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Bozeman, Montana

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Template:Redirect Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Template:GeoGroup Bozeman (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) is a city in and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States. The 2020 United States census put Bozeman's population at 53,293, making it Montana's fourth-largest city.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">Template:Cite web</ref> It is the principal city of the Bozeman, Montana, Metropolitan Statistical Area, consisting of all of Gallatin County, with a population of 118,960.<ref name="CensusPopandHousing"/> It is the second-largest of Montana's statistical areas.<ref name="census.gov">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

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Early history

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For many years, indigenous people of the United States, including the Shoshone, Nez Perce, Blackfeet, Flathead, Crow Nation and Sioux traveled through the area, called the "Valley of the Flowers".<ref name=PSmith>Template:Cite book</ref> The Gallatin Valley in particular, in which Bozeman is located, was primarily within the territory of the Crow people.

19th century

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File:JohnBozeman.JPG
John Bozeman

William Clark visited the area in July 1806 as he traveled east from Three Forks along the Gallatin River. The party camped Template:Convert east of what is now Bozeman, at the mouth of Kelly Canyon. The journal entries from Clark's party briefly describe the future city's location.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

John Bozeman

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In 1863, John Bozeman, a pioneer and frontiersman from Pickens County, Georgia, along with a partner named John Jacob, opened the Bozeman Trail, a new northern trail off the Oregon Trail leading to the mining town of Virginia City through the Gallatin Valley and the future location of the city of Bozeman.

John Bozeman, with Daniel Rouse and William Beall, platted the town in August 1864, stating "standing right in the gate of the mountains ready to swallow up all tenderfeet that would reach the territory from the east, with their golden fleeces to be taken care of."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Red Cloud's War closed the Bozeman Trail in 1868, but the town's fertile land still attracted permanent settlers.

Nelson Story

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In 1866, Nelson Story, a successful Virginia City, Montana, gold miner originally from Ohio, entered the cattle business. Story braved the hostile Bozeman Trail to successfully drive some 1,000 head of longhorn cattle into Paradise Valley just east of Bozeman. Eluding the U.S. Army, who tried to turn Story back to protect the drive from hostile Indigenous Americans, Story's cattle formed one of the earliest significant herds in Montana's cattle industry.<ref name=Kennedy>Template:Cite book</ref> Story established a sizable ranch in the Paradise Valley and holdings in the Gallatin Valley. He later donated land to the state for the establishment of Montana State University.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Fort Ellis

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Fort Ellis was established in 1867 by Captain R. S. LaMotte and two companies of the 2nd Cavalry, after the murder of John Bozeman near the mouth of Mission Creek on Yellowstone River,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite gnis</ref> and considerable political disturbance in the area led local settlers and miners to feel a need for added protection. The fort, named for Gettysburg casualty Colonel Augustus Van Horne Ellis, was decommissioned in 1886 and few remnants are left at the actual site, now occupied by the Fort Ellis Experimental Station of Montana State University.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In addition to Fort Ellis, a short-lived fort, Fort Elizabeth Meagher (also simply known as Fort Meagher), was established in 1867 by volunteer militiamen. This fort was located Template:Convert east of town on Rocky Creek.<ref>Template:Cite gnis</ref>

Other

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In 1864, W.W. Alderson described Gallatin County as "one of the most beautiful and picturesque valleys the eye ever beheld, abounding in springs of clear water." Many tended to agree, and Bozeman quickly garnered the nickname of "The Egypt" of Montana.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

After incorporation, the first issue of the weekly Avant Courier newspaper, the precursor of today's Bozeman Chronicle, was published in Bozeman on September 13, 1871.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

File:BozemanMainStreet1875.jpg
Main Street in Bozeman, 1875<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bozeman's main cemetery, Sunset Hills Cemetery, was given to the city in 1872 when the English lawyer and philanthropist William Henry Blackmore purchased the land after his wife Mary Blackmore died of pneumonia in Bozeman in July 1872.<ref name=freeman67>Template:Cite book</ref>

The first library in Bozeman was formed by the Young Men's Library Association in a room above a drugstore in 1872. It later moved to the mayor's office and was taken over by the city in 1890.<ref name=freeman67/> The first Grange meeting in Montana Territory was held in Bozeman in 1873.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Northern Pacific Railway reached Bozeman from the east in 1883.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> By 1900, Bozeman's population had reached 3,500.

In 1892, the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries established a fish hatchery on Bridger Creek at the entrance to Bridger Canyon. The fourth oldest fish hatchery in the United States, the facility ceased to be primarily a hatchery in 1966 and became the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Bozeman National Fish Hatchery, later a fish technology and fish health center. The Center receives approximately 5,000 visitors a year observing biologists working on diet testing, feed manufacturing technology, fish diseases, brood stock development and improvement of water quality.<ref name=BFTC>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=MRA>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bozeman was home to early minor league baseball. In 1892, Bozeman fielded a team in the Class B level Montana State League. In 1909, the Bozeman Irrigators played as members of the Class D level Inter-Mountain League. Both leagues disbanded.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Montana State University was established in 1893 as the state's land-grant college, then named the Agricultural College of the State of Montana. By the 1920s, the institution was known as Montana State College, and in 1965 it became Montana State University.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

20th century

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Bozeman's first high school, the Gallatin Valley High School, was built on West Main Street in 1902. Later known as Willson School, named for notable Bozeman architect Fred Fielding Willson, son of Lester S. Willson, the building still stands today and functions as administrative offices for the Bozeman School District.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In the early 20th century, over Template:Convert of the Gallatin Valley were planted in edible peas harvested for both canning and seed.<ref name=Hurlbut/> By the 1920s, canneries in the Bozeman area were major producers of canned peas, and at one point Bozeman produced approximately 75% of all seed peas in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The area was once known as the "Sweet Pea capital of the nation" referencing the prolific edible pea crop. To promote the area and celebrate its prosperity, local business owners began a "Sweet Pea Carnival" that included a parade and queen contest. The annual event lasted from 1906 to 1916. Promoters used the inedible but fragrant and colorful sweet pea flower as an emblem of the celebration. In 1977 the "Sweet Pea" concept was revived as an arts festival rather than a harvest celebration, growing into a three-day event that is one of the largest festivals in Montana.<ref name=Hurlbut>Template:Cite book</ref>

The first federal building and Post Office was built in 1915. Many years later, while unused, it became a film location, along with downtown Bozeman, in A River Runs Through It (1992) by Robert Redford, starring Brad Pitt. It is now used by HRDC, a community organization.

In 1986, the Template:Convert site of the Idaho Pole Co. on Rouse Avenue was designated a Superfund site and placed on the National Priorities List. Idaho Pole treated wood products with creosote and pentachlorophenol on the site between 1945 and 1997.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Museum of the Rockies was created in 1957 as the gift from Butte physician Caroline McGill and is a part of Montana State University and an affiliate institution of the Smithsonian. It is Montana's premier natural and cultural history museum and houses permanent exhibits on dinosaurs, geology and Montana history, as well as a planetarium and a living history farm. Paleontologist Jack Horner was the museum's first curator of paleontology and brought national notice to the museum for his fossil discoveries in the 1980s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

21st century

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File:BozemanMainStreetEast2011.jpg
Main Street in Bozeman, 2011

From a rank of sixth in the early [19]80s, Bozeman has grown to become the fourth largest city in Montana.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="census1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Growth in the Gallatin Valley prompted the Gallatin Airport Authority in 2009 to expand the Gallatin Field Airport with two new gates, an expanded passenger screening area, and a third baggage carousel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Subsequently, Gallatin Field was renamed Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bozeman has been one of Montana's fastest growing cities from 1990 into the new millennium, currently growing at a fluctuating rate of 2–3% annually.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2009, a natural gas explosion on the 200 block of East Main Street destroyed five buildings housing several businesses including Boodles restaurant and the Montana Trails Gallery. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The explosion, caused by a separation in a underground gas line, killed a 36-year-old gallery employee and the resulting fire burned for more than a day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

That same year, city officials were criticized for requesting job applicants provide their user names and passwords to social networking sites.<ref name=Huffpost>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2021, it was reported that median home price in Bozeman were about 75% above the national median, while the median household income was 25% below the national median.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

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Bozeman is located at an elevation of Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite gnis</ref> The Bridger Mountains are to the north-northeast, the Tobacco Root Mountains to the west-southwest, the Big Belt Mountains and Horseshoe Hills to the northwest, the Hyalite Peaks of the northern Gallatin Range to the south and the Spanish Peaks of the northern Madison Range to the south-southwest. Bozeman is east of the continental divide, and Interstate 90 passes through the city. It is Template:Convert east of Butte, Template:Convert west of Billings, and Template:Convert north of Yellowstone National Park.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>

Climate

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Bozeman experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb) as it is located in a more humid microclimate setting. Bozeman and the surrounding area receive significantly higher rainfall than much of the central and eastern parts of the state, up to Template:Convert of precipitation annually vis-à-vis the Template:Convert common throughout much of Montana east of the Continental Divide.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Combined with fertile soils, this means plant growth is relatively lush. This undoubtedly contributed to the Gallatin Valley's early nickname as the "Valley of the Flowers," as well as the establishment of Montana State University, the state's agricultural college, in the city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bozeman has cold, snowy winters and relatively warm summers, though due to high elevation, temperature changes from day to night can be significant. The highest temperature ever recorded in Bozeman was Template:Convert on July 31, 1892. The lowest recorded temperature, Template:Convert, occurred in 1957 and also 1983.<ref name=NOWData/>

Unlike most of the country, Bozeman has actually become cooler with the new 1991–2020 normals. Average highs dropped by Template:Convert, especially in spring and summer. It has also gotten wetter and snowier.Template:Citation needed

In 2019, Bozeman experienced unusually warm and dry temperatures during the month of December. Montana State University campus reported a daily average of Template:Convert of precipitation for the month, some of the lowest numbers seen in over 120 years. Montana State University also recorded just over Template:Convert of snowfall during December, the second lowest snowfall ever recorded. Additionally, maximum temperatures were Template:Convert warmer and lowest temperatures were Template:Convert above typical standards in previous Decembers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> December 2023 has also been unusually warm and dry, in line with the country as a whole.

Template:Weather box

Demographics

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Template:US Census population

2020 census

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As of the census of 2020,<ref name="2020 Census">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 53,293 people and 22,041 households in the city. The population density of the city was Template:Convert, a substantial increase since the 2010 census.

The racial makeup of the city was 88.6% White, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 2.4% Asian, 1.1% American Indian, and 0.6% African American. 5.6% of residents identified two or more races.

Of the 22,041 households in the city, each household has on average 2.24 people.

13.2% of Bozeman's population is under 18 years of age, and 10.7% of the population is over 65 years of age. 97.8% of the city's population, at or over the age of 25, has graduated high school or higher, and 64.2% of the population have attained at least a bachelor's degree. The gender makeup of the city is 53% male and 47% female.

The median income household income of the city was $74,113. The median per-capita income was $45,037. 14.7% of the population fell below the poverty line.

2010 census

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As of the census of 2010,<ref name="2010 Census">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 37,280 people, 15,775 households, and 6,900 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 17,464 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 93.6% White, 0.5% African American, 1.1% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 15,775 households, of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.1% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 56.3% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.80.

The median age in the city was 27.2 years. 15.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 28.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.4% were from 25 to 44; 16.7% were from 45 to 64; and 8.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.6% male and 47.4% female.

2000 census

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As of the census of 2000, there were 27,509 people, 10,877 households, and 5,014 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 11,577 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 94.73% White, 0.33% African American, 1.24% Native American, 1.62% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59% of the population.

There were 10,877 households, out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.0% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.9% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 16.0% under the age of 18, 33.0% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 14.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,156, and the median income for a family was $41,723. Males had a median income of $28,794 versus $20,743 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,104. About 9.2% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

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Bozeman's top employers include Bozeman Health, Montana State University, Simms Fishing Products and Mystery Ranch<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as well as at least two dozen high-tech companies engaged in research or production of lasers and other optical equipment,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> over a dozen bio-tech companies, and several large software companies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nationally known companies based in Bozeman include ILX Lightwave (an MKS/Newport company), Quantel USA, RightNow Technologies, Snowflake Inc., Schedulicity, Workiva, onX<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Simms Fishing Products. Notable non-profit organizations based in Bozeman include the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) and Eagle Mount.

Arts and culture

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Points of interest

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File:Museum of the Rockies.JPG
Museum of the Rockies
File:The Rialto at Night.jpg
The Rialto

Museums and gardens:

Libraries

Other:

Recreation

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The Bozeman area is noted for outdoor recreation,<ref name="Lonely Planet">Template:Cite web</ref> particularly skiiing.

Government

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Template:See also

File:BozemanCityHallOperaHouse1965.jpg
First City Hall (1965)

Bozeman became an incorporated Montana city in April 1883 and adopted a city council form of government.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Currently, the City of Bozeman uses a city commission/city manager form of government which the citizens adopted on January 1, 1922<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> with an elected Municipal Judge. The City Commission is chaired by an elected Mayor. These three entities form the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

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Public

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Bozeman Public Schools has two components: Bozeman Elementary School District and Bozeman High School District.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Belgrade Public Schools has two components: Belgrade Elementary School District and Belgrade High School District.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Almost all of Bozeman is in Bozeman Elementary School District and Bozeman High School District. A small piece extends into Belgrade Elementary School District and Belgrade High School District.<ref name=Schooldistrictlist2020>Template:Cite web - Text list Template:Webarchive</ref>

  • The Bozeman Public School District operates two high schoolsTemplate:SndBozeman High School and Gallatin High School; two middle schoolsTemplate:SndChief Joseph Middle School and Sacajawea Middle School; and eight elementary schoolsTemplate:SndEmily Dickinson Elementary School, Hawthorne Elementary School, Hyalite Elementary School, Irving Elementary School, Longfellow Elementary School, Meadowlark Elementary School, Morning Star Elementary School, and Whittier Elementary School.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • The district also operates the Bridger Alternative Program as a branch campus of Bozeman High School to serve "at-risk" secondary students.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • The former Emerson Elementary School is now a cultural community center. Willson School, originally a high school, then a middle school, then the base for an alternative high school, is still owned by the school district and houses a number of school district offices.

Private

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  • Headwaters Academy near the campus of Montana State University is a co-educational middle school (gradesTemplate:Spaces6 through 8).
  • Petra Academy is a co-educational school (gradesTemplate:Spacespre-k through 12) affiliated with Protestant teachings.
  • Heritage Christian School located off Durston Rd is a co-educational school (grades Pre-k through 12).

Post-secondary

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  • Bozeman is home to Montana State University, the state's largest university and the flagship campus of the Montana State University System. MSU set a new fall enrollment record in the fall of 2024, at a total of 17,144 students on campus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Media

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Newspapers and magazines

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AM radio

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<ref name=radio>Template:Cite web</ref>

FM radio

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<ref name=radio/>

Defunct

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Television

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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filming location

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Movies filmed in Bozeman include:

Infrastructure

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Transportation

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Highways include:

Freight rail service is provided by Montana Rail Link, a privately held Class II railroad that connects Spokane, Washington, with Huntley, Montana. The city was last served by passenger rail in 1979 by the North Coast Hiawatha at Bozeman Depot.

The Gallatin Big Sky Transportation District has operated the Skyline bus service, a zero-fare public bus system with six routes, since 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Intercity bus service to the city is provided by Jefferson Lines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport serves travelers to Bozeman, Big Sky, West Yellowstone and Yellowstone National Park.Template:Citation needed

Fire department

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The Bozeman Fire Department is a full-time career fire department. There are currently 47 uniformed firefighters at three stations, four engines (one reserve), a ladder truck, a Battalion Chief's truck, two brush trucks, a HazMat unit, and two Medic Units. The Bozeman Fire Department responded to approximately 5,000 emergency calls in 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

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The following individuals are either notable current or former residents of Bozeman (R), were born or raised in Bozeman in their early years (B), or otherwise have a significant connection to the history of the Bozeman area (C).

Sports personalities:

Military and pioneers:

Arts, culture and entertainment:

Science and academia:

Politics, government and business:

Philanthropy:

Religion:

Architecture:

  • Fred F. Willson, designed many notable buildings in Bozeman between 1902 and 1956. R
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In the film Star Trek: First Contact, Bozeman was the launch site of the first warp-capable starship and location of first contact with the Vulcans on April 5, 2063.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks features "Historic Bozeman" in Episode 1 of Season 3, revisiting some plot points from First Contact.

The members of the noise rock group Steel Pole Bath Tub are originally from Bozeman.Template:Citation needed

The Bozeman area is one of the settings in Robert Pirsig's novel Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

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References

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Further reading

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Template:Commons category Template:Wikivoyage

Template:Gallatin County, Montana Template:Montana Template:Montana Regions and Towns with Breweries Template:Montana county seats

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