Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, with a population of 117,116 as of 2020. Located in the south-central portion of the state, it is the seat of Yellowstone County and the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, which had an estimated population of 184,167 in 2020. It has a trade area of over 500,000.Billings was nicknamed the "Magic City" because of its rapid growth from its founding as a railroad town in March 1882.