Editing Billings, Montana (section)

===20th century===
[[File:Montana - Billings - NARA - 23941913 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of Downtown Billings, 1930]]
By the 1910 census, Billings' population had risen to 10,031, ranking it the sixth fastest-growing community in the nation.<ref name="autogenerated2" /> Billings became an energy center in the early years of the twentieth century with the discovery of oil fields in Montana and Wyoming. Then the discovery of large natural gas and coal reserves secured the city's rank as first in energy.<ref name="autogenerated2" /> In the early 20th century, its served as regional trading center and energy hub for eastern Montana and northern Wyoming, an area then known as the [[Midland Empire]].

[[File:First Interstate Center, Billings, MT cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|Built in 1985 and standing at {{Convert|272|ft|m}}, [[First Interstate Center]] is the tallest building in Montana.<ref>{{cite web|title=First Interstate Center|url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=6284|access-date=August 1, 2012|author=Skyscraper Source Media Inc.}}</ref>]]

After [[World War II]], Billings became the region's major financial, medical and cultural center. Billings has had rapid growth from its founding; in its first 50 years growth was, at times, as high as 200 to 300 percent per decade.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T9HrAAAAMAAJ&q=census+billings+montana+1900&pg=PA311 |title=Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910: Population by Counties and ... – United States. Bureau of the Census |date=May 17, 2012 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref>

Billings growth has remained robust throughout the years. In the 1950s, it growth rate was 66 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://population.us/mt/billings/ |title=Population of Billings, Montana |location=Billings / |publisher=population.us |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref> The [[1973 oil embargo]] by [[OPEC]] spurred an oil boom in eastern Montana, northern Wyoming and western North Dakota. With this increase in oil production, Billings became the headquarters for energy sector companies. In 1975 and 1976, the [[Colstrip]] coal-fire generation plants 1 and 2 were completed; plants 3 and 4 started operating in 1984 and 1986.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Billings saw major growth in its downtown core; the first high-rise buildings to be built in Montana were erected. In 1980, the 22-floor Sheraton Hotel was completed. Upon its completion, it was declared "the tallest load-bearing brick masonry building in the world" by the Brick Institute of America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=sheratonbillingshotel-billings-mt-usa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021232341/http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=sheratonbillingshotel-billings-mt-usa |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |title=Crowne Plaza, Billings, U.S.A |location=Billings / |publisher=Emporis.com |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> During the 1970s and 1980s, other major buildings were constructed in the downtown core;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/wm/ci/bu/?id=102598 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024100808/http://www.emporis.com/wm/ci/bu/?id=102598 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |title=Buildings of Billings |publisher=Emporis.com |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> the Norwest Building (now Wells Fargo), Granite Tower, Sage Tower, the MetraPark arena, the TransWestern Center, many new city-owned parking garages, and the [[First Interstate Center]], the tallest building in Montana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=1interstatecenter-billings-mt-usa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024234428/http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=1interstatecenter-billings-mt-usa |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |title=First Interstate Center, Billings, U.S.A |location=Billings / |publisher=Emporis.com |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref>

With the completion of large sections of the interstate system in Montana in the 1970s, Billings became a shopping destination for an ever-larger area. The 1970s and 1980s saw new shopping districts and shopping centers developed in the Billings area. In addition to the other shopping centers, two new malls were developed, and Rimrock Mall was redeveloped and enlarged, on what was then the city's west end. Cross Roads Mall was built in Billings Heights, and West Park Plaza mall in midtown. Several new business parks were also developed on the city's west end during this period.

Billings was affected by the [[1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens]] in May; the city received about {{Convert|1|in|adj=on}} of ash on the ground.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2000/fs036-00/ |title=Mount St. Helens – From the 1980 Eruption to 2000, Fact Sheet 036-00 |publisher=pubs.usgs.gov |access-date=August 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512162409/http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2000/fs036-00/ |archive-date=May 12, 2013  }}</ref> The [[Yellowstone fires of 1988]] blanketed Billings in smoke for weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yellowstone-bearman.com/yfire.html |title=Yellowstone's Year Of Fire-1988 |publisher=Yellowstone-bearman.com |date=August 20, 1988 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref>

In the 1990s, the service sector in the city increased with the development of new shopping centers built around big box stores which built multiple outlets in the Billings area. With the addition of more interchange exits along [[I-90]], additional hotel chains and service industry outlets are being built in Billings. Development of business parks and large residential developments on the city's west end, South Hills area, Lockwood, and the Billings Heights were all part of the 1990s. Billings received the [[All-America City Award]] in 1992.