Montana

Montana

Montana, formerly Mikhaylovgrad, also spelled Mihailovgrad, Mihajlovgrad, or Mikhailovgrad, town, northwestern Bulgaria. It lies along the Ogosta River in a fertile agricultural region noted for its grains, fruits, vines, market-garden produce, and livestock breeding. Relatively new housing estates as well as industry are evident in the town. In the region are forests and game reserves in which deer, pheasant, and rabbit are hunted.

There was a Roman settlement called Montanensia on the site; later the town was called Golyama Kutlovitsa and Ferdinand (1891–1945). After World War II the town was named after Khristo Mikhaylov, local leader of an unsuccessful communist uprising in 1923. The town was renamed Montana in 1993, after communist rule had ended in Bulgaria. Pop. (2004 est.) 47,414.