Bozeman, Montana
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Established in 1864[1] (http://www.bozeman.net/bozeman.html), Bozeman is the sixth largest city[2] (http://visitmt.com/tripplanner/wheretogo/destinations.asp) in Montana State in the United States and is the county seat of Gallatin County[3] (http://www.co.gallatin.mt.us/about/trivia.htm). The city is located in southwestern Montana in the Rocky Mountain Gallatin Valley with the Bridger to the east, the Tobacco Root's to the west, the Big Belts to the north, and the Spanish Peaks and Gallatin Range to the south[4] (http://www.ultimatemontana.com/sectionpages/Section5/Bozeman/bozeman.html). Interstate 90 passes through the city, with the city lying 85.33 miles west of Butte, Montana[5] (http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?go=1&do=nw&rmm=1&un=m&cl=EN&ct=NA&rsres=1&1ahXX=&1y=US&1a=&1c=butte&1s=mt&1z=&2ahXX=&2y=US&2a=&2c=bozeman&2s=mt&2z=) , 143.80 miles east of Billings, Montana[6] (http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?go=1&do=nw&rmm=1&un=m&cl=EN&ct=NA&rsres=1&1ahXX=&1y=US&1a=&1c=billings&1s=mt&1z=&2ahXX=&2y=US&2a=&2c=bozeman&2s=mt&2z=), and 90 miles north of Yellowstone National Park. Bozeman, named after John M. Bozeman founder of the Bozeman Trail, had at the time of the 2000 census a population of 27,509. Bozeman, the fastest growing city in the state [7] (http://www.bozemanchronicle.com/articles/2005/04/15/news/gallatingrowth.txt), won All-America City status in 2001[8] (http://www.ncl.org/aac/past_winners/past_winners_state.html), ranks nationally for its quality all year round sports activities, and gained moderate fame as the fictional location of First Contact between Vulcans and humans in the entertainment franchise Star Trek[9] (http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Bozeman). Bozeman residents are known as Bozemanites.
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History
Before 1806
For thousands of years, Native Americans tribes like Shoshone, Nez Perce, Blackfeet, Flathead and Sioux made the area their home[10] (http://www.bozemannet.com/area_info/history.php). Unlike other regions in Montana, the Gallatin Valley was not territorilized by a particular tribe[11] (http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=79114&query=bozeman%20montana&ct=).
1806 to 1864
William Clark, of Lewis & Clark fame, travelled east from Three Forks along the Gallatin River through Bozeman's future home, the Gallatin Valley through to the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers [12] (http://www.queencitynews.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=3883). The journal entries from Clark's party briefly describes the future city's location in the place Native Americans called the "Valley of the Flowers"[13] (http://www.mtstandard.com/highwaystoadventure/lewisclark.html). The following excerpts are taken from www.lewisandclarktrail.com[14] (http://lewisandclarktrail.com/section3/montanacities/missoula/history3.htm)
- July 13, 1806 Clark
- "proceeded on... had all the baggage of the land party taken out of the Canoes and after dinner the 6 canoes and the party of 10 men under the direction of Sergt. Ordway Set out." (Ordway's party proceeded down the Missouri with the canoes to the Great Falls) "previous to their departur I gave instructions how they were to proceed & I also wrote to Capt Lewis... my party now consists of the following persons: Serjeant N. Pryor, Jo Shields, Interpreter Shabono his wife & Child and my man york; with 49 horses and a colt... The indian woman who has been of great service to me as a pilot through this Country recommends a gap in the mountain more South which I shall cross."
- The 'gap in the mountain' Clark describes is now called Bozeman Pass connecting Bozeman to Livinston, Montana on I-90.
- July 14, 1806 Clark
- "after dinner we proceed on a little to the South of East through an open leavel plain to the three forks of the E branch of Gallitines River (East Gallatin River in the vicinity of present Bozeman, Montana) at about 12 miles, crosses the most Southerly of those forks and Struck an old buffalow road, the one our Indn woman meant."
- The next day, Clark calls the 'gap' an 'old buffalow road'.
The entries from the days prior and after Clark's trip through Gallatin Valley describe howling wolves, bears ransacking food supplies, native Americans, and the search for trees large enough to serve as a canoes[15] (http://lewisandclarktrail.com/section3/montanacities/missoula/history3.htm). Clark's use of the phrase 'old buffalow road' also implies wild buffalo sometimes were found grazing or migrating through the future city's location.
1864 to 1900
The modern city of Bozeman, Montana is named after John Bozeman who founded the Bozeman Trail in 1863 along with a partner, John Jacobs. The Bozeman Trail was a cutoff route from the Oregon Trail, which led miners to 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...". The Indian Wars 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 sneaking past angry Native Americans and the U.S. Army who tried to turn Story back for safety reasons. Those first cattle formed the first herd in Montana's cattle industry[16] (http://www.ultimatemontana.com/newsletterarchives/120201.html).
Fort Ellis was established in 1868 by Captain R. S. LaMotte and two companies of the 2nd Cavalry of Fort Shaw, Fort Ellis was named for Colonel Augustus Van Horne Ellis who was killed in the line of duty at Gettysburg. The Fort was established after the mysterious death of John Bozeman near Yellowstone and considerable political disturbance in the area. Local settlers and miners felt a need for added protection in the Gallatin area[17] (http://www.bozemanonline.com/history.php). The fort was decommissioned in 1886 and very few remains are left at the actual site, now occupied by the Fort Ellis Experimental Station of Montana State University, located three miles west of town[18] (http://www.geocities.com/naforts/mt2.html#ellis).
In addition to Fort Ellis a short-lived fort, Fort Elizabeth Meahger (also simply known as Fort Meagher), was establish in 1867 of volunteer militia. This fort was located eight miles east of town on Rock Creek[19] (http://www.geocities.com/naforts/mt2.html#ellis).
Northern Pacific Railway tracks finally reached the small town in 1883 through the same pass Clark called 'old buffalow trail' along side the Bozeman Trail. By 1900, Bozeman's population reached 3,500[20] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bozeman%2C_Montana#Before_to_1806).
1900 to present
In 1906, a Chinese immigrant name Lu-Sing murdered another Chinese immigrant named Tom Sing (no relation)[21] (http://www.bozeman.k12.mt.us/History/Docs/Museum.html). In a fascinating summary defense, witness indicate that Lu-Sing acted in self-defense but Lu-Sing was found guilty and hung outside the Bozeman Jail[22] (http://www.bozeman.k12.mt.us/History/Docs/Lu_Sing_case.pdf).
Geography
Bozeman is located at 45°40'40" North, 111°2'50" West (45.677890, -111.047274)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.6 km² (12.6 mi²). 32.6 km² (12.6 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 27,509 people, 10,877 households, and 5,014 families residing in the city. The population density is 843.0/km² (2,183.8/mi²). There are 11,577 housing units at an average density of 354.8/km² (919.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 1.59% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 10,877 households out of which 22.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.0% are married couples living together, 7.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 53.9% are non-families. 30.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.26 and the average family size is 2.85.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 25 years. For every 100 females there are 111.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 112.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $32,156, and the median income for a family is $41,723. Males have a median income of $28,794 versus $20,743 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,104. 20.2% of the population and 9.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.8% of those under the age of 18 and 4.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Notable natives
- John Bozeman the founder of the City of Bozeman and the Bozeman Trail.
- Brannon Braga, writer and producer of Star Trek television shows and films. Because of this, the film Star Trek: First Contact established that the official First Contact between humans and a sentient alien race (the Vulcans) occurs in Bozeman, Montana on April 6th, 2063.
- Gary Cooper, actor attended Gallatin Valley High School [23] (http://www.bozeman.k12.mt.us/History/Docs/gary_cooper.pdf)
- Zales Ecton, republican politician in the 1930's.
- Peter Fonda, writer, director, writer, and producer.
- Jack Horner, preeminent paleontologist upon whom the main character, Dr. Alan Grant, in the book and film Jurassic Park was patterned.
- Dale Jorgenson, economist and originator of a neoclassical theory of investment and the neoclassical theory of development of a dual economy
- Ben Mikaelsen, author.
- Elizabeth Clare Prophet, co-founder of Church Universal and Triumphant now residing in a Bozeman hospice with Alzheimer's disease.
- David Quammen, author.
- Red Cloud, a prominent chief of Oglala Sioux who opposed the opening of the Bozeman Trail and most accurately fought over the vicinity of the future city site.
- Chrysti M. Smith, writer and host of the radio series Chrysti the Wordsmith.
- Julia Thorne, writer and ex-wife of presidential hopeful John Kerry
- Dave Walker, musician
- Peter Voulkos, ceramic artist.
External links
- American Computer Museum (http://www.compustory.com/)
- Big Sky Ski and Summer Resort (http://www.bigskyresort.com/)
- Bozeman Chamber of Commerce (http://www.bozemanchamber.com/)
- Bozeman Convention and Visitors' Bureau (http://www.bozemancvb.visitmt.com/)
- Bozeman Daily Chronicle (http://bozemandailychronicle.com/)
- Bozeman Deaconess Hospital (http://www.bozemandeaconess.org/)
- Bozeman Public Library (http://www.bozemanlibrary.org/)
- Bozeman Montana Travel Guide (http://www.bozemannet.com/)
- BozemanOnline.Com (http://www.bozemanonline.com/)
- Bridger Bowl Ski Resort (http://www.bridgerbowl.com/)
- City of Bozeman (http://www.bozeman.net/)
- City Data (http://www.city-data.com/city/Bozeman-Montana.html)
- Equinox Theatre Company (http://equinoxtheatre.com/)
- Gallatin County (http://www.co.gallatin.mt.us)
- Gallatin Field Airport (http://www.gallatinfield.com/)
- Pioneer Museum (http://www.pioneermuseum.org/)
- Montana State University (http://www.montana.edu/)
- Museum of the Rockies (http://museumoftherockies.org/)
- Weather in Bozeman (http://www.wunderground.com/US/MT/Bozeman.html)
| Regions of Montana | 
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|---|---|
| Eastern Montana - Western Montana - Inland Empire | |
| Largest cities | |
| Anaconda | Belgrade | Billings | Bozeman | Butte | Evergreen | Glendive | Great Falls | Havre | Helena | Kalispell | Laurel | Lewistown | Livingston | Miles City | Missoula | Sidney | Whitefish | |
| Counties | |
| Beaverhead - Big Horn - Blaine - Broadwater - Carbon - Carter - Cascade - Chouteau - Custer - Daniels - Dawson - Deer Lodge - Fallon - Fergus - Flathead - Gallatin - Garfield - Glacier - Golden Valley - Granite - Hill - Jefferson - Judith - Lake - Lewis and Clark - Liberty - Lincoln - Madison - McCone - Meagher - Mineral - Missoula - Musselshell - Park - Petroleum - Phillips - Pondera - Powder River - Powell - Prairie - Ravalli - Richland - Roosevelt - Rosebud - Sanders - Sheridan - Silver Bow - Stillwater - Sweet Grass - Teton - Toole - Treasure - Valley - Wheatland - Wibaux - Yellowstone |