Missoula Has Always Been Home
Missoula is a dynamic community nestled in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana. One of the most sophisticated smaller cities, Missoula’s economy includes industries such as professional business, education, financial services, health care, manufacturing, trade, government, tourism, construction and real estate. Missoula is home to The University of Montana, including six academic colleges (arts and sciences, education and human sciences, forestry and conservation, health professions and biomedical sciences, technology, and visual and performing arts) and three schools (business, journalism, and law). Serving as the major medical hub between Minneapolis and Seattle, Missoula includes two major medical centers – Community Medical Center and St. Patrick Hospital & Health Sciences Center. Missoula offers a variety of outdoor activities for the entire year, including skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating, fishing, hunting, mountain climbing, river rafting, mountain biking, river surfing and kayaking.
In 1805, Meriwether Lewis visited Missoula, calling it the “hub of five valleys”. These valleys are the Flathead to the north, Frenchtown to the west, Bitterroot to the south, Blackfoot to the northeast and Hellgate to the east. The Clark Fork, Bitterroot and Blackfoot rivers are local favorites for floating and fishing, and were made popular by the movie “A River Runs Through It“. Two of the most significant events in Missoula’s history were the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1833, turning Missoula into a marketing and logging center, and the founding of The University of Montana in 1893.
Today, Missoula is one of the fastest growing areas in the state; however, it has not given up on old-fashioned community involvement. Missoulians love having the opportunities to ski, fly-fish, golf, hike or just enjoy the outdoors while still having the ability to enjoy local sporting events, concerts, live theater, museums and fine restaurants.