Billings is the largest city in Montana and the commercial, cultural, and industrial center of a large region of the northern Rocky Mountains. Known as the "Magic City," Billings has grown phenomenally since its founding in 1882, until 1970 doubling in size every 30 years. The city is also the processing and distribution hub for a rich agricultural area that encompasses more than 125,000 miles. Excellent road, rail, and air transportation networks helped the region's retail trade to reach $1.9 billion in 2000. Many scenic attractions such as Yellowstone National Park are nearby, and the wide variety of available recreation activities make the Billings area a popular vacation spot.