Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Billings*, Montana
State Montana
City Billings*
County1 Yellowstone
City Population (2005)2 92,844 10.2% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) (Not Available)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 65 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Very Small
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium Low Density
State Capitol City Helena
State Population (2005)2 910,651
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Ron Tussing
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://ci.billings.mt.us/Government/mayor.php
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 406-657-8296
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, November 3, 2009
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  Yes
State Governor Name Brian Schweitzer
State/Governor Website http://mt.gov/
State/Governor Contact Information 406-444-3111
State/Governor Party Affiliation Democrat
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2009
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.15    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 12.3%    
     Disability Status 18.1% 53  
     Emphysema 1.36% 66  
     Cardiovascular Disease 26.67% 67  
     Diabetes 5.68% 67  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.04% 2  
     Adult Asthma 9.22% 56  
     Adult Obesity 18.2%   8
     People Without Health Insurance 18.4%   45
     Age: Children under 5 years 6.5% 12  
     Age: 65 years and over 14.8% 69  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 12.0% 6  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 11.3% 64  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 22.6% 65  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 4.8% 4  
     Individuals Below Poverty 12.0% 13  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 16.5% 23  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 13.2% 1  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 5.2% 3  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 2.3    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 13.4 (of 51) 10  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 7,350,745 pounds   12
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 3,641,662 pounds 7
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 1,507,414 pounds 19
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 56,247,090 pounds 10
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 52,205,756 pounds 10
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 16.3 grams 20
Number of Superfund Sites in County 1 site 16  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 1.171 tons per person 38
Recycling Rate (1997) 5.0% 49
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 1,468,831 tons 9
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.6 tons/person 44
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 220,249 tons 38
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 15.0% 35
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 0.8% 30
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) 36.6% 31
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) 200.0% 1
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score)    1.9***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 20,700 tons   10
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 35,100 tons   14
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 18,062,600 tons   12
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 980.0 pounds   20
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 0.0 PM2.5 1  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 0.7 PM2.5 20  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 4 ppm 42  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 17 ug/m3 2  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.006 ppm 38  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score)    2.2***    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade (Not Available) ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade (Not Available) ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade (Not Available) ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Upper Yellowstone-Lake Basin ---  
# of Units in Watershed 9 units 56  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 5 units 57  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 4 units 11  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 80.0% 41  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 44.4% 51  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 15.08 inches 59  
Water Area Total, square miles 1,490 square miles 34  
Water Area Inland, square miles 1,490 square miles 29  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 0 square miles 35  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Great Falls ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 61 years 8  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 101 days 40  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Great Falls ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 61 years 11  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 58.4 inches 7  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 8,860,000,000 gallons/day 33  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 10,200,000,000 gallons/day 3  
Ground water, gallons/day 217,000,000 gallons/day 61  
Surface water, gallons/day 8,640,000,000 gallons/day 30  
Irrigation, gallons/day 8,550,000,000 gallons/day 19  
Public Supply, gallons/day 161,000,000 gallons/day 62  
Industrial, gallons/day 80,000,000 gallons/day 58  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 22,000,000 gallons/day 68  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 1,960,000,000 gallons/day 32  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier City of Billings Water ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 92,000 people 68  
Year(s) Included in Summary 2001-2002 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 8 contaminants 9  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 4 contaminants 40  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 3 contaminants 26  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 3 contaminants 21  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 32  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 4 contaminants 10  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 29  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected 4 contaminants 12  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits 4 contaminants 39  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected 4 contaminants 13  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 33  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water 8 contaminants 9  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits 4 contaminants 40  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 119 contaminants 28  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 101 contaminants 32  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 18 contaminants 27  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 3 violations 59  
Health Violations 0 violations 1  
Monitoring Violations 3 violations 62  
Reporting Violations 0 violations 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score)    2.7***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 2,665.1 people per square mile 44  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 1,165.6 housing units per square mile 42  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 16.0 minutes 4  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 16.0 minutes 4  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 9.6% 68  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 1.2% 61  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 3.4% 35  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 3.4% 15  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 100.3 26  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 110.9 MV registrations   48
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 48.5%   34
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 48.0 MV registrations   30
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.43 MV registrations   46
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 69,450 miles   23
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.108%   4
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 4.0%   49
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.10 miles   49
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 68.76 miles   49
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $578,000,000   10
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $8,323 per mile   3
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 49.0%   18
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $35,147 52  
Median Household Income (2000) $35,147 50  
Per capita income (2004) $19,207 56  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $19,207 48  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 9.2% 16  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 12.0% 21  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 12.0% 13  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 3.4% 23  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 16.5% 23  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 2,476 people 1  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 3.3% 3  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 4.8% 4  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 2.8% 5  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 4.2% 4  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 14.9% 27  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 12.5% 27  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) Same as Federal ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) $5.15 per hour 28  
EDUCATION
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 15,707 kids (1.7% of total pop.) 66  
Largest School District Enrollment 5,524 kids (0.6% of total pop.) 70  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 13.2% 1  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 77.4% 5  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 88.7% 9  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 28.5% 37  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 12% 6  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Behind the Curve   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade D   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Poor   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Poor   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 37,525 units 67  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 36.0% 66  
Cost of Living: Housing 70.7 26  
Cost of Living: Utilities 103.3 36  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 98.5 25  
Cost of Living: Overall 89.5 27  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 64.36%   24
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 53.30%   5
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 70.40%   6
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 37.7%   9
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 5,179.9 incidents per 100,000 people 20  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 186.1 incidents per 100,000 people 2  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 4,993.8 incidents per 100,000 people 28  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 5,589.6 incidents per 100,000 people 21  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score)    5.0***    
Average # of Parks, per square mile (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Parkland as % of City Area (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Total City Tree Canopy % 1.5% 54  
Total City Urbanized Area % 80.4% 59  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users (Not Available) ---  
Disability Advisory Committees (Not Available) ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks (Not Available) ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 3.2    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.04% 2
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 9.22% 56
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.28% 65
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.36% 66
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 26.67% 67
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.68% 67  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 18.2% 8
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 8.7% 27
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) 15%-19% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 17.0% 40
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 7.5% 32
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 190.3 22
Cost of Living: Health 103.7 31  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 19.3% 48
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 18.4% 45
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 -4.7% 9
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 -1.0% 3
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 0 farms 70
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 1 market 69
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 0 restaurants 37
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 1 grocery store 40
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 0 other sources 57
Cost of Living: Food 98.9 22
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 75.2% 35
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 42.2% 36
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score) 2.3    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) Yes ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 1 program   13
Net Metering Net Metering Offered by only one or more Individual Utilities   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 50 kW   13
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 50 kW   21
Completed Climate Action Plans Completed State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries No   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds Funds support Energy Effeciency & Renewable Energy   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 15%   9
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards 2015   8
States with Green Pricing Programs Mandatory   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems Yes   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol Mandates supported by other incentives   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes State Codes with ECPA Compliance   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes 1999 ASHRAE or Later (ECPA Compliant)   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings None   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) No ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 33.4%   6
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 57 years 9
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 51% 51
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 12.6 mph 2
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 14.9 mph 2
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 10 mph 7
Heating Degree Days 7,741 days 55
Cooling Degree Days 388 days 8
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 37 years 36
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 68% 7
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 46% 9
Elevation, feet 3,123 feet 66
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 92,844 65 (of 72 in EDN study) 10.2% of state population
City Population (2000) 89,847 67 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 910,651 44 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region West ---  
EPA Region 8 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 34.0 square miles 63 0.0% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 145,556 square miles 4  
Watershed Name Upper Yellowstone-Lake Basin ---  
Elevation, feet 3,123 ft. (949.9 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 24.0°F (-4.4°C) 61
Average Daily Temperature - July 72.0°F (22.2°C) 16  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 36.8 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 76.0% 18  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 14.8% 4  
Under 5 years of age 5,882 kids (6.5% of total pop.) 66  
One Race-White % (2005) 92.8% 3  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 7.2% 69  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 4.9% 54  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 5.2% 70  
Largest School District Name Billings Elementary, Billings HS, Lockwood Elementary, Canyon Creek Elementary ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network