Bozeman, Montana 

LOCATION
Situated in the Gallatin mountain valley and surrounded by the magnificent Rocky Mountains, Bozeman is considered Montana's prime location. The city sits at an elevation of 4,795 feet and is surrounded on three sides by the Bridger, Gallatin and Tobacco Root mountains. Over 40% of surrounding Gallatin County is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and provides excellent recreational use; the majority of the remainder is made up of fertile farmland. Bozeman is located approximately an hour north of Yellowstone National Park on Hwy 89 or 191, and is close to a number of meaningful historical sites. I-90 passes through the town as it runs west through Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to Spokane, Washington; east through Buffalo and Sundance, Wyoming to South Dakota. Bozeman is about 45 minutes drive east from Butte, where I-90 intersects I-15, which runs north to south from Canada to Idaho and Utah, through Helena and Great Falls, Montana. Billings is about an hour west, on the junction of I-94 to Bismarck, North Dakota and I-90 to Wyoming and South Dakota.  

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS
Located ten minutes west of Bozeman and just east of Belgrade, Gallatin Field Regional Airport provides service for Delta and Northwest Airlines, alongside and two regional carriers (Horizon and Skywest). Daily flights to Salt Lake City, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Seattle provide a convenient connecting service to domestic and international airports. Car rental is available from the airport. 

BRIEF HISTORY
Bozeman was established in 1863, in an area that was once home to native peoples dating back thousands of years. Tribal bands, including the Shoshone, Nez Perce, Blackfeet, Flathead and Sioux, date back several hundred years. At the time of first contact with Europeans, the area was rich with game, water and plants used by the natives. When gold was discovered 60 and 80 miles to the west, the rush was on. John Bozeman came from Georgia and established the "Bozeman Trail"?a northern spur of the Oregon Trail?in 1864. Three years later the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians closed it as a discouragement to the settlers and many colonists returned to the valley to take up farming and business. On July 7, 1864, Daniel E. Rouse and William J. Beall drafted plans for the town site and by August of that year Bozeman was in existence. By 1867 it had become the Gallatin County seat, and in 1883 the Northern Pacific Railway finished its pathway through what is now known as the Bozeman Pass; this route paralleled the Bozeman Trail, which is now I-90. The town grew slowly, reaching a population of 3,500 by 1900. Evidence of Bozeman's unique local heritage can be found throughout the city. Bozeman now has eight historical districts and more than 40 individual properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

POPULATION (just the figures)
Bozeman's population hovers at around the 30,500 mark in the city itself while a further 8,000 or so make their home in the surrounding countryside.  

ABOUT HEALTHCARE
As a not-for-profit health care organization, Bozeman Deaconess Health Services (BDHS) owns and operates Bozeman Deaconess Hospital and Hillcrest Retirement Community, as well as three medical office buildings and a medical campus. All are situated upon a hill in east Bozeman, with spectacular mountain views in all directions. The hospital offers the full-range of medical expertise and services, including state-of-the-art cancer treatment. The hospital is one of the county's largest employers. Alternative styles of medicine and treatment are offered by chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, naturopaths, and herbalists; other private health services include the Association for the Blind, the Diabetic Support Group, MT Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson Disease Support, and Handicap Services.  

ABOUT EDUCATION
Bozeman has six elementary schools (K-6), two middle schools, (6-8), a high school (9-12) and an alternative high school; the schools are governed by 7 elected Board of Trustees. Twice named as one of the outstanding schools in America by the U.S. Department of Education, Bozeman High School has an average enrollment of 1,600 and is accredited by the Northwest Accrediting Association and the Montana office of Public Instruction. Approximately 65% of school leavers go on to college. Bozeman students score consistently high in SAT and other national tests and constantly have the best Montana average in verbal SAT grades. There is an excellent home-school network throughout the Gallatin Valley, and several quality private schools, including two Montessori and numerous Christian schools. Bozeman is home to Montana State University (MSU), a 1,170-acre campus famous for its unparalleled scenic beauty. MSU offers Bachelor degrees in 47 different fields covering more than 120 separate majors, Masters in 39 fields and a Doctorate in 13. MSU Bozeman employs 5,735 faculty members and boasts an approximate student-faculty ratio of 19 to 1. 

SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS
Rated as one of the 15 best sport cities in the U.S. by "Outside Magazine", and no. 7 on the 50 Best Places to Live list by Men's Journal in 2002, Bozeman offers outstanding opportunities for fly fishing, downhill and cross-country skiing, horseback riding, hunting, hiking, camping, climbing, mountain biking, canoeing and kayaking. With ten national forests close at hand and several of the world's finest trout streams and rivers within an hour's drive of the city, Bozeman was the filming location for Robert Redford's 1992 movie "A River Runs Through It". The mountains (including the Bridger Bowl ski area and the Big Sky Ski Resort) are only a short distance from the town. Eight miles south of Bozeman in the Gallatin National Forest is the Hyalite Challenge area, with trails, fishing piers, and accommodation specifically designed to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities, families with small children and senior citizens. Bozeman is also close to the Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier National Parks. Bozeman boasts many fine restaurants, has a summer farmer's market, many yearly festivals and a thriving local arts scene. The Bozeman Intermountain Opera, Bozeman Symphony and Symphonic Choir, Montana Ballet Company and several theatre groups offer many fine productions and workshop opportunities, including a yearly performance of the Nutcracker, and Shakespeare in the Park. Local museums include the American Computer Museum, Gallatin County Pioneer Museum and the excellent Museum of the Rockies at MSU. 

Belgrade, Montana 

LOCATION
Belgrade is a small Gallatin County town 9 miles northwest of Bozeman. Just off I-90 on historic Hwy-10, Belgrade is near to the Gallatin National Forest and a short drive from the Bridger Bowl and Big Sky ski areas. Butte is about 45 minutes drive west on I-90; the state capitol of Helena is a further 45 minutes north on I-15.  

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS
Gallatin Field Regional Airport is only 1 mile east of Belgrade. Four airlines provide daily non-stop service to and from Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Salt Lake City, and Seattle/Tacoma. An additional non-stop service to and from Detroit is available in the summer and winter months. Car rental is on hand.
Businesses especially benefit from the railway line and local bus and trucking companies.  

BRIEF HISTORY
By 1882, the Northern Pacific Railway had finished the survey of their line through Montana; a local entrepreneur, Thomas B. Quaw, traveled out to found a community along it. It was named Belgrade in honour of the Serbians who invested money to complete the railway line. By the turn of the century, Belgrade was an important wheat shipping and milling center, with the first steel grain elevator in Montana being built there in the summer of 1904. Incorporation followed in 1906. From the turn of the century through the 1930's, Belgrade continued to expand, gaining businesses, professionals and the trappings of an established community. At that point, the depression took its toll and speculation in the community slowed. Belgrade settled into the quiet farming community it was to remain for some time. In the 1980's, the community worked to diversify the local economy and a number of successful industrial parks were created just outside of the city limits.  

POPULATION (just the figures)
Belgrade is home to 5,800 residents.  

ABOUT HEALTHCARE
Belgrade residents are well served by a range of private physicians, two family clinics, a back and neck clinic, Advanced Performance and Rehabilitation Services, and a chiropractor. The Bozeman Deaconess Hospital is just 10 miles away.  

ABOUT EDUCATION
Belgrade has two elementary schools (K-4), Belgrade Middle School, Belgrade Intermediate School, and one high school. Belgrade High School offers the full range of academics and sports alongside specialist courses in business, computing, industry, arts, theatre, and vocational agriculture.  

SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS
Belgrade's central location in the heart of the Gallatin Valley provides abundant recreational opportunities for all seasons including fishing, hiking, skiing, and camping. Nearby Missouri Headwaters State Park is perfect for camping, fishing, boating, and picnicking; Bridger Bowl is 25 miles away, and offers some of Montana's best powder skiing. Yellowstone National Park is less than 100 miles away. Belgrade residents and visitors enjoy the local Saturday Market and yearly Fall Festival, along with other community events. A progressive and responsive City Government and Chamber of Commerce offer low cost loan programs to new and relocating businesses; local cafes, restaurants and galleries provide enjoyment and a sense of place.  

Manhattan, Montana 

LOCATION
The small town of Manhattan lies just off I-90 on Hwy-288; 11.8 miles northwest of Belgrade and 23 miles northwest of Bozeman. Historic Three Forks is the nearest town to the west of Manhattan (15 miles away); Townsend is 34 miles north on Hwy-287. Big Sky is 40 miles south on 191, en route to the Yellowstone National Park. 

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS
Gallatin Field, about 14 miles away in Belgrade, is the closest regional airport to Manhattan. Other public-use airports nearby include: Three Forks (17 miles), Townsend (33 miles) and Canyon Ferry (42 miles). Rental cars are available from Gallatin Field.  

BRIEF HISTORY
By 1884 the Northern Pacific Railway line had reached what was to become Manhattan, Montana. The settlement of Moreland was established on the new railway line, and a group of new Yorkers settled on large landholdings nearby. In January 1891, these influential developers renamed the town Manhattan after the title of their Company. Incorporated in 1911, Manhattan has remained an important agricultural center since settlement times.  

POPULATION (just the figures)
Manhattan's population of 1,400 is boosted by the surrounding rural populace of around 40,000. 

ABOUT HEALTHCARE
A number of private physicians practice in Manhattan, and a chiropractic doctor is available at the Manhattan Back and Neck Clinic. The Excellent Bozeman Deaconess Hospital is about 26 miles away in Bozeman. 

ABOUT EDUCATION
Manhattan has two public elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Students benefit from community involvement and the intimacy of a small regional school; Manhattan Elementary and Manhattan High have just over 200 pupils apiece, while Amsterdam Elementary has only 80. Manhattan Christian is a private high school with around 380 students. Montana State University is about 34 miles away in Bozeman. 

SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS
Manhattan is a peaceful town with a rural lifestyle and great sense of community, close to all that the Rocky Mountains have to offer and a 20-minute drive from Bozeman's cultural and dining attractions. Downtown eateries include cafes, a grill, Mexican restaurant, dinner club, and "Sir Scott's Oasis Steak house." Local points of interest include the Little Bear School House Museum, a restored one-room log school in Gallatin Gateway, and Madison Buffalo Jump State Park. The park includes a state monument, Madison Buffalo Jump, a high limestone cliff was used for 2,000 years (and as recently as 200 years ago) by Native Americans, who lured bison to stampede over it. Walks provide unique insights into Native American culture as well as inspiring views of the valley below. Simple tent and trailer campsites are available. 

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