1. Montana officially became a state on January 1, 1889, after being designated as a territory for over 25 years. The day is now celebrated as Montana Statehood Day.

2. On January 1, 1895, the first issue of the Helena Independent newspaper was published. It quickly became one of the most widely read newspapers in the state and helped to shape public opinion on important issues.

3. In 1999, Montana experienced a significant Y2K computer glitch on January 1st. The state's computer systems were not able to handle the change in dates and many systems shut down or malfunctioned temporarily.

4. The New Year's Day Run, a 4-mile race held in Missoula, Montana, has been taking place every January 1st since 1976. The race attracts thousands of runners from across Montana and is a popular way to start the new year on a healthy note.

5. On January 1, 2016, the federal government officially delisted the grizzly bear as a threatened species in the Yellowstone region of Montana. The decision was controversial, as many conservationists argued that the bear's population was still too vulnerable to be removed from the endangered species list.