It’s incredibly easy to romanticize Montana life. After all, it does offer some of the most picturesque landscapes in the United States. And with nicknames like The Last Best Place, Big Sky Country, and The Treasure State, it’s also easy to understand why those who call it home have such an unmatched pride in it — the majority of the state is downright visually stunning. Montana may be the fourth largest state in the U.S., but it’s also one of the most sparsely populated. Montana has around 1.1 million permanent residents, as opposed to the nearby smaller Washington State’s 7.7 million residents. People love and prioritize their space here.