Bozeman, Montana

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Bozeman, Montana
—  City  —

Seal
Location of Bozeman, Montana
Coordinates: 45°40′40″N 111°2′50″W / 45.67778°N 111.04722°W / 45.67778; -111.04722Coordinates: 45°40′40″N 111°2′50″W / 45.67778°N 111.04722°W / 45.67778; -111.04722
Country United States
State Montana
County Gallatin
Government
 - Mayor Kaaren Jacobson
Area
 - Total 20.3 sq mi (32.6 km2)
 - Land 20.3 sq mi (32.6 km2)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 4,795 ft (1,461 m)
Population (2007)
 - Total 37,981
 - Density 1,358/sq mi (843.8/km2)
Time zone MST (UTC-7)
 - Summer (DST) MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP codes 59715, 59717-59719, 59771-59772
Area code(s) 406
FIPS code 30-08950
GNIS feature ID 0769173
Website www.bozeman.net

Bozeman is a city in and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States,[1] in the southwestern part of the state. With a population of 27,509 at the 2000 census, Bozeman is the fifth largest city in the state. It is the principal city of the Bozeman micropolitan area, which consists of all of Gallatin County.[2]

The city is named after John M. Bozeman, founder of the Bozeman Trail. Located in the fastest-growing county in the state [1], Bozeman was elected an All-America City in 2001 by the National Civic League.[3] Bozeman residents are known as Bozemanites.

Bozeman is home to Montana State University - Bozeman. The local newspaper is the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, and the city is served by Gallatin Field Airport.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Early History

For thousands of years, Native Americans tribes including the Shoshone, Nez Perce, Blackfeet, Flathead, Crow Nation and Sioux traveled through the area, called the "Valley of the Flowers" [4], though the Gallatin Valley was not permanently held by any particular tribe.

[edit] 19th century

William Clark visited the area in July 1806 as he traveled east from Three Forks along the Gallatin River. The party camped 3 miles (4.8 km) 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. [2].

In 1863, John Bozeman, along with a partner named John Jacobs, opened the Bozeman Trail, an offshoot from 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 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...". Red Cloud's War closed the Bozeman Trail in 1868, but the town's fertile land attracted permanent settlers.

In 1866, Nelson Story arrived with 3,000 head of longhorn cattle, eluding both Native Americans and the U.S. Army, who tried to turn Story back for safety reasons. Those cattle formed the first herd in Montana's cattle industry.

Fort Ellis was established in 1867 by Captain R. S. LaMotte and two companies of the 2nd Cavalry, after the mysterious death of John Bozeman near Yellowstone 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 remains are left at the actual site, now occupied by the Fort Ellis Experimental Station of Montana State University [3]. 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 eight miles (13 km) east of town on Rocky Creek.

Northern Pacific Railway tracks finally reached the town in 1883. By 1900, Bozeman's population reached 3,500.

Montana State University - Bozeman 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's preferred name was Montana State College until 1965, when it was changed to Montana State University.[5]

[edit] 20th century

Lewis and Clark Motel

The first Federal Building and Post Office was built in 1915. Many years later, while empty, it was 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.

The University's Museum of the Rockies was put on the map by famed paleontologist Jack Horner.

Residents and visitors enjoy access to skiing at the Big Sky Ski Resort, 40 miles (64 km) south of Bozeman, although many locals prefer the closer and less expensive Bridger Bowl Ski Area, approximately 15 miles (24 km) to the northeast. Plentiful recreational activities and the free marketing the area received from films set in the area, such as A River Runs Through It and The Horse Whisperer have combined to bring a steady influx of new residents and visitors.

[edit] 21st century

While Bozeman grew at a fairly rapid pace in comparison to the rest of Montana for the past 40 years, in recent years Bozeman experienced significant growth. The city continues to attract new residents due to quality of life factors, scenery, and nearby recreation.

[edit] Employment application controversy

In June 2009, a controversy emerged related to job applications for prospective city employees. Part of the city's background check policy included a requirement to list all social networking sites in which the prospective employee had participated, including passwords and other login information.[6] Critics of this policy have found it a violation of the Montana Constitution's guarantees of privacy rights; the city attorney has responded by stating that it is a necessary part of the city's background check system.[7] Widespread criticism led the city to stop requesting passwords and other login information within a few days of implementing the policy.[8][9][10]

[edit] Geography and climate

Bozeman is located at 45°40′40″N 111°2′50″W / 45.67778°N 111.04722°W / 45.67778; -111.04722 (45.677890, -111.047274),[11] at an altitude of 4,816 feet (1,468 m).[12] The Bridger Mountains are to the northeast, the Tobacco Root Mountains to the west, the Big Belt Mountains to the north, the Hyalites to the south and the Spanish Peaks and Gallatin Range to the southwest. Bozeman is east of the continental divide, and Interstate 90 passes through the city. It is 84 miles (135 km) east of Butte, 125 miles (201 km) west of Billings, and 93 miles (150 km) north of Yellowstone National Park.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.6 square miles (32.6 km²), all of it land.

The climate in Bozeman and the surrounding area receives significantly higher rainfall than much of the state, up to 24 inches (610 mm) of precipitation annually vs. 8-12" (20–30 cm) common throughout much of Montana east of the Continental Divide. [4]. Combined with fertile soils, plant growth is relatively lush. This undoubtedly contributed to the early nickname "Valley of the Flowers" and the establishment of MSU as the state's Agricultural College. Bozeman has cold, snowy winters and relatively warm summers, though due to elevation, temperature changes from day to night can be significant.

Climate data for Bozeman, Montana
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 65
(18)		 64
(18)		 75
(24)		 83
(28)		 91
(33)		 96
(36)		 105
(41)		 99
(37)		 95
(35)		 88
(31)		 73
(23)		 63
(17)		 105
(41)
Average high °F (°C) 33
(0.6)		 39
(3.9)		 46
(7.8)		 56
(13.3)		 64
(17.8)		 74
(23.3)		 82
(27.8)		 82
(27.8)		 71
(21.7)		 59
(15)		 42
(5.6)		 34
(1.1)		 56
(13.3)
Average low °F (°C) 14
(-10)		 18
(-7.8)		 24
(-4.4)		 31
(-0.6)		 39
(3.9)		 46
(7.8)		 52
(11.1)		 51
(10.6)		 42
(5.6)		 33
(0.6)		 22
(-5.6)		 15
(-9.4)		 32
(0)
Record low °F (°C) -36
(-38)		 -43
(-42)		 -27
(-33)		 -10
(-23)		 16
(-9)		 26
(-3)		 32
(0)		 26
(-3)		 12
(-11)		 -10
(-23)		 -26
(-32)		 -36
(-38)		 -43
(-42)
Precipitation inches (mm) 0.8
(20.3)		 0.7
(17.8)		 1.4
(35.6)		 2.1
(53.3)		 3.2
(81.3)		 2.9
(73.7)		 1.4
(35.6)		 1.5
(38.1)		 1.8
(45.7)		 1.6
(40.6)		 1.1
(27.9)		 0.8
(20.3)		 17.3
(439.4)
Source: {{{source}}} {{{accessdate}}}

[citation needed]

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1870 168
—
1880 894 432.1%
1890 2,143 139.7%
1900 3,419 59.5%
1910 5,187 51.7%
1920 6,183 19.2%
1930 6,855 10.9%
1940 8,665 26.4%
1950 11,325 30.7%
1960 13,361 18.0%
1970 18,670 39.7%
1980 21,645 15.9%
1990 22,660 4.7%
2000 27,509 21.4%
Est. 2007 37,981 38.1%
source:[13][14]

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 27,509 people, 10,877 households, and 5,014 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,183.8 people per square mile (843.0/km²). There were 11,577 housing units at an average density of 919.0/sq mi (354.8/km²). 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.

[edit] Media

 This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2009)

[edit] Newspapers

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle is the local paper. The Bozeman Magazine is a free monthly publication. It prints and distributes 7500 copies to 150 area locations every month.

[edit] AM radio

[edit] FM radio

[edit] Television

[edit] Transportation

As of 2006, Bozeman has had a public bus transportation system called Streamline. Streamline operates four routes covering most of the Bozeman area. This includes the University, Hospital, Mall, Main Shopping areas, and downtown. The system is funded by a variety of Federal, State, and local sources. The Associated Students of Montana State University is one of the contributors to the system. Because of this funding, consumers are not charged to ride the bus service.

The area is also served by Gallatin Field Airport. The airport is northwest of Bozeman, near Belgrade, Montana. It primarily serves Bozeman, Big Sky, West Yellowstone and Yellowstone National Park, though there is also a smaller airport in West Yellowstone. It is one of three major regional airports serving Southwestern Montana.

[edit] Notable natives and residents

[edit] References in popular culture

[edit] Points of interest

Museum of the Rockies

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  2. ^ Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses, Office of Management and Budget, 2007-11-20. Accessed 2008-12-10.
  3. ^ http://www.ncl.org/aac/past_winners/past_winners.html
  4. ^ http://www.mtstandard.com/highwaystoadventure/lewisclark.html
  5. ^ Montana State University History. Web page accessed May 30, 2009.
  6. ^ US Officials Ask Job Applicants to Hand Over Private Web Details, The Guardian, June 19, 2009
  7. ^ Bozeman City job requirement raises privacy concerns, Montana's News Station, 2009-06-19. Accessed 2009-06-19.
  8. ^ Bozeman drops password requirement, Montana's News Station, 2009-06-19. Accessed 2009-06-19.
  9. ^ Montana town stops asking applicants for social network log-ins, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, June 24, 2009
  10. ^ Montana Town Stops Asking Applicants for Facebook Logins, Wall Street Journal, Marisa Taylor, June 23, 2009
  11. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  12. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographical Names Information System: Bozeman, Montana
  13. ^ Moffatt, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850-1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 128.
  14. ^ "Subcounty population estimates: Montana 2000-2007" (CSV). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2009-03-18. http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2007-30.csv. Retrieved 2009-05-07. 
  15. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  16. ^ MSU Physics Department
  17. ^ "Ex-lawmaker Dorothy Bradley named to NorthWestern board, Missoulian Online, April 22, 2009, accessed June 29, 2009
  18. ^ "Gary Cooper" Cool Montana Stories Montanakids.com
  19. ^ Author Ben Mikaelsen
  20. ^ Turner Enterprises, Ranches FAQ
  21. ^ "Ted Turner grand marshal of Livingston parade" Great Falls Tribune, June 26, 2009
  22. ^ http://transom.org/talk/specialguests/sarahvowell.html
  23. ^ http://www.identitytheory.com/people/birnbaum66.html

[edit] Further reading

  • Smith, Phyllis (1996). Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley. A History. Helena, MT: Falcon Press Publishers. ISBN 1560445408. 

[edit] External links

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Municipalities and communities of
Gallatin County, Montana
County seat: Bozeman
Cities

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