largest state by area, the eighth-least populous state, and the third-least densely populated state. Its state capital is Helena. The western half of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges, while the eastern half is characterized by western prairie terrain and badlands, with smaller mountain ranges found throughout the state. In all, 77 named ranges are part of the Rocky Mountains. Montana has no official nickname but several unofficial ones, most notably “Big Sky Country”, “The Treasure State”, “Land of the Shining Mountains”, and “The Last Best Place”. The economy is primarily based on agriculture, including ranching and cereal grain farming. Other significant economic resources include oil, gas, coal, mining, and lumber. The health care, service, and government sectors are also significant to the state’s economy. Montana’s fastest-growing sector is tourism; nearly 13 million annual tourists visit Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Beartooth Highway, Flathead Lake, Big Sky Resort, and other attractions.

MONTANA TERRITORIES.

Montana is one of the eight Mountain States, located in the north of the region known as the Western United States. It borders North Dakota and South Dakota to the east. Wyoming is to the south, Idaho is to the west and southwest, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan are to the north, making it the only state to border three Canadian provinces.

With an area of 147,040 square miles (380,800 km2), Montana is slightly larger than Japan. It is the fourth-largest state in the United States after Alaska, Texas, and California, and the largest landlocked state. The state’s topography is roughly defined by the Continental Divide, which splits much of the state into distinct eastern and western regions. Most of Montana’s hundred or more named mountain ranges are in the state’s western half, most of which is geologically and geographically part of the northern Rocky Mountains. The Absaroka and Beartooth ranges in the state’s south-central part are technically part of the Central Rocky Mountains. The Rocky Mountain Front is a significant feature in the state’s north-central portion, and isolated island ranges that interrupt the prairie landscape common in the central and eastern parts of the state. About 60 percent of the state is prairie, part of the northern Great Plains.

LIST OF GOVERNORS AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE’S MEMBERS.

Montana has had 24 governors (ten of whom were actually born within state boundaries), consisting of 9 Republicans and 15 Democrats. The longest-serving governor was Joseph Toole, who served from 1889 to 1893 and again from 1901 until his resignation in 1908 with 11 years in office. He is the only governor to serve nonconsecutive terms. The shortest-serving governor was Elmer Holt, who served less than 13 months when the previous governor died. The current governor is Republican Greg Gianforte, who took office on January 4, 2021. Prior to the creation of Montana Territory (1864–1889), numerous areas of what is now Montana were areas of Oregon Territory (1848–1859), Washington Territory (1853–1863), Idaho Territory (1863–1864), and Dakota Territory (1861–1864).

Governors of Montana Territory
#	Image	Governor	Party	Term start	Term end	Appointed by	Notes
1		Sidney Edgerton     April 3, 1833 – November 27, 1899    (aged 66)	Republican	June 22, 1864	July 12, 1866	Abraham Lincoln	Left for Washington, DC in September 1865 to settle federal accounts, obtain federal funding, and obtain reimbursement for personal funds spent on behalf of Montana’s government. Resigned after funding issue remained unresolved.[11]
—		Thomas Francis Meagher (acting)     3 August 1823 – 1 July 1867    (aged 43)	Democratic	September 1865	October 3, 1866	—	As Secretary of the Territory, he acted as governor in place of Gov. Edgerton while he was out of the Territory. He also acted in place of Gov. Smith until he arrived to assume his duties.[12][13][14][15]
2		Green Clay Smith     July 4, 1826 – June 29, 1895    (aged 68)	Democratic	October 3, 1866	April 9, 1869	Andrew Johnson	Left Montana in July 1868 to settle federal accounts and obtain federal funds following Thomas F. Meagher’s death; remained in Washington, DC. He was ordained as a Baptist minister and became a temperance activist. Officially resigned in April 1869.[16][17]
—		James Tufts (acting)     September 19, 1829 – August 18, 1884    (aged 54)	Republican	March 1869	April 9, 1869	—	Acted as governor from July 1868, when Green Clay Smith left for Washington, DC to April 1869 when James M. Ashley arrived.[18]
3		James Mitchell Ashley     November 14, 1824 – September 16, 1896    (aged 71)	Republican	April 9, 1869	July 12, 1870	Ulysses S. Grant	Refusal to include Democrats in appointments made him unpopular; opponents then accused him of criticizing Grant administration policies, resulting in Grant removing him.[19][20]
—		Wiley Scribner (acting)     September 6, 1840 – September 28, 1889    (aged 49)	Republican	December 1869	August 1870	—	Acted as governor until arrival of Benjamin F. Potts.[21]
4		Benjamin F. Potts     January 29, 1836 – June 17, 1887    (aged 51)	Republican	July 13, 1870	January 14, 1883	Ulysses S. Grant	Term expired, July 1882. Potts remained in office until successor J. Schuyler Crosby arrived in Montana in January 1883.[22][23]
5		John Schuyler Crosby     September 19, 1839 – August 8, 1914    (aged 74)	Republican	January 15, 1883	December 15, 1884	Chester A. Arthur	Resigned to accept appointment as First Assistant Postmaster General.[24]
6		B. Platt Carpenter     May 14, 1837 – December 24, 1921    (aged 84)	Republican	December 16, 1884	July 13, 1885	Chester A. Arthur	Replaced when Democrat Grover Cleveland succeeded Republican President Chester A. Arthur.[25]
7		Samuel Thomas Hauser     January 10, 1833 – November 10, 1914    (aged 81)	Democratic	July 14, 1885	February 7, 1887	Grover Cleveland	Resigned in order to concentrate on management of business and banking interests.[26]
8		Preston Leslie     March 8, 1819 – February 7, 1907    (aged 87)	Democratic	February 8, 1887	April 8, 1889	Grover Cleveland	Pro-temperance stance and policy disagreements with Republicans in territorial legislature caused legislators to request his replacement. Later served as Montana’s U.S. Attorney and president of the state bar association.[27][28]
9		Benjamin F. White     December 3, 1838 – December 4, 1920    (aged 82)	Republican	April 9, 1889	November 8, 1889	Benjamin Harrison	Term ended when Montana attained statehood. Later served as Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives and a member of the Montana Senate.[29]

Governors of Montana
#	Image	Governor	Party	Took office	Left office	Lt. Governor and Term	Notes
1		Joseph Toole     May 12, 1851 – March 11, 1929    (aged 77)	Democratic	November 8, 1889	January 1, 1893	John E. Rickards (Rep) – 1	[30]
2		John E. Rickards     July 23, 1848 – December 26, 1927    (aged 79)	Republican	January 2, 1893	January 3, 1897	Alexander C. Botkin (Rep) – 2
3		Robert Burns Smith     December 29, 1854 – November 16, 1908    (aged 53)	Democratic	January 4, 1897	January 7, 1901	A. E. Spriggs (Pop) – 3
4		Joseph Toole     May 12, 1851 – March 11, 1929    (aged 77)	Democratic	January 7, 1901	April 1, 1908	Frank G. Higgins (Dem) – 4 Edwin L. Norris (Dem) – 5	Resigned due to declining health.
5		Edwin L. Norris     August 15, 1865 – April 25, 1924    (aged 58)	Democratic	April 1, 1908	January 5, 1913	Benjamin F. White (Rep) – 5 William R. Allen (Rep) – 6	As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was later elected in his own right.
6		Sam V. Stewart     August 2, 1872 – September 15, 1939    (aged 67)	Democratic	January 6, 1913	January 2, 1921	W.W. McDowell (Dem) – 7, 8
7		Joseph M. Dixon     July 31, 1867 – May 22, 1934    (aged 66)	Republican	January 3, 1921	January 4, 1925	Nelson Story, Jr. (Rep) – 9	[31]
8		John E. Erickson     March 14, 1863 – May 25, 1946    (aged 83)	Democratic	January 4, 1925	March 13, 1933	W. S. McCormack (Rep) – 10 Frank A. Hazelbaker (Rep) – 11 Frank Henry Cooney (Dem) – 12	Resigned so that his successor would appoint him to the United States Senate.
9		Frank Henry Cooney     December 31, 1872 – December 15, 1935    (aged 62)	Democratic	March 13, 1933	December 15, 1935	Tom Kane (Rep) – 12 Ernest T. Eaton (Rep) – 12 Elmer Holt (Dem) – 12	As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term. Died in office.
10		Elmer Holt     October 14, 1884 – March 1, 1945    (aged 60)	Democratic	December 15, 1935	January 4, 1937	William P. Pilgeram (Dem) – 12	As president of the state senate, filled unexpired term.
11		Roy E. Ayers     November 9, 1882 – May 23, 1955    (aged 72)	Democratic	January 4, 1937	January 6, 1941	Hugh R. Adair (Dem) – 13
12		Sam C. Ford     November 7, 1882 – November 25, 1961    (aged 79)	Republican	January 6, 1941	January 3, 1949	Ernest T. Eaton (Rep) – 14, 15
13		John W. Bonner     July 16, 1902 – March 28, 1970    (aged 67)	Democratic	January 3, 1949	January 5, 1953	Paul Cannon (Dem) – 16
14		J. Hugo Aronson     September 1, 1891 – February 25, 1978    (aged 86)	Republican	January 5, 1953	January 2, 1961	George M. Gosman (Rep) – 17 Paul Cannon (Dem) – 18	[32]
15		Donald Grant Nutter     November 28, 1915 – January 25, 1962    (aged 46)	Republican	January 2, 1961	January 25, 1962	Tim M. Babcock (Rep) – 19	Died in office.
16		Tim Babcock     October 27, 1919 – April 7, 2015    (aged 95)	Republican	January 25, 1962	January 6, 1969	David F. James (Dem) – 19 Ted James (Rep) – 20	As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was later elected in his own right.
17		Forrest H. Anderson     January 30, 1913 – July 20, 1989    (aged 76)	Democratic	January 6, 1969	January 1, 1973	Thomas Lee Judge (Dem) – 21
18		Thomas Lee Judge     October 12, 1934 – September 8, 2006    (aged 71)	Democratic	January 1, 1973	January 5, 1981	Bill Christiansen (Dem) – 22 Ted Schwinden (Dem) – 23
19		Ted Schwinden     August 31, 1925 (age 96)	Democratic	January 5, 1981	January 2, 1989	George Turman (Dem) – 24, 25
20		Stan Stephens     September 16, 1929 − April 3, 2021    (aged 91)	Republican	January 2, 1989	January 4, 1993	Allen Kolstad (Rep) – 26 Denny Rehberg (Rep) – 26
21		Marc Racicot     July 24, 1948 (age 73)	Republican	January 4, 1993	January 1, 2001	Denny Rehberg (Rep) – 27 Judy Martz (Rep) – 28	[33][34]
22		Judy Martz     July 28, 1943 – October 30, 2017    (aged 74)	Republican	January 1, 2001	January 3, 2005	Karl Ohs (Rep) – 29	[35]
23		Brian Schweitzer     September 4, 1955 (age 66)	Democratic	January 3, 2005	January 7, 2013	John Bohlinger (Rep) – 30, 31
24		Steve Bullock     April 11, 1966 (age 56)	Democratic	January 7, 2013	January 4, 2021	John Walsh (Dem) – 32 Angela McLean (Dem) – 32 Mike Cooney (Dem) – 32, 33
25		Greg Gianforte     April 17, 1961 (age 61)	Republican	January 4, 2021	Incumbent[36]	Kristen Juras (Rep) – 34

MEMBERS OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THE U.S. HOUSE FROM MONTANA

The following is an alphabetical list of members of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Montana. For chronological tables of members of both houses of the United States Congress from the state (through the present day), see United States congressional delegations from Montana. The list of names should be complete (as of May 25, 2017), but other data may be incomplete. It includes members who have represented both the state and the territory, both past and present.

List of members and delegate

Member/Delegate	Years	Party	District	Notes
LeRoy H. Anderson	January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1961	Democratic	2nd	Elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Roy E. Ayers	March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1937	Democratic	2nd	Elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Retired to run for Governor of Montana.
James F. Battin	January 3, 1961 – February 27, 1969	Republican	2nd	Elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Resigned to become judge of the U.S. District Court of Montana.
Max Baucus	January 3, 1975 – December 14, 1978	Democratic	1st	Elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Retired to run for U.S. senator and resigned when appointed to that seat.
Albert J. Campbell	March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901	Democratic	At-large	Elected in 1898. Retired.
Thomas Henry Carter	March 4, 1889 – November 8, 1889	Republican	Territory	Elected in 1888. Position eliminated upon statehood.
November 8, 1889 – March 3, 1891	At-large	Elected in 1889. Lost re-election to W.W. Dixon.
James M. Cavanaugh	March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1871	Democratic	Territory	Elected in 1866. Re-elected in 1868. Lost renomination to Edwin W. Toole.
William H. Clagett	March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873	Republican	Territory	Elected in 1871. Lost re-election to Maginnis.
Wesley A. D’Ewart	June 5, 1945 – January 3, 1955	Republican	2nd	Elected to finish O’Connor’s term. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Steve Daines	January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015	Republican	At-large	Elected in 2012. Retired to run for U.S. Senate.
Joseph M. Dixon	March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1907	Republican	At-large	Elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Retired to run for U.S. Senate.
William W. Dixon	March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893	Democratic	At-large	Elected in 1890. Lost re-election to Hartman.
Caldwell Edwards	March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903	Populist	At-large	Elected in 1900. Retired.
John M. Evans	March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1919	Democratic	At-large	Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Redistricted to the 1st district.
March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1921	1st	Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1918. Lost re-election to McCormick.
March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1933	Elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Lost renomination to Monaghan.
Orvin B. Fjare	January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1957	Republican	2nd	Elected in 1954. Lost re-election to Anderson.
Greg Gianforte	May 25, 2017 – January 3, 2021	Republican	At-large	Elected to finish Zinke’s term. Re-elected in 2018. Retired to successfully run for Governor of Montana.
Charles S. Hartman	March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1897	Republican	At-large	Elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894.
March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899	Silver Republican	Re-elected in 1896 as a Silver Republican. Retired.
Rick Hill	January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2001	Republican	At-large	Elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Retired.
Scott Leavitt	March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1933	Republican	2nd	Elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Lost re-election to Ayers.
Martin Maginnis	March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1885	Democratic	Territory	Elected in 1872. Re-elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. Retired.
Mike Mansfield	January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1953	Democratic	1st	Elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Ron Marlenee	January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1993	Republican	2nd	Elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Redistricted to the at-large district and lost re-election to Williams.
Washington J. McCormick	March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923	Republican	1st	Elected in 1920. Lost re-election to Evans.
Samuel McLean	January 6, 1865 – March 3, 1867	Democratic	Territory	Elected in 1864. Re-elected in 1865. Retired.
John Melcher	June 24, 1969 – January 3, 1977	Democratic	2nd	Elected to finish Battin’s term. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Lee Metcalf	January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1961	Democratic	1st	Elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Joseph P. Monaghan	March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1937	Democratic	1st	Elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Jerry J. O’Connell	January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1939	Democratic	1st	Elected in 1936. Lost re-election to Thorkelson.
James F. O’Connor	January 3, 1937 – January 15, 1945	Democratic	2nd	Elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Died.
Arnold Olsen	January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1971	Democratic	1st	Elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Lost re-election to Shoup.
Charles Nelson Pray	March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1913	Republican	At-large	Elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Lost re-election to Evans.
Jeannette Rankin	March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1919	Republican	At-large	Elected in 1916. Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1943	1st	Elected in 1940. Retired.
Dennis Rehberg	January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2013	Republican	At-large	Elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
Carl W. Riddick	March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1923	Republican	2nd	Elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Matt Rosendale	January 3, 2021 – present	Republican	At-large	Elected in 2020.
Richard G. Shoup	January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1975	Republican	1st	Elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Lost re-election to Baucus.
Tom Stout	March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1917	Democratic	At-large	Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Retired.
Jacob Thorkelson	January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1941	Republican	1st	Elected in 1938. Lost renomination to Rankin.
Joseph Toole	March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889	Democratic	Territory	Elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Retired.
Pat Williams	January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1993	Democratic	1st	Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Redistricted to the at-large seat.
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1997	At-large	Redistricted from the 1st district. and Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Retired.
Ryan Zinke	January 3, 2015 – March 1, 2017	Republican	At-large	Elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of the Interior.