Billings is the largest city in the state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area with a population of 166,855. It has a trade area of over half a million people.

Billings is located in the south-central portion of the state and is the county seat of Yellowstone County, which had a 2015 population of 157,048. The 2015 Census estimates put the Billings population at 110,263 the only city in Montana to surpass 100,000 people. The city is experiencing rapid growth and a strong economy; it has had and is continuing to have the largest growth of any city in Montana. Parts of the metro area are seeing hyper growth. From 2000 to 2010 Lockwood, an eastern suburb of the city

Billings was nicknamed the “Magic City” because of its rapid growth from its founding as a railroad town in March 1882. The city is named for Frederick H. Billings, a former president of the Northern Pacific Railroad. With one of the largest trade areas in the United States.