Ch. 17 Pacific Northwest: Environment as Lifestyle

Although Billings is not the capital of the state, it’s the largest and the most economically developed city in Montana. Due to its location, it is the most suitable and important place for further development. The metropolitan area’s population is their most populated area, and has a trade center of over half of a million people. The largest growth rate of Montana’s community is in Billings called Lockwood. It has a growth rate of 57.8 percent from year 2000 to 2010.

The mountains surrounding Billings have an impact on local climate. The humid air is being carried from the Pacific Ocean that made the city less dry. It helps prevent and block the harsh cold weather especially during winter. There are no volcano impacts, but bigger volcanoes from farther places such as in Washington can transfer some ashes to the city.

Since Billings is the largest city in Montana, it’s a fun place to explore and it has the main attraction in the region. Most places that people love to visit include Yellowstone National Park and the Little Big Horn Battle field National Monument, which the land was preserved for Indians. There are many museums and historical attractions both in the downtown area and near Billings’ airport. There were also lots of antique stores. Other attractions include the Yellowstone County Museum and zoo that shows their native plants and animals. It’s also not far away from, Wyoming, its neighboring state. There is also a place where activities are offered throughout the years called Metra Park. Activities offered include rodeos and other sports. There are also many sports center and other outdoor activities that people do in Billings, include camping, fishing, and hunting. 

Welcome to Billings!

Billings is located in the west-central area of the state and south of Montana within the Yellowstone County. It's located near the Rocky Mountain's eastern edge and on the Yellowstone River. It's the state's largest city! It's located in a very well irrigated area, and an important point where trade and shipping takes place. 

http://www.rocketbanner.com/images/states/montana/vinyl-banners-billings-montana.jpg 

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Please click the link below for the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLsm2hFKha8

Ch. 1 Regions and Ecoregions: An Approach to Sustainable Geography

Billings' ecoregion is considered within the Temperate Steppe Division or the Great Plains. The Yellowstone River flows toward northeast along the east side of the city. Billings and Yellowstone County are the most greatly populated area in Montana. The land area of the city is 39.6 square miles, while the county is 2,646 square miles. The elevation of Billings is 3,567 feet above mean sea level. It contains both plains and mountain geographies. In the north and east, the landmark border called the Rimrocks are formed by the 300 to 500 feet sandstone cliffs. The land above the Rimrocks are rolling hills with sandy and clay loam soils. In the south, the hills are steeper with high and flat tablelands.

Ch. 2 The Nonhuman World: Understanding the Limits

Billings’ physical landform is the Interior Plains. It's located in the fertile Yellowstone River valley with three mountains around its area. The mountain helps lessen the city from harsh cold weather during winter. One of the nearest mountains is the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains. While some moist air is being carried from the Pacific Ocean, it’s called the “Chinook winds”. It helps lessen the extreme hot and cold weather in the city.

The climate in Billings is semi-arid. Summers are very hot, and winters are both dry and cold. During summer, the temperature could get over 100 degrees Fahrenheit but usually 73 degrees Fahrenheit average. The winter could be as low as -38 degrees or 23 degrees Fahrenheit average with around some average of 57 inches of snowfall per year. Spring and fall are very short seasons in Billings, but often unpredictable weather. Actually, it’s considered mild in the northern area. The precipitation of Billings is around 14 inches per year.

Agriculture is an important part of Billings’ economy and their number one industry. Around 20,000 to 74,999 acres of wheat were harvested in the Yellowstone County in 2002, but not enough precipitation to grow corn. Therefore, oats are their replacement for corn. Billings’ primary crops include oats, alfalfa, and sugar beets. Crops like oats often grow better in a moister and cooler area. The soil that needed to grow oat is silt and clay-loam soils. The oat are usually not made or transported for human food, since its costs are low. It’s usually used primarily on making hays and feeding livestock. In the other hand, Billings produce sugar beets and sell it for millions of dollar per year. Especially during the fall, it’s full of the sweet sugar smell sweeps across the city that’ being carried along with the cool air. 

The sandy loam soils are rich and good natural drainage, especially on the higher area. The amount of surface water in the city is 0.275 square kilometers. The Billings Canal could be used for irrigation. But it has better agricultural land than water to irrigate it; it would require more water storage in non-irrigating seasons. The groundwater could not be used because the coals are too deep below the surface. Also the groundwater from the coals usually contains salinities, which is not suitable for agriculture and domestic use. 

There were climate changes, and it’s predicted that it would be a bigger change in the future. Places in planting vegetation would have to be moved to a higher area on the mountain. There is increase in precipitation, and the rate of precipitation change is 10 to 20%.

Natural disasters in Billings include hail storms that could destroy crops. There are occasional tornados, but there is no volcano or earthquakes. 

Ch. 3 Sustainability: Redefining Progress

The resource and energy use in Billings is by creating homes that could help conserve energy. They are large windowless buildings, but also a pretty disfigured home in the city. But it is also the most energy-efficient building in the nation. It is useful especially in dry climates. They design the building at downtown in a way that could get exposure from the sun with clerestory monitors and photo-voltaic panels. The skylights being exposed on the roof framing creates energetic lit galley and reception space. 

By reducing the use of fossil fuel, they reduce the need for more energy. They would gather the energy from daylight using the roof, walls, and windows, while reducing the heat transfer into the building. The remaining energy can be used for radiant floor heating, evaporate cooling, and daylight sensors. It creates more renewable sources, and 10 kilowatt photo-voltaic system contributes to 50% more electricity every year. The fossil fuel energy is then reduced to 19%.

They also make use of waterless toilets, and 60% of water can be saved up throughout the building. The other way they do to reduce the use of water is by planting drought-tolerant plants. Other reusable resources are recycled glass paving, which is suitable for its climate because it makes easier to remove storm water, alleviate urban heat island effect, and lessen the wattage for parking lights.

GHG emissions included CO2, CH4, N2O, and CO2e from both gas and oil wells own by federal and non-federal governments. As for CO2, Billings’ is predicted to have a total of 21,007 metric tons per year. CH4 is 158.1 metric tons per year. N2O is 0.103 metric tons per year. CO2e is 22,105.1 metric tons per year.

Carbon pollution from power plants had been addressed by Obama recently that coal mining should be stopped to prevent further climate change. A new pollution standard should be created for the power plants. Then environmental organization said that it should be made into renewable fuels and never run out. Montana is ranked as the sixth in coal production within America.
http://www.usgbcmontana.org/northernplainsresourcecouncil.html

Ch. 4 Population and Consumption: Quantity versus Quality

Billings has always been the most populated city in Montana. The total population of Billings is around 106,954 in 2012. During 2000, 57.2 % of the population were born in the state and the population density was 2,656 people per square mile. A year from July of 2002 to 2003, the city have had a population increase of 1.4 percent. It has been steadily increasing from 1990 till 2012, which in 1990 are 81,537 people. The population growth of Billings is 14.35 percent from 2000 till 2012.

The ethnic component of the city during 2010 is 89.6% White, 5.2% Hispanic, 4.4% Native American, 0.8% African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 1.4% from other races. Billings consists mostly White people.

The age population from 65 years old and over during 2010 is 14.98%. Adults from 18 to 64 years old are 62.41% during 2010. Children from 5 to 17 years old are 15.60% and from 0 to 4 years old are 7.00%.  The largest age group’s population are adults from 18 to 64 years old, while infants to 4 year old children have the least population.

From 2000 to 2010, elderly above 65 years old have increased by 17%. Adults from 18 to 64 years old have increased by 18.39%. Children from 5 to 17 years old have increased by 3.48% and from 0 to 4 years old increased 23.99%. All of the age groups’ population have increase, but infants to 4 year old children have increased the most.

Ch. 6 The North Atlantic Provinces and Northern New England: New Economic Hopes

Billings was founded in 1882 during the Northern Pacific Railroad building time. It started with almost no building. But after the railroad had been built within a few months, it settled more than 2000 buildings. Not long after, there is also the discovery of oil fields, great natural gas and coal reserves. Minerals, coal, natural gas, and oil are Billings’ natural resources. It was once a large trading point for wool throughout the nation. The energy companies’ headquarters are in Billings. During 1910, Billings became the 6^th most rapid growing community in the country. The population at that time was 10,031.

This is what Billings looks like during 1915:

The Billings Canal that was the irrigation canal was built in 1900s that plays an important part for supporting the economy now days because it provides necessary irrigation for farmers and residents.  After 1945, the city had a rapid growth in financial, medical, and cultural center, which the growth rate was at 66 percent at that period. During 1975 to 1986, the coal fire generation plants were created. Within that period, there was more growth in Billings so the high-rise buildings were built. The large prairie land is suitable for feeding and raising livestock. People started moving in during the 1900s and start their own farmland. There were immigrant laborers that move there to work on the fields, such as the Japanese, Russo-Germans, and then Mexicans. The industry grew and the population increase.