Montana is located in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It became the 41st state on November 8, 1889, with a population of approximately 1,084,225.
With a total area of 147,040 square miles (380,800 square kilometers), Montana is the 4th largest state in the U.S. Despite its size, it is the 8th least populous state in the country.
The capital of Montana is Helena, while the largest city is Billings. Some of the most important counties in Montana, by population, are Yellowstone County, Missoula County, Gallatin County, Flathead County, and Cascade County.
Vital records for Montana are maintained by the Office of Vital Statistics, MT Department of Public Health and Human Services. The division has both birth and death records starting from 1907, and some indexes to locate marriage licenses and divorce decrees starting from July 1943.