14 Ways Montana Is America’s Black Sheep… And We Love It That Way

Everyone who calls Montana home will admit that we do things a little differently here. We tend to live by our own rules and we tend not to care what others think about it. Here are 14 examples of the ways Montana is America's black sheep.

1. We were one of the last states to raise the legal drinking age to 21.

Until 1987, you could drink at 19 here.

2. We also didn’t have a speed limit on our freeways for quite awhile.

Basically, we don’t like rules.

3. We believe in talking to strangers here.

We wave to each other when we’re driving down the road. We greet each other like old friends in public. It’s just what we do.

4. You can visit Amsterdam, Manhattan, and Belgrade without leaving the state.

5. We’ve been known to miss work or school on opening day of hunting season.

Why isn’t this an official holiday yet?!?

6. We were the first to send a woman to Congress.

Gender stereotypes have no place in Montana.

7. We don’t wear pasties, we eat them.

Just look at this beauty from Lisa’s Pasty Pantry in Missoula.

8. We say “y’all” even though we don’t live in the South.

We just like it, OK?

9. We don’t really do the whole “big city” thing.

Our largest city is Billings, which has around 110,000 people. San Francisco has about 838,000 people.

10. We have the most bookstores AND breweries per capita.

We like to drink, but we also enjoy literary pursuits.

11. We have more cattle than people.

And we like it that way, thank you very much.

12. We’re the only state in the country with a triple divide, which allows water to flow into the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and the Hudson Bay.

13. We have actual testicle festivals.

We’re not the only state to celebrate bulls in such a manner, but let’s be honest—our Testy Fest is the best.

14. We pretend Montana isn’t as amazing as it is to discourage people from moving here.

It’s not that great. Really. We promise.